Ben Affleck says his forthcoming Netflix thriller, Animals, uses AI “for lots of things,” but adds that it’s a “very human movie.” It isn’t too surprising that Ben Affleck’s into artificial intelligence, given that he sold his tech company, InterPositive, to Netflix for a reported $600m earlier this year. By the sounds of things, Affleck ... Animals | Ben Affleck thriller used AI for “lots of things”, he says
Ben Affleck says his forthcoming Netflix thriller, Animals, uses AI “for lots of things,” but adds that it’s a “very human movie.”
It isn’t too surprising that Ben Affleck’s into artificial intelligence, given that he sold his tech company, InterPositive, to Netflix for a reported $600m earlier this year.
By the sounds of things, Affleck has used his latest film, the thriller Animals, as a proving ground for InterPositive’s AI tools.
Over the past day or so, Affleck appeared at a Q&A hosted by Bloomberg, in which he admitted that Animals uses AI “for lots of things” – though, as quoted by Deadline, he isn’t in a hurry to say how or where it was used.
“I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie,” Affleck said. “I’m a little bit hesitant to point out what they are or even talk about it because, in my business, we’re trying to foster the illusion of reality, right? It’s sort of like if you went to a magic show and the magician walked out and said, ‘Just before I start, I want you to know there’s another bunny under here. This guy’s a plant.’ It sort of ruins it, right?”
Following in the footsteps of Gone Baby Gone and The Town, Animals is another crime thriller with Affleck’s creative fingerprints all over it – he directs, co-wrote the script, co-produces and stars. He plays Mark Kimball, who’s running for mayor in Los Angeles when his son’s kidnapped. Subsequently, thriller things happen.
Back at the Q&A, Affleck argued that Animals is a good venue for AI usage.
I thought it was a good example because it’s a very human movie. It’s not in space, it doesn’t have visual effects, but it allowed us to move in some cases more quickly, really mostly in post-production, to do things that otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to do.”
Animals, due out in a matter of days, comes on the heels of Danny Boyle’s Ink, which used AI to cheaply animate some photographs and rodents. Once early critics and viewers spotted the telltale signs, the backlash was immediate and vocal.
Just how much AI was used in Animals? Will it be noticeable, or merge seamlessly into the storytelling? Will word of its usage put audiences off?
We’ll find out when the film emerges on the 9th October.
Suggested product
Issue #61 (Horror Special): Magazine + Signed Ben Wheatley F&TT&N: Issue #4 (Reprint)
£14.99
