Pete Davidson’s Bitcoin Biopic to Use AI in Filming

The upcoming Pete Davidson Bitcoin biopic, directed by Doug Liman and produced by Ryan Kavanaugh, is breaking new ground by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to modify some actors’ performances during filming. This innovative approach will be employed on a markerless performative capture stage in the U.K., without traditional location shooting, utilizing emerging AI technologies.

Use of AI to Enhance Performances and Filming Process

According to the casting notice for the film, performers’ contributions may be altered with generative artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. These technologies will be used to adjust lip synchronization, facial expressions, and body movements without creating digital replicas of actors’ voices or likenesses without their written permission. The production team reserves the right to change, add to, or reprocess performances through these AI tools.

Producer Ryan Kavanaugh addressed concerns about the use of AI in a statement shared with Variety:

“We were very cautious, sensitive and overly protective of our actors to make sure we only use performance capture AI which means that we will not have any AI-generated actors that do not exist. AI is a tool we’re using to make the filmmaking process more efficient while maintaining all department heads’ jobs, all actor jobs and hopefully helping to grow the industry in a positive way.”

Ryan Kavanaugh, Producer

Clarifications on the Use of AI Actors and Digital Replicas

While the casting notice suggested that performers might share scenes with AI-generated actors, a source familiar with the production clarified that the reference was a mistake. No fully digital AI actors, like the controversial Tilly Norwood recreation, will appear in the film. The source explained the limitations of current technology, stating:

“Every actor in this movie will be a [real] actor that is acting….You couldn’t get it to a spec you needed for a movie, creating a full AI actor.”

AI’s Role in Production Design and Performance Tweaks

The same source confirmed that the film, titled Killing Satoshi, will create all backgrounds and scenery using AI-generated imagery rather than on-location shooting. Additionally, AI will assist in refining actors’ performances when reshoots are impractical. If the synchronization of movements and speech is slightly off, AI technology will be used to improve the footage rather than requiring actors to repeat scenes. The source further explained:

“They won’t be made to say anything they didn’t say but let’s say the way they said it in conjunction with the movement doesn’t look perfect, you wouldn’t need to reshoot it. We’d just use AI to make it look better.”

Industry Implications and Actors’ Rights on Synthetic Performances

The integration of AI into performance capture raises significant questions about actors’ rights, consent, and fair compensation. These issues have become central to ongoing negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and major studios, focusing on how synthetic or reprocessed performances should be treated compared to traditional human labor. The debate touches on copyright laws and attempts by unions to secure protections for performers’ image, voice, and likeness as technology evolves.

Film Production and Casting Details

Killing Satoshi is preparing to begin filming in the U.K., with casting calls for supporting actors available for work from late February through March. Variety previously disclosed that Pete Davidson and Ben Affleck are among the lead cast portraying figures tied to the elusive creator of Bitcoin, known under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. This mysterious identity has intrigued digital enthusiasts, sparking extensive investigations comparable to the Watergate era’s search for Deep Throat.

The project is financed by Ryan Kavanaugh’s Proxima production company alongside Aperture Media Partners. The screenplay was crafted by Nick Schenk, famed for writing Gran Torino, while Dixie Chassay manages casting.

Significance of Technological Innovation in Filmmaking

The decision to employ AI in the production of a Pete Davidson Bitcoin biopic illustrates a pivotal moment in filmmaking, blending traditional acting with cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency without compromising creative jobs. This approach may shape future industry standards, particularly as unions intensify efforts to regulate AI’s role in entertainment. As Killing Satoshi moves forward, the film not only aims to unveil one of the digital age’s great mysteries but also to test the boundaries of AI-assisted storytelling amid evolving artistic and ethical considerations.