Controversy in Hollywood over the use of artificial intelligence to portray the late Val Kilmer
The makers of a new film featuring an AI-generated performance by the late actor Val Kilmer defended their work on Thursday, saying they believe their approach represents an ethical path for the future use of such technology in Hollywood.
Brothers Corti and Jon Voorhees said they obtained permission from Kilmer's children to use artificial intelligence to create his role in the film "As Deep as the Grave," which tells the story of archaeologists exploring the history of the Navajo people in New Mexico. They said they used archival footage, photographs, and audio recordings to help create the performance. “We are 100 percent confident that this is truly the right step for this particular film, and we are very much looking forward to everyone being able to judge it for themselves,” said Curti Voorhees, the film’s writer and director, in an interview at CinemaCon, the theater owners’ convention in Las Vegas. Kilmer, best known for his role in the “Top Gun” film series, had signed on to star in “As Deep as the Grave”
several years ago, but was unable to take the role due to poor health. He died a year ago at the age of 65 after a battle with throat cancer. A trailer released this week shows Kilmer as Father Fentan, a Native American Catholic priest and spiritual leader. In the trailer, Kilmer says, “Don’t be afraid of the dead, and don’t be afraid of me.” The trailer sparked criticism on social media, with some commenters describing it as "terrifying" and "disgusting." Kurty Voorhees said he doesn't believe audiences will feel that Kilmer's performance wasn't human. The brothers also said they hope to show Hollywood how to use this technology in a positive way. However, many actors are concerned about the unauthorized use of their lifelike images.
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