Hollywood Strikes Won’t Stop A.I.’s Accession
INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed filmmaker Warren D. Robinson (image below).
The mainstream film and television industry has been brought to a halt as both the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) are on simultaneous but separate strikes. While each union has a number of grievances one of the major sticking points for both is the current and future use of artificial intelligence (A.I.). Members of both unions are concerned that A.I. can or will be able to replace them thus costing their members jobs, lowering wages and supplying inferior products. “They have reason to be worried as the technology is only getting more and more advanced.” Says entertainment producer, lawyer and executive Warren D. Robinson, “As it becomes more mainstream the technology is also getting cheaper, both of which are reasons that should have the guilds concerned.” While Robinson doesn’t believe that A.I. will completely replace writers and actors, he does think it will reduce the number of writing and acting jobs going forward. “You will still need some human elements. A.I. is powerful but no one will tell you that an A.I. script is equal or better than what a truly creative human mind can put on paper.” Robinson continues, “However going forward instead of a large writers room maybe you have only 1 or 2 writers and use A.I. to fill in the gaps or vice versa. Either way, the number of writers you need is severely decreased.” While Robinson feels that the writers are in a much more vulnerable position than the actors he predicts both will eventually have to yield to the inevitableness of new technology. “Actors have a slightly stronger position as individual actors have the ability to attract people to buy tickets or watch specific projects. Nonetheless, they are not immune because as the technology grows one potential is to keep using the same actors dead or alive. For example, in the recent Indiana Jones film, A.I. de-aged Harrison Ford to make him look 40 years younger whereas just a few years ago you would have had to hire another actor for that role. In the near future Hollywood will be able to keep making Harrison Ford films even after Harrison Ford dies, eliminating the need for new stars altogether. ” Robinson concludes, “while the guilds may be successful in garnering some concessions regarding A.I. in the present, the smart thing for them to do is to figure out how to pivot because the technology is here to stay. That’s a warning not just for Hollywood to heed but for a large number of American industries.”
According to a statement, “Entertainment executive and producer, Warren D. Robinson believes that when organizations are willing to have open and honest conversations about race and their own bias they can commit to meaningful change. We have seen this recently in the form of Hollywood award shows, particularly, the Grammys and the Academy Awards (Oscars). The Recording Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have both taken concrete steps to diversify their ranks and address inherit biases in their voting processes. As a result we have the most diverse crop of award winners/nominees, respectively, we’ve ever seen. Contrast that with the scandal and production shutdown currently at CBS’s The Talk, which resulted because a co-host was unable to properly engage in a conversation about race, address her own bias and commit to doing better. ‘The key part to every conversation’ Warren says, ‘starts with listening. Listening and hearing are different and if you are unable to listen then you are unable to have a conversation.’
“Warren D. Robinson, is an avid and accomplished entertainment executive, motivational speaker, host, life coach and award winning producer who created the wildly popular series, Buried by the Bernards, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
“Warren has served as an entertainment consultant, manager and producer, facilitating, appearing and negotiating high powered deals on behalf of his clients in front of such companies as: Warner Brothers, BET, CNN, Freemantle, Best Buy, TV ONE, Netflix, Lifetime, Fox News, WE TV, E!, NBC Universal, Viacom and more. In addition, Warren’s entertainment prowess includes coordinating, partnering and/or producing events for: legendary actress Pam Grier, Taraji P Henson, Gabrielle Union, Vivica A Fox, Soul singer Eddie Levert (of the O’Jays), Comedian Mike Epps, Angie Stone, Flavor Flav, the Indianapolis Colts, Donna Joyner-Richardson, Stephanie Mills, Erykah Badu and Tom Joyner among others. Warren graduated from Indiana University (B.A.-Political Science) and Howard University School Of Law (J.D.).”
Learn more about Warren D. Robinson and his work here.
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LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE
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