Khaberni - The creators of a new film featuring a performance created with artificial intelligence for the late actor Val Kilmer defended their project, stating that this approach represents an ethical path for the use of modern technologies in the film industry in the future.
The brothers Kurti and John Voorhees explained that they obtained approval from Kilmer's heirs to use AI technologies to create his role in the film "As Deep as the Grave," which tells the story of archaeologists exploring the history of the Navajo people in New Mexico.
They highlighted the reliance on archival footage, photos, and audio recordings to help craft this performance realistically.
Kurti Voorhees, the writer and director of the film, stated in an interview at the "CinemaCon" conference in Las Vegas, "We are 100% confident that this is the right step for this film in particular, and we look forward to having the audience judge the experience for themselves."
Kilmer, who was known for his roles in films such as (Top Gun), had signed a contract to participate in the film years ago, but his declining health prevented him from performing the role before he passed away last year at the age of 65 after battling throat cancer.
Kilmer appears in the recently released trailer for the film in the role of the father "Fintan," a Catholic priest with Indigenous spiritual roots, where he says in one of the scenes: "Do not be afraid of the dead, and do not be afraid of me."
Despite the criticisms that the promotional clip received on social media platforms, where some commentators described it as "terrifying," Kurti Voorhees expressed his conviction that the audience will not feel that Kilmer's performance lacks the human element.
The brothers expressed their hope in presenting a positive model for how to employ this technology, at a time when actors' concerns about unauthorized uses of their images and digital identities are escalating.
