On the other hand, Ben Affleck has explained how artificial intelligence models can open up different avenues with the potential to disrupt some aspects. Still, none will ever take over the art of human makers.
At the CNBC Delivering Alpha Investor Summit on November 13, 2024, Affleck said while AI can replicate existing works, its ability to create the spark of originality that would produce works like Shakespeare is not there. “AI can write you imitative verse. It cannot write you Shakespeare,” he stressed, arguing for a time when cinema still sorely relied on the input of people involved. He said AI can replicate styles and techniques, but it’s not creating genuine artistry, and he believes that will persist for a long time.
Can AI ever outshine Hollywood’s human touch? Ben Affleck says no
Affleck also pointed out that AI can reduce production costs and consolidate workflows. He said AI could do some of the heavier lifting and more expensive parts of filmmaking so that barriers to entry are lowered for young filmmakers. The responsibilities shift may cause creative projects to be produced more quickly: He pointed out that shows like HBO’s House of the Dragon that have high production values might be able to launch two seasons by the time it would take to complete one.
The actor also is eager to realign the incentives behind the film industry. He said the traditional Hollywood model has sometimes encouraged a cash-grab mentality, where people seek short-term payoffs rather than long-term value creation. Affleck remarked, “People don’t act like owners… There’s a cash grab mentality exacerbated by the sense it’s fleeting.” He advocates refocusing incentives and developing new business strategies that harness talent and creators to create a healthier environment where people’s interests harmoniously coexist.
RedBird Capital managing partner Gerry Cardinale echoed Affleck’s concerns about the entertainment industry in a statement issued at the summit. He said that many in the industry have not taken financial rigor and accountability seriously, which has resulted in stagnation. “People want to have different outcomes, but they are not breaking it to go do it,” Cardinale noted, further emphasizing the need for accountability in the Hollywood ecosystem.
Affleck’s new model is bucking an industry long ruled by misaligned incentives in which the goal is primarily individual gain, not collective success. He mentioned introducing an innovative bonus structure in future projects, where “escalating tranches of bonus money” could significantly reward success beyond initial financial commitments. That approach, meanwhile, fosters collaboration among the cast and crew, fostering a feeling of ownership of project outcomes.
Didn’t expect Ben Affleck to have the most articulate and realistic explanation where video models and Hollywood is going pic.twitter.com/MCgkVqpPNG
— Jori Lallo (@jorilallo) November 17, 2024
Affleck’s remarks also touched on the industry’s ongoing upheaval, which has seen shifting dynamics due to various factors, including the pandemic and the rise of streaming platforms. As the industry moves into new markets, he believes talent should be fairly compensated, as it’s essential to making money. “Talent is feeling the rollback,” Affleck noted, pointing to financial fluctuations typically falling on those who contribute the most creatively.
He acknowledges the threats to visual effects positions from AI but saves the heart of storytelling and character development for the humans to do the heavy lifting. If he were in visual effects, he said he would be worried about the industry’s future rather than other areas of filmmaking, with what he said was a laugh.
The industry is changing, asking questions about old models and developing new approaches. However, with Affleck and Cardinale looking more towards leading an industry into a more accountable and aligned industry of interests, the entwined industry that rewards creative input and profits above all else can grow towards a more sustainably richer future. At the same time, the entertainment ecosystem will have to navigate the development and industry impacts of technological advances, plus market dynamics, that threaten certain guardrails. According to Affleck, a robust collaboration and ownership attitude among creatives is the key to surviving this.
Images credit: Furkan Demirkaya/Flux AI
