March 18th, 2024: Renowned filmmaker and producer Tyler Perry has put his $800 million expansion plans for his Atlanta studio on indefinite hold after witnessing the capabilities of OpenAI’s latest text-to-video model, Sora.
OpenAI Sora
The AI technology, which debuted on February 15, allows users to create video images from text prompts, potentially revolutionizing the filmmaking process.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Perry expressed his astonishment at Sora’s capabilities, stating, “Being told that it might do all of this stuff is one thing, but actually seeing the capabilities, it was mind-blowing.”
The planned expansion would have added 12 more sound stages to Perry’s 330-acre production facility, one in every of the biggest within the United States.
Perry, known for his successful “Madea” film series, believes that Sora could significantly reduce the necessity for filming on location or constructing sets. “I not would need to travel to locations.
If I desired to be within the snow in Colorado, it’s text,” he said. “If I wanted to write down a scene on the moon, it’s text, and this AI can generate it like nothing.”
While acknowledging that Sora could enable filmmakers to provide movies and pilots at a fraction of the present cost, Perry expressed grave concerns in regards to the potential impact on jobs within the entertainment industry.
“I’m very, very concerned that within the near future, a variety of jobs are going to be lost,” he said. “It makes me worry a lot about the entire people within the business. Because as I used to be taking a look at it, I immediately began considering of everyone within the industry who can be affected by this, including actors and grip and electric and transportation and sound and editors, and searching at this, I’m considering it will touch every corner of our industry.”
Perry admitted to using AI technology in two of his recent projects to avoid spending hours in aging makeup, but like other studios, he continues to be attempting to navigate the implications of this rapidly evolving technology.
He emphasized the necessity for regulations to guard the industry and its staff, stating, “There’s got to be some form of regulations with a view to protect us. If not, I just don’t see how we survive.”
Looking beyond the entertainment industry, Perry called for a government approach to assist everyone sustain employment within the age of AI.
“If you have a look at it internationally, the way it’s changing so quickly, I’m hoping that there’s a complete government approach to assist everyone have the ability to sustain,” he said.
As the entertainment industry grapples with the potential impact of AI technology on jobs and production processes, Tyler Perry’s decision to pause his studio expansion serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.
