We’ve seen computer software and the Internet wipe out many jobs over the past decade or so. And there is no doubt that more will be lost, along with entire industries.
I’ve been wondering for a while now when software will become available that will, effectively, make today’s actors redundant in the TV and film industries.
I’m sure it is only a matter of time — and not that far into the future — when you will be able to buy software that will allow you to make movies and TV shows, complete with onscreen characters that appear to be real people.
I’m not talking about animation or claymation or anything of the sort. I’m talking about fabricated actors who look like real people, i.e. Bogie and Bacall.
In other words, with several keystrokes and mouse clicks, you will be able to create movies and TV shows that today cost millions and hundreds of million to make. And you’ll be able to do it for the price of the software and your time.
This isn’t the same as making a home video now with something you’ve captured on your smartphone or video camera. This is about a software program and your desktop computer.
I imagine that today’s film studios will be wiped out of business as John Doe and company make their own movies and upload them to places like YouTube.
Perhaps the software has already been made.
Thoughts?
— Jillian
Photo: Will you soon be able to generate similar versions of Marilyn Monroe with home computer software? (Cropped screenshot of Marilyn Monroe from the trailer of the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953, from Wikimedia Commons)
Jillian Page 
There will always be “live” theatre. Broadway cannot be duplicated in any manner. Indeed, there is an uptick in the productions of the stage. And many of “the actors” from Hollywood and TV are returning to where the action always lives, and is vibrant %)
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I agree with the Broadway/theatre comment. But I was talking about TV and film production.
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I think we’ll see computer-generated young versions of actors playing classic characters. Instead of recasting Star Trek, we will get cg versions of Kirk, Spock and McCoy. We’ll also probably get new James Bonds with young cg Sean Conner and new Indiana Jones with young cg Harrison Ford.
They already did a bit of it with Jeff Bridges in the Tron sequel.
Lots of money in reviving franchises this way.
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They’ve been sampling major orchestras for decades.
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I’m hoping this doesn’t happen. I think it takes away the realism and spontaneity and creativeness a human gives bringing that character to life. That would be like watching animation with the voiceovers.
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