Performers in the film and television industry are raising concerns about the increasing practice of on-set body scanning. Actors, dancers, and stunt performers report being asked to create detailed digital versions of themselves without clear information on how this data will be used, fueling fears that artificial intelligence could threaten their future employment.
The issue highlights a growing tension between technological advancement in visual effects and the rights of individuals whose likenesses are being captured. Many feel pressured to comply, fearing career repercussions if they refuse.
Key Takeaways
- Actors and other on-set performers are frequently asked to undergo full-body scans for visual effects purposes.
- There is widespread uncertainty and concern regarding the use of this biometric data, particularly for training AI models or creating digital doubles.
- The potential replacement of human performers with AI-generated characters could impact a wide range of industry jobs, not just actors.
- Legal experts point to outdated contracts that do not adequately protect performers' rights in the age of generative AI.
An Unexpected Request on Set
For many performers, the request to be scanned comes as a surprise. Actress Olivia Williams, known for her roles in productions from The Sixth Sense to the upcoming Dune: Prophecy, described the process as happening without warning.
She explained that an assistant director often approaches an actor mid-shoot, asking them to visit the visual effects (VFX) bus. According to Williams, the environment on a film set makes it difficult to refuse such requests.
"Actors are, by and large, people pleasers," Williams stated. "To have a standoff about scanning when you are in the midst of a scene annihilates your creativity, engenders fear that you will never work again, that your agent will drop you. So you comply."
This experience is not unique to lead actors. Supporting actors, stunt performers, and dancers have shared similar stories of being ushered into scanning booths, often feeling unclear about the rights they have over the resulting digital files.
The Fear of AI-Generated Replacements
The anxiety surrounding body scans has intensified with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The recent emergence of AI-generated characters, such as one publicized as "Tilly Norwood," has made the threat of digital replacement feel more immediate for many in the industry.
Dave Watts, a seasoned supporting artiste with credits in major superhero films, has been scanned multiple times. He expressed concern that the data collected could be used to create digital crowds, eliminating the need for human extras.
What is Body Scanning?
On-set body scanning, or photogrammetry, involves a performer standing inside a rig equipped with dozens of high-resolution cameras. These cameras capture images from every angle simultaneously, which are then stitched together by software to create a highly detailed, photorealistic 3D model of the person.
"I already hear crew members saying... 'We can just ask AI to create a crowd of 1,000 people based on information which has already been captured,'" Watts said. This sentiment points to a potential domino effect on employment across the entire production ecosystem.
A Broader Impact on Industry Jobs
The replacement of human performers with digital counterparts would have consequences far beyond the actors themselves. A large-scale production relies on a vast support network for its cast.
Watts highlighted the potential job losses that would follow if production sizes were reduced. "If you don’t have your usual crowd of 100, 200 or 500 SAs [supporting artistes] on a big production, then you also don’t need the assistant directors that look after them," he explained.
The list of affected professions includes:
- Hair and makeup artists
- Costume designers and wardrobe staff
- Catering teams
- Drivers and location marshals
An anonymous dancer echoed these fears, describing the immense pressure to complete scans even after long, grueling days of filming. "You wonder, have we all done ourselves out of a job? It makes you feel a bit of a fool," the dancer shared.
Navigating a Legal Gray Area
Performers currently face a complex legal landscape. Alex Lawrence-Archer, a data rights lawyer from the firm AWO, noted that many industry contracts are outdated and ill-equipped to handle the nuances of AI and biometric data.
"Contracts are often quite poorly drafted, often industry-standard wording that has been around for many years," Lawrence-Archer said. "They’re really not designed with these kinds of technologies in mind. What you have is kind of a vacuum of uncertainty."
In this uncertain environment, studios and AI developers may be operating in a gray area. The lawyer emphasized the need for performers to negotiate clearer, more specific contracts before a production begins, rather than trying to reclaim control of their data after the fact.
The Fight for Data Control
Lawrence-Archer revealed that some actors who have formally requested access to their data have been offered payments by AI companies to withdraw those requests. This suggests that technology firms are sensitive about revealing how performance data is being collected and used to train their models.
Signs of Collective Action
In response to these growing concerns, some performers are beginning to organize and push back. On one recent production, the cast collectively raised the issue of surprise scans, successfully negotiating for an addendum to their contracts.
"We succeeded in getting them to put a sort of addendum into our agreement, which basically prevents them from using the digital scans for anything other than the show without our written consent," said one performer who wished to remain anonymous.
Theo Morton, a professional stunt performer, believes that establishing contractual safeguards is essential. He noted that the technology could be used to enhance creativity, but without proper controls, it could also drastically reduce the need for human talent.
The central debate is about maintaining human creativity at the core of the entertainment industry. As Lawrence-Archer warned, focusing solely on compensation could lead to a future where actors become "data gig workers, rather than the creative performers they are." The industry now stands at a critical juncture, deciding whether technology will serve art or replace the artists themselves.