The boss of WETA FX tells how Hollywood studios are now pushing for more generative AI in a move to save costs.
Take a deep breath, folks. WETA, the effects house that famously made thousands of props and practical pieces of work for Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy is high on the generative AI Kool-Aid. Appreciating it moved to more digital work when it came to The Hobbit trilogy of films, Weta FX is now arguing that Hollywood studios are snubbing effects houses that don’t embrace generative AI.
It comes at a time when entry level jobs in the film industry are being eradicated, even as those at the top of the chain take home ever more obscene levels of remuneration.
Daniel Seah is the CEO of Weta FX, and he’s been chatting in Taipei as he signs a new partnership with an AI provider. In his comments, he argued that last year, the top studios wanted no part of any effects houses using generative AI. Presumably due to copyright risk as much as anything else.
Since then, Seah argues that everything has changed. “It’s ‘if you don’t have an AI strategy, don’t bother to work with us”, he told Variety. That saving money is now the key driver.
He wheels out the usual drivel about how it won’t be using AI to replace artists or employees, instead arguing that “It’s more like to enhance and increase more workflow for us.” But, of course, that was just the kind of work that used to be done by humans, rather than planet-burning generative technology that’s built on a foundation of wholesale copyright theft.
I like to be neutral when writing these articles.
Weta FX describes itself as “the standard-bearer for creative innovation in Visual Effects and Animation, attracting talent, partners, and clients who seek a collaborator that embraces and nurtures their artistic vision.”
I’d name the partners that Weta has chosen but in truth, I don’t really want to. It’s such an odd time, and unless there’s some kind of attempt to put generative AI on a sound environmental and ethical footing, it’s difficult to be optimistic.
You can read the Variety report here for more on Weta’s position. I might go off and drink a very strong coffee instead,