Tyler Perry, one of the most successful creative minds in entertainment, shocked the industry yesterday by announcing his plans to stop building a mega studio in Atlanta!
The culprit: Artificial Intelligence.
Here’s what happened: Perry was given a demonstration of the new OpenAI app called Sora, a “text-to-video” model.
As the company points out in a press release:
Sora can create videos of up to 60 seconds featuring highly detailed scenes, complex camera motion, and multiple characters with vibrant emotions.
Here is the example that is blowing up online:
https://openai.com/sora Prompt: “Beautiful, snowy Tokyo city is bustling. The camera moves through the bustling city street, following several people enjoying the beautiful snowy weather and shopping at nearby stalls. Gorgeous sakura petals are flying through the wind along with snowflakes.”
So how did this lead to Perry, well known for his Madea films, to cancel plans for a mega studio expansion?
Well, as reported by The Guardian:
“Tyler Perry has paused an $800m (£630m) expansion of his Atlanta studio complex after the release of OpenAI’s video generator Sora and warned that “a lot of jobs” in the film industry will be lost to artificial intelligence.
The US film and TV mogul said he was in the process of adding 12 sound stages to his studio but has halted those plans indefinitely after he saw demonstrations of Sora and its “shocking” capabilities.
“All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of Sora and what I’m seeing,” Perry said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. “I had gotten word over the last year or so that this was coming, but I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it’s able to do. It’s shocking to me.”
The AI tool was launched on 15 February – with limited access to a few researchers and video creators – and caused widespread astonishment with its ability to produce realistic footage a minute long from simple text prompts.
Perry, whose successes include the Madea film series, said Sora’s achievements meant he would no longer have to travel to locations or build a set: “I can sit in an office and do this with a computer, which is shocking to me.”
This is video of a woman walking down a Tokyo street at night…completely created by AI – no technicians, Actors or Directors needed…here is another look at the demo with some analysis:
So, it seems we are entering a new world where AI can create content – therefore eliminating the need for anyone else to be hired to do that – what do you think of this?
As someone who works in the entertainment industry, it is indeed a chilling scenario – and for all of those workers in Atlanta expecting to build Perry’s studio, those jobs are gone.
I’m reminded of the wicked take on Hollywood, “The Player”, starring Tim Robbins as a studio Executive who is stalked by a disgruntled Writer.
Here’s something that Robbins says snidely to another Executive who thinks that with one single line a film basically writes itself:
“I was just thinking what an interesting concept it is to eliminate the writer from the artistic process. If we could just get rid of these actors and directors, maybe we’ve got something here.”
He just may get his way!
Click here for more about this brilliant take on Hollywood:
There are SO many great movies ABOUT movies…like these:
I love films that take on the entertainment business, and here is a link to some of my favorites:
Well, enjoy these while you can – this AI explosion has troubling consequences for the entertainment industry…
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Categories: Art, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Hollywood, Movies, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, Technology
johnrieber 
Hi John, I’ve been wondering about the future of movies myself. I’ve seen some incredible AI generated book trailers and short story YT videos.
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Yes, there is much you can do with the technology, but it also seems clear that the technology could replace human creativity and isn’t that chilling? Thank you for the comment!
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I think this is an absolutely horrendous decision and trend, the elimination of people and acceptance of ai in their place, where does that leave the creatives, the human factor and spirit?
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I’ve no idea who Tyler Perry is, but I think he is right to be cautious about the ongoing impact of AI. With you on The Player – a great movie by a great director.
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He is an entertainment Mogul based not he success of his “Madea” films and more…limited international exposure but huge here and the fact he shut down his Atlanta sound stage expansion due to what he saw is troubling indeed. As for “The Player” simply one of the greatest films about entertainment ever!
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Funnily enough I’ve just seen a trailer for something called “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” but I doubt I’ll be watching it! I’ve not heard of the Madea movies so I just looked him up on IMDb. Definitely more successful over there than here, I think, and none of them were recognisable to me.
The Player has the mark of Robert Altman – always a good sign for me 😊
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Oh, that’s crazy John. What a crazy time for your field. I’m trying to keep an open mind to AI. I’m trying to see the benefits and get ahead of the machine so-to-speak, mainly because I started out in print journalism and saw how ill prepared and how they dismissed the internet. I don’t want to do that. The thing I can’t see is how quickly the AI storm will be a simple way of life and figuring out where the new jobs will be. On the positive side, I feel like AI like the dawn of the personal computer, puts the power of creativity in the hands of the individual, but as you point out, there seem to be a lot of land mines and a major change unlike we’ve ever seen taking hold too. Crazy times!
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Terrific points and I agree there are many positive to AI – but creating content with no human involvement isn’t one of them to be sure! Thanks for the great perspective!
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Exactly. You still need that human element. For all the reasons you’ve pointed out when you write about great tv shows and movies. AI can’t replace the human touch!!! Thanks for sharing.
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I find this both scary and very sad. The human element is fundamental, don’t you think?
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Yes but there are currently NO limits to what can be artificially created!
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That’s terrible!
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John, I admit I had never heard of Mr Perry. I looked him up, and have not seen anything he made. But I understand his fears, as I have been spreading doom and gloom about AI since I first heard of the invention.
Best wishes, Pete.
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AI will eventually take over many jobs. It took over mine, but I was lucky in that I was due to retire anyway.
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May I ask what line of work you were in?
Do you think this is the age of another transformation, perhaps like the one one of the 18th/19th centuries of industrialization, where many jobs were taken over by factories, even the guild structure, that was dominant for centuries, was transformed?
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I am a Producer, and ran programming for two cable networks as well…I’ve had shows on ABC, PBS and a multitude of others as well…what Perry is worried about it that we won’t need studios, lighting directors – even Actors! It is indeed a revolution like the one you mention, and the worst fear of many who see AI as eliminating the need for people! Thanks for the terrific comment!
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I do indeed. For many years I was a medical secretary/P.A. For the last 6 years before retirement I reduced my hours and just stood in when the permanent secretaries were on holiday or off sick. There was always a backlog of hundreds of letters, and so work was plentiful. However, about 2 years ago each department started to switch over to the new system whereby doctors dictated straight onto the computer, which typed out the letter instead. The switch took some time, probably about 18 months for the whole hospital to be on board. Secretaries became proof readers instead, and letters were sent off to GPs much quicker. By summer 2023 there was little or no work for me to do.
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Thank you for the comment – yes, it will make many professions obsolete…this video, which somewhat rudimentary, is just the beginning…a machine to do almost all of the functions of a person…
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Shame, but that’s progress I suppose.
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