For the past four years, Tyler Perry has been planning an $800 million expansion of his Atlanta studio that would add 12 soundstages to the 330-acre property. But for now, that ambition is on hold. That's thanks to the rapid developments he's seeing in the field of AI, including OpenAI's text-video model Sora, which debuted on February 15 and wowed observers with its cinematic video output.
“It's one thing to be told it can do all these things, but to actually see it and it was shocking,” he said in an interview. hollywood reporter On Thursday, he noted that his work may not require traveling to locations or building sets with the help of technology.
As a business executive, Perry sees opportunity in these developments, but as an employer, fellow actor, and filmmaker, he also wants to sound the alarm. In an interview between shoots on Thursday, Perry explained his concerns about technology's impact on labor and why the industry is coming together to fight AI: Otherwise, I don't know how we will survive. ”
After watching Sora, how do you feel right now about how fast AI technology is advancing and how it could impact entertainment in the short term?
I have been following AI closely and closely monitoring its progress. I've been in the midst of an approximately $800 million studio expansion for the past four years. That would mean a huge backlot and 12 additional sound stages. All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of what Sora and I are seeing. I've been hearing about this coming for about a year now, but I didn't know until recently when I saw a demonstration of what it could do. That's shocking to me.
What particularly struck you about its features?
No need to go to the location anymore. If you want to be in the Colorado snow, it's text. If you want to write a moon scene, it's text and this AI can generate it like it's nothing. If two people want to live in a living room on the mountain, there is no need to build a set on the mountain or place it on their own property. It's shocking to me that you can do this while sitting in an office and using a computer.
I am so worried about all the people in this industry. Because as soon as I was watching this, I started thinking about all the people in the industry that would be affected by this: actors, grips, electrical, traffic, sound, editors. I looked at this and thought, this is going to affect everyone. A corner of our industry.
Are you currently implementing AI in your work, or are you planning to do so in the near future?
We have used AI in two upcoming movies. So I could go without makeup for hours. By using this AI technology, you no longer need to wear aging makeup for hours after and on set.
In your studio and work, are you thinking about how to approach the threat that AI poses to certain professions?
Everything is up in the air right now. Very adaptable. Technology advances very quickly. It feels like everyone in the industry is running 100 miles an hour trying to keep up, trying to put up guardrails and put on their safety belts, just to make a living. But I, like every other studio in town, we're all trying to figure everything out. I think we're all moving forward trying to find answers, but it's changing every day, and it's not just our industry, but every industry impacted by AI, from accountants to architects. affect. If you look around the world, it's changing so quickly that I hope there's a whole-of-government approach that helps everyone sustain. That's my hope.
How do you think the entertainment industry as a whole will respond to this rapidly evolving technology?
I definitely think it has to be all hands-on. [deck], an industry-wide approach. One union cannot contest all contracts every two or three years. The industry is rapidly changing before our eyes, and I think everyone involved needs to work on how to protect the future of the industry. I think about all the construction workers and contractors who will no longer be employed because I don't do it because I don't have to do it in the next phase of the studio.
What is your message to the industry at this time as you watch this unfold?
We know that each union is unique, and we know that they have worked with each other during negotiations, but now we need to save and protect the individuals in our industry. I think it's time to activate one voice.
As a studio owner, do you feel pressured to use AI at this time?
No, I don't feel pressured to use it, but I'm definitely noticing the benefits and what it brings. However, I can either avoid the conversation by focusing on the bottom line, which the studio is doing extremely well, or I can jump right in and have the conversation head-on to ensure the protection of everyone involved. can also do. So I think he has two sides on this matter. For me, I look at my business and my bottom line, but I'm also very concerned about all the talent that I've trained and acquired in this industry. I'm worried about what will happen to them.
How do you think the convergence of the rapid development of AI and the current industry contraction will play out?
I think this will be a big game changer. Because if you can spend a fraction of the cost of a pilot, which would have cost HBO $15 million, $20 million, even $35 million, of course it's going to be a bottom line profit in the end. . Over time, companies will take the lower cost path. So I am very concerned that many jobs will be lost in the near future. I really feel that very strongly.
Who needs to act? You're speaking out on this, but who else should be speaking out? And are you working on this?
I hope that as people embrace this technology and as companies try to cut costs and save profits, there will be some kind of thinking and some kind of compassion for humanity and the people who have worked in this industry. I just hope. They've built careers and lives, and they have some ideas. And I think the only way to move this forward is to activate it as one voice, not just in Hollywood and this industry, but in Congress.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.