Netflix’s True Crime Documentary Producer Responds to What Jennifer Did AI Controversy

The producer of Netflix‘s new true-crime documentary What Jennifer Did, which details the chilling story of Jennifer Pan’s involvement in a murder-for-hire plot that tragically ended her mother’s life and severely injured her father, has hit back at claims of the documentary using AI to alter images of its subject. Earlier in the week, it was claimed that images of Pan included several elements that appeared to have been modified by the use of AI, including distorting her face to make her smile. However, executive producer Jeremy Grimaldi has denied the use of AI in any of the images.

Speaking with the Toronto Star, Grimaldi addressed the backlash the documentary has received from those claiming that AI was used to alter images used in the series. While admitting that editing had been done on the pictures in question, he explained that this was all done through conventional editing means and not by employing the use of AI to recreate a false image. He said:

Any filmmaker will use different tools, like Photoshop, in films. The photos of Jennifer are real photos of her. The foreground is exactly her. The background has been anonymized to protect the source.

Related Mea Culpa Creator Tyler Perry Slammed on Social Media Over “Shocking” AI Comments Tyler Perry’s comments about using AI technology has become the subject of some scathing reactions – but all is not as it seems.

This incident with What Jennifer Did is part of a growing trend and ongoing debate regarding the use of AI in the entertainment industry. The documentary joins a list of productions that have faced backlash for incorporating AI technologies, whether for opening credits, promotional posters or as part of on-screen images seen for only a brief moment.

The Controversial AI Revolution Continues to Confound

Marvel Studios

The contradictory and controversial implementation of AI technology is very quickly becoming an unavoidable burden for the world of film and television. The goal of those creating autonomous programs and self-thinking chatbots is to generate something that can effectively turn a 10-hour job into something that can be done in less than a minute. From script writing, to image generation, the world of AI seemingly knows no bounds – at least in terms of ambition. In execution, though, the results are often inconsistent and open up a lot of questions about its employment in the entertainment industry.

For instance, the indie horror film Late Night with the Devil recently received criticism after admitting to using AI for creating images aimed at enhancing the film’s 1970s aesthetic and were only seen on screen for the briefest of moments. Additionally, the promotional material for A24’ hit Civil War included AI-designed posters depicting post-apocalyptic scenes and surreal elements such as soldiers confronting a gigantic swan on a paddleboat. These followed the use of AI to generate the opening credits images of Marvel Studios’ Secret Invasion series on Disney+.

Related Civil War and A24 Slammed for Using AI in New Posters A24, one of the most respected film studios, has been criticized for its use of AI in creating a series of new posters.

The use of AI in film and television production and promotion has been the crux of several heated discussions in recent years. As AI continues to evolve and become more integrated into various facets of filmmaking, the industry is constantly under scrutiny to balance AI use with the creative power of actual people. Having been an integral part of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the future of AI use is clearly something that will cause many more debates in the near future.

What Jennifer Did
is currently available on Netflix. Meanwhile,
Late Night with the Devil
is now streaming on Shudder, and
Civil War
is playing in cinemas.

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