Artificial intelligence is reshaping Hollywood. It offers cost-saving tools but also threatens jobs, particularly in visual effects (VFX) and other post-production roles. The industry is navigating a tricky balance between innovation and disruption.
Real-Time Transformation on Set
In the film Here, Tom Hanks experienced a groundbreaking use of AI. VFX studio Metaphysic used generative AI to de-age Hanks in real-time. Two monitors on set showed Hanks’ performances: one with live footage and another with AI-rendered transformations, making him appear younger or older depending on the scene. This allowed Hanks to adjust his movements to suit his character’s age. Such technology would have been unthinkable just a few years ago due to cost constraints. Unlike films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which spent enormous amounts on VFX, Here was made for $45 million—a fraction of the cost—thanks to AI advancements.
AI’s Role in Tight Budgets
Hollywood production has slowed since the days of “Peak TV,” when studios competed fiercely for streaming subscribers. Now, profitability is paramount. AI’s potential lies in reducing costs for tasks like conceptual design, VFX, and animation. However, this comes with a trade-off: fewer jobs in post-production, where automation is likely to hit hardest. While writers, actors, and directors have some labor protections, many crew members do not.
Industry Reactions
Ben Affleck highlighted the disruptive nature of AI, warning of trouble for the VFX industry. Yet he expressed optimism that AI could make filmmaking more accessible by lowering costs for smaller, creative projects. Lionsgate’s vice chairman, Michael Burns, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing AI’s potential to greenlight movies that otherwise wouldn’t be made. Lionsgate recently partnered with AI startup Runway to develop tools for storyboarding and VFX design, while Blumhouse tested AI-generated short films through Meta’s Movie Gen. Such deals underline the growing acceptance of AI in Hollywood.
Legal and Ethical Boundaries
Labor unions, like the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG), have secured some safeguards. Writers are protected from having their pay or credits affected by AI use, and actors must consent to the creation of digital clones. For example, in Furiosa and Alien: Romulus, productions had to seek permission and compensate the estates of deceased actors to recreate their likenesses. Studios that bypass these agreements risk legal challenges.
However, protections are uneven across the industry. Animation and VFX workers often lack similar safeguards. The Animation Guild’s recent tentative agreement allows studios to mandate AI use with advance notice, sparking criticism for not doing enough to prevent job losses. VFX workers, many of whom are non-unionized and based in countries with lower costs, face additional vulnerability.
AI’s Expanding Role
AI is already streamlining pre-production tasks like storyboarding, character design, and background creation. In VFX, AI tools are speeding up labor-intensive processes, though skilled artists are still needed to guide the technology. Some VFX artists are adapting by training open-source AI models on their own work. While AI might reduce team sizes, it won’t eliminate the need for human creativity.
A New Era for Hollywood
AI is transforming filmmaking much like CGI did in the 1990s, when films like Jurassic Park and Terminator 2 showcased its potential. Today, AI offers similar opportunities to innovate while presenting new challenges. As the industry adapts, the key will be finding a balance between embracing AI’s benefits and protecting the workforce that makes Hollywood’s magic possible.
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