Kazakh Filmmaker Pioneers Lifelike AI Performances

In the past two days, Kazakh filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov has unveiled his latest innovation: an AI system called Stanislavsky that can create highly realistic digital actors. Bekmambetov, known for the 2008 Angelina Jolie action film 'Wanted', has spent over a decade and $5 million developing this technology.

The Stanislavsky system uses a method acting approach to train AI, allowing it to generate characters that display genuine emotion and nuanced performances. Bekmambetov plans to leverage this technology in his upcoming films, including the thriller 'Mercy' starring Chris Pratt, which will be distributed by Amazon MGM Studios. Even before shooting began, Bekmambetov used the AI to create a mockup version of 'Mercy' and present it to the studio, reducing the need for extensive feedback during production.

Bekmambetov is taking AI-generated filmmaking a step further with 'The Man With a Shattered World', which will be an almost entirely AI-created production, with only one professional actor. The film is based on the story of a Soviet soldier's recovery from a brain injury, a narrative that Bekmambetov sees as directly paralleling the process of 'reprogramming' AI.

While Bekmambetov acknowledges the disruptive potential of this technology, he believes it is here to stay and must be embraced responsibly. He argues that AI will not entirely replace human actors, as the 'magic' of performers like Angelina Jolie cannot be fully replicated. Instead, Bekmambetov envisions a future where actors train their own AI models to collaborate with in new ways.