Author: BRWC

AI in the Film Industry. By Maggie Potter.

Science fiction has a rich history of utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) as a storytelling device. We’ve seen everything from robotic aliens who have come to test humanity in The Day the Earth Stood Still to superheroes who employ advanced technology to save the world. AI is also often depicted in villainous roles, reflecting our society’s suspicion of advanced machinery, but we have also explored the nature of what it is to be human through lifelike robotic characters.  

We have reached a point where AI is no longer simply fodder for big-screen narratives; it is quickly becoming part of our contemporary life. As such, Hollywood is starting to utilize it in ways that have the potential of enhancing the commercial and creative aspects of the film industry while still presenting it as part of our rich storytelling lexicon.   

How is the movie industry making practical use of this sci-fi mainstay, AI, in real life? How does reality compare to the popular depictions in film? Are there dangers evident in relying upon this technology in our entertainment?

Business Decisions

In film, AI is often depicted as an omnipotent presence in a computer system. The Terminator franchise’s Skynet is an example of faceless, deep learning software that makes cold and inhumane decisions. This speaks to one of the great fears presented by AI: its autonomy. Its ability to manipulate and control systems without moral boundaries. This doesn’t just apply to military tech with worldwide consequences; we have seen this apply to business, too. 

In Tron (1982), the MCP (Master Control Program), embodied primarily by a menacing digital voice, not only takes control of its owning corporation but also enacts physical defense mechanisms against members of staff who attempt to interfere. While “real” Hollywood is not yet at risk of AI making all business decisions, its use is currently being explored to help executives make choices that are believed to more likely result in success. Warner Brothers recently signed a deal with an AI startup Cinelytic who has designed a system to predict what elements should be included in movies in order to guarantee box office returns. 

Such AI systems rely upon useful data to make accurate predictions. In this case of Cinelytic, it includes what actors connect best with audiences in which territories, what brands should make an appearance, and whether certain projects could produce merchandising. This approach has been treated with some skepticism because it ignores the artistic and cultural worth of movies in favor of financial returns. There is also the question of whether AI bias could affect diversity in an industry that already has significant problems in that area. In 2018, Amazon had to dump its AI recruiting tool because it proved biased against women when searching for engineering candidates.  

Production

AI is often depicted in film as the very antithesis of humanity. While computers are able to undertake inordinate calculations and control machinery across the planet, the robotic characters in movies often struggle with activities that exemplify human nature, including creative and artistic pursuits. 

In I, Robot (2004), we get a glimpse into a future that is not too distant from our own. While today’s conversations about self-driving cars are dominated by topics of their safety and security with testing still very much in its early stages, the movie shows autonomous vehicles maneuvering intricately on busy roadways. The movie’s protagonist Detective Spooner, played by Will Smith, shows disdain and suspicion for this kind of AI-guided technology. At one point he poses the question of AI creativity: “Can a robot write a symphony? Can a robot turn a canvas into a beautiful masterpiece?”  

Can real-life AI contribute to the creative aspects of film? Visual effects are becoming much more prevalent in movies, and much of the artistic work is still undertaken by human animators and programmers. Much of the work of assembling digital effects takes a long time, however, and producers have found that incorporating AI software into computer graphics(CG) artwork creation can help speed the process. In the Avengers franchise, producers used the AI platform Digital Domain to capture actors’ faces and swiftly recreate them on CG characters, but it still remains the case that the most effective results come from a collaboration between artists and AI. 

Security 

Security is a significant concern in our contemporary world. Whether it’s protecting ourselves against potential terrorist threats or cybercrime, we have begun to implement technologies that could assist us. Movies have often depicted AI systems designed to stand guard against a variety of perils, though these are also often shown to go horribly wrong.  

In some movies, this plays into our reckless embrace of technology. Disney’s Smart House (1999), showed how a home automation system, which initially proved helpful, takes on a life of its own and becomes somewhat despotic. Our reality is slightly less dramatic. Smart homes are becoming a feature of our contemporary world, with automated security systems working in the internet of things (IoT) helping to control surveillance systems, door locks, and automated lighting, none of which is likely to turn evil. 

Smart security also has a role to play in movie production. Cybercrime is increasingly becoming a problem, particularly in keeping details of movie productions safe from hackers who seek to leak details and even the content itself. AI is quickly becoming a useful tool for companies that need robust cybersecurity. Innovative developers are producing deep learning software that analyzes threats in real-time and works with other systems to counter possible breaches. 

Conclusion

For the last few decades, AI has been depicted in movies in a negative light — a soulless, logical villain with designs on overthrowing humanity. Despite that, in recent years it has proven to be a useful tool to Hollywood, in all areas from production to business management. There is also potential for AI to have a greater impact, but we must continue to ensure that its use is a collaboration with human operators and not given complete autonomy.   

The Weirdest Things You Can Stream During Self-Isolation: As the world rapidly approaches 1 million active cases of the coronavirus, just under half of the world’s population is currently living under some form of restriction. With over 2 billion people under government-ordered stay-at-home orders, the majority of you are relying on streaming services to keep you entertained.

While there’s no doubting this is a great time to catch up on those epic drama movies or intense thriller boxsets, watching the same types of programs over and over again can soon wear thin.

So why not break up the monotony by watching some of the weirdest, strangest movies and TV shows the streaming world has to offer? Trust us when we say that these pictures have to be seen to be believed.

Here are five of the weirdest things you can stream during your period of coronavirus self-isolation.

1. The Room

Widely seen by many as the worst movie of all time, this 2003 release was so bad that it has developed a cult following. Littered with dead-end subplots (such as one character revealing that she has breast cancer, only for it never to be mentioned again), continuity errors, and bizarre green-screened rooftop scenes, the movie is supposed to tell a story of a banker who is betrayed by his friends.

The film was the brainchild of Tommy Wiseau, who wrote, produced, directed, funded, and starred in the movie. One of the other stars, Greg Sestero, chronicled his experiences during the making of this movie in his memoir The Disaster Artist, which was later made into a golden globe-winning movie by James Franco in 2017.

The TV-14/DSLV version is available to stream on YouTube.

2. Rubber

If you find The Room’s nonsensical, weirdest scene structure and dialogue unbearable, then how about dipping in a movie that’s more solidly put together. The catch? It’s possibly the strangest premise for a movie ever.

It’s not for us to say too much as to ruin the story, but in basic terms, the movie follows a homicidal tire (yes, tire), which has destructive psionic powers. It’s set in a quiet desert town, upon which it wreaks havoc during its relentless chase of a mysterious woman. Intrigued? You should be! Once you wrap your head around the insane plot, this is an enjoyable horror/comedy movie and has a solid 69% score on rotten tomatoes.

It’s available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.  

3. Robo Vampire 3: Counter Destroy

Don’t be fooled by the cover or the title; this movie has absolutely nothing to do with RoboCop, even though a version of him appears in all of the marketing materials for this movie. So, what is it? Well, this movie is actually an Asian martial arts film. The plot revolves around a screenwriter named Joyce, who seems to attract trouble wherever she goes. When she escapes to an isolated island with her secretary, she soon finds herself under attack from an army of mysterious vampire zombies.

Not interested yet? Just wait until you see the dubbing in this film. Somehow the word horrendous doesn’t quite do it justice, with motionless faces often having full-blown conversations. This is a movie that falls into the category of being so bad that it’s hilarious, and therefore well worth watching.

You can do so on YouTube here.

4. Elephants Dream 

From the hilariously awful to the downright trippy, Elephants Dream is a strange copyright-free Dutch animation that was meant as nothing more than a test for Netflix’s internal systems. It’s a short film that tracks the protagonists Proog and Emo, who find themselves in some kind of infinite machine. Proog acts as a tour guide for Emo, until they both start to slowly realize that the device may have a more sinister purpose.

If you need to sort out your speeds for your Netflix session, Broadband Genie’s helpful how-to guide is the place to start.

This extremely strange animated short is not easily found within Netflix, so it may be the case that you need to access it via logging into your Netflix account using the link below. Be prepared to be creeped out!

Watch on Netflix here.      

5. Example Show 

It doesn’t get any more left-field than this short “TV show.” The Example Show for Netflix was 11 minutes of test footage for Netflix’s “instant watch” feature. It predominantly shows a montage of moving backgrounds, with a particular focus on running water (no, we don’t know why either). Things then suddenly get interesting when a random man starts to dash around the Netflix campus inexplicably.

He proceeds to moonwalk (laptop in hand) and play with various pieces of sports equipment, before descending into a Shakespearian rant. The episode wraps up with more dynamic backgrounds and a series of test screens before fading to black. Despite the total and utter randomness of this TV episode, it’s hard to stop watching. Unfortunately, Netflix removed this one, after it developed yet another cult following. Thankfully, it’s been gracefully preserved on YouTube.    

Watch Example Show on YouTube here.   

This new world we find ourselves in can feel quite scary, so it’s healthy to have a little bit of fun by streaming some of the weirdest and most bizarre movies and TV shows you can find. It will undoubtedly provide at least a temporary distraction from the chaos going on in the outside world.