Summary
- Extras on the set of Gladiator 2 in Malta were allegedly scanned by AI without permission, leaving them concerned about the use of their faces in future projects.
- Hollywood’s increasing use of AI in post-production editing poses risks to actors’ personal rights and financial well-being.
- Hollywood production companies are now taking advantage of non-union actors overseas, leading to manipulative practices such as AI scanning.
It was recently reported that extras on the Malta set for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel were allegedly scanned by AI without permission. Although most of the production for Gladiator 2 takes place in Morocco, additional scenes are being filmed in the United Kingdom and Malta. The alleged incident occurred on a fake Roman city film set at Fort Ricasoli in Malta (via Times Malta). Some extras claim that production staff pulled them aside and asked them to stand in a booth filled with cameras between takes.
One extra stated that they felt trapped and “didn’t really feel like we could say no” to production staff. Other extras claim that staff did not ask and placed extras involuntarily into the booth without explanation.
While plot details for the sequel remain under wraps, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, and Djimon Hounsou will star in the film. Scott’s original historical epic, Gladiator, follows a revered general turned enslaved gladiator, Maximus (Crowe), who must regain his freedom after being betrayed by the power-hungry Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Gladiator was a box-office success and received 12 Academy Award nominations and won 5 awards, including Best Picture in 2001. It is speculated that Mescal will play the lead role of Lucius, the nephew of Commodus and son of Lucilla (Nielsen).
It is largely speculated that the extra’s faces will be used to fill in the crowds in post-production using CGI and artificial intelligence technology. “They told me they were going to use it for the crowds in the Colosseum,” on extra said. Many of the extras fear their faces will be used for future projects without permission; “If they do have your face, you have no idea if it’s going to be put in a trailer or a film or a video.”
Related: Ridley Scott Explains the Reasons Behind Gladiator 2’s Decades of Development
How Hollywood’s Use of AI is Problematic for Actors
Dreamworks Pictures
Productions have added fake people in post-production editing for decades to fill in crowds without AI. But in recent years, actors’ personal rights and financial well-being have been at risk because of AI. The technology is supported mainly by large entertainment companies because it cuts costs in paying actors. On the other hand, many actors argue that AI takes away their creative freedoms, job opportunities, and agency over their identity. The constant use of AI is one of the conditions SAG-AFTRA union members are fighting against.
Journalist and Alliance for Practitioners, Artists, and Crew of Hollywood Abroad founder Matthew Maggi says that Hollywood production companies are taking advantage of non-union actors overseas.
“More and more Hollywood productions are being shot in countries like Czechia, Hungary, Malta or Romania: countries with either no unions for film workers or ones that are essentially powerless in comparison to the Hollywood Machine. Conversely, fewer projects are shot in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany and France since these are countries that have strong industry unions. It’s a no-brainer: no unions and fewer regulations means more profit for productions, at the expense of decent working conditions for crews and artists.”
Maggi also says that recruiting extras for AI scanning is inherently manipulative.
“They make it seem it is part of the normal process. It is becoming part of the process, but they make it hard for you to say ‘no’ as they normalise it and make you seem difficult if you say ‘no.’”
Despite filming being suspended due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Gladiator 2 is expected to be released in theaters on November 22, 2024.
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