The future of Hollywood contracts CGI likeness in case of aging, deformation accident and death

Calgary, Alberta
January 6, 2017 9:20pm CST
Before CGI special effects were only used explosions or some fantasy creatures like monsters, aliens or dinosaurs. Now CGI might become a part of contract of celebrities. 2016 is the year of celebrity deaths and because of that some producers and directors are considering this as something to be involved on contract of actors. In case of unexpected deaths, the movie will still use their likeness via CGI. This might become a trend in Hollywood movies. The use of CGI to resurrect dead actors and the Use of CGI to de-age actors. ------ Picture Number 1 is a "teenage" Robert Downie Junior in Captain America civil war. Instead of hiring a teenage actor to play young Tony Stark. They just created a 3d model based from Robert's 80's movies and have him voice his teenage self. Picture Number 2 is Paul Walker's brother being computer manipulated to look like Paul Walker. They have the permission of his family because they want to finish the movie in honor of him after his death. His Brothers are willing to make it happen again in more sequels as long as it will financially support his daughter. Picture Number 3 is "Young Arnold Schwarzenegger" in Terminator Genysis. Arnold doesn't have his 1980's physique anymore to get naked in a movie. I don't think he even take his shirt off anymore in public. With his permission they created a CGI naked version of him which is necessary for the scene. Picture Number 4 have a bad taste for me. It is from a commercial of Johnny Walker whiskey. Bruce Lee is a man who don't eat Junk food and doesn't drink Alcohol but his family agreed to use his image for this commercial....I found movies more acceptable than commercials. Picture Number 5 is "19 year old Princess Leia" This CGI imaged is used for the Starwars spinoff Rouge One. Carrie Fisher actually voiced her and she is so happy to see her self young again eventhough she is still beautiful. Now Carrie is dead, They might make a CGI version of her older self which is needed for Episode 9 of Starwars. The permission lies in the hands of her sisters and her daughter. Picture Number 6 is a CGI Taiwan's most beloved 1970's iconic Singer Teresa Teng. She was Jackie Chan's ex girlfriend I remember him saying she is his one great love and he regrets their break up. She is so beloved that the Whole Taiwan mourned when she died in 1995. Recently CGI hologram concerts of her became an attraction in Taiwan. --------- If you are an actor, Would you agree to sign a contract that says they can use a CGI image of you in case you die? In my case I may agree if my beneficiaries will receive the earnings of the movie. If I have wife and children, I want them to receive the royalty.
12 people like this
11 responses
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
10 Jan 17
I will share this. Very informative. When I saw Rogue One, I was so happy to see Princess Leia at the end. Sad that she passed away.
2 people like this
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jan 17
In Rouge one, people managed to see her as a 19 year old Princess Leia again. This technology might be able to make older actors to be young again! Imagine a New Indiana Jones movie where Harrison Ford is on his 30's. In case of your country, They can make a CGI Gloria Romero, so she can play her young self for her bio pic. This can give older actors to get young roles again.
2 people like this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jan 17
@Beatburn I think human CGI still have flaws, it have tendency to look like a videogame character but eventually it will look more real and less uncanny valley. Rio Locsin use to do r-18 movies right?
1 person likes this
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
13 Jan 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker You know Gloria Romero? Awesome. A younger Rio Locsin for me.
@LadyDuck (472087)
• Switzerland
7 Jan 17
I would sing ONLY to finish a movie that had already been started, not to make new ones.
2 people like this
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Jan 17
I found out George Lucas owns the Likeness of young Carrie Fisher and Young Mark Hamill. I dont think he owns their likeness as older people.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
10 Jan 17
Sure I would agree as long as my family will be paid.
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
15 Jan 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker I think everyone wants to stay young. CGI might just do the trick.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jan 17
This CGI thing, Gives me a dream. I want to make a movie where the whole cast are old actors and they will play their younger selves via CGI. I am sure deep inside older actors wish they can still play young roles.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Jan 17
Hmmm . . . for the sake of beneficiaries earning, I suppose I would ok it. But I would have to put a clause in it that says they need the approval from certain families as well . . . because if it doesn't look convincing to them, then they didn't do a good job. The only one I think I saw from your list there is the recent Carrie Fisher at the end of Rogue One . . . and also from the same movie Peter Cushing as Tarkin. The job on Tarkin was amazing. With Princess Leia, I don't think it was necessary to focus on her head/face to screen size . . . and the expression on her face (the smiley look) was kinda hokey (Hubby thought so too). There's something still not right about CGI recreations of humans, but they are getting pretty darn close to it.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Feb 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker Fake and creepy - yes - but I can't quite pinpoint what it is. I think it has to do with how your skin actually moves - it's very complex - even a program can't capture it all - yet. It took them a long time to get "water" (like ocean currents) right . . . but they got it down pretty well now. But not people. I think it works on video games because they move around so fast, you don't really have to notice their faces in the way you would with movies.
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Feb 17
They try to make them realistic by adding wrinkles, blemishes and facial flaws but they still look uncanny valley. Yeah we are getting close to it but it still looks fake and creepy. In videogames they look okay but in movies they look weird. Specially if they interact with actual humans.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
8 Jan 17
Amazing what they can do these days .. Maybe they can recreate the like of Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana to play themselves in the movies ..
1 person likes this
• Calgary, Alberta
8 Jan 17
I remember if Princess Diana didnt die, she is suppose to be Kevin Costner's love interest for "The Bodyguard 2" Yup she considered an acting career because she loved the script.
1 person likes this
7 Jan 17
Though I am not officially an actress, I am a model, so my opinion may not the most informed. But I would sign the contract if I were a famous actress. It would guarantee that my name would be remembered and I would be remembered for a long amount of time in history, which if I were a Hollywood actress, I presume this would be my goal. However, right now I am not a Hollywood actress. I'm an amateur model that does it for the passion rather than the fame. I don't care if I ever "make it big". I just like working with photographers and creating art.
1 person likes this
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
9 Jan 17
I think I will agree to it. After all, the audiences want to see a completed movie.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Jan 17
of course that makes sense. i thought the beneficiaries recieve it always anyway. why would they not?
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
9 Jan 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker guess we get to enjoy them anyway
• Calgary, Alberta
9 Jan 17
I wonder what will happen in the case of actors with no families.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139974)
• Roseburg, Oregon
7 Jan 17
I agree with you the beneficiaries should receive the earnings from the movie.
• Calgary, Alberta
7 Jan 17
Paul Walker's family said they are willing to have his likeness used for future sequels as long as it will benefit the future of his daughter.
1 person likes this
• Eugene, Oregon
9 Jan 17
To keep that income coming for my family, yes, I agree.
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jan 17
I heard they might do it for Star Wars Episode 9.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45156)
• Philippines
7 Jan 17
I see no problem with using CGI just to finish the movie. Anyway, its what they want, to finish the product and entertain the people.