Acting : The Last Pencil by Willem Elzenga 2

Willem Elzenga 2

The Last Pencil

Another nice new AI short (7') that explains a lot of the current state of modern AI moviemaking. Have a close look and let know what you think of this film, I am especially interested in what you think of the acting. 

To me the acting is on a scale between 0 and 10 a 6.5. The characters come across somewhat shallow at certain points, but I have seen worse in my life. I think with a little bit of extra work by acting and art department talent these performances can be made to 7 or 8. What kind of number would you give this acting performances? And as an actor would you be intererested in creating your own AI or virtual character?

https://youtu.be/YRVvFtTO86w?si=zF87FOFsZ5CwomGR

Alexandra Stevens

Hi Willem Elzenga 2 thanks for sharing. I'm curious as i know practically nothing about AI films. I've taken a quick look. Did you make it? Am I understanding correctly that the characters are AI generated? I think because I assumed that I was biased in my interpretation and they did come across as a bit soul-less to me. However I wonder, if you hadn't said anything, whether I would have had the same opinion. How would you improve them?

Charles Chas Green

Okay, this was a great little story. It held my attention and didn't let go...... the writing and the sentiment it contained was excellent ! I think however the story would have been FAR more powerful and resonant if it used REAL actors. I too know NOTHING about AI actors and acting and quite frankly while it serves its own turn in the current state of things with film making, there is always something a little soul less about it, once you know the actors aren't real . A huge part of what makes movie story telling powerful and compelling is that as an audience we readily RELATE to flesh and blood characters portrayed in front of us upon the screen ....it is through them that we hope, dream, love, feel longing and fear. For me in this little nugget of a film , what moved me was the sentiment contained in the WRITING which captured and carried the emotions, imagination and ideas of what its like to be human, but as told through the prism of an inanimate pencil - well done ! It makes wonderful poetic sense , because after all 'A Humble Pencil' is the purveyor or 'conduit' of hopes, dreams and aspiration.

Suzanne Bronson

I was taken out it of as soon as I saw the "people" The narrator sounded real to me, but the teacher and students looked and sounded fake. It all felt cartoony to me. I don't see how you can give the acting 6.5. To me, it was all just a cartoon. I stopped watching after 2 1/2 minutes.

Beridze Kakha

First off, I'm against any Artificial Intelligence that soullessly expresses emotion.

And second, I'd give it a 1 out of 10, and only because the pencil looked great.

Willem Elzenga 2

Alexandra Stevens I didn't make it. My company has several AI projects in development and is researching other work, like this short. The characters are AI generated though there has been a filmmaker writing prompts in several software applications. It's difficult to have a complete objective opinion on this, as it sort of has to compete with real live action production. I look at it as new form of filmmaking and think this is going into the right direction, you can see the maker has been taking care of certain points in the direction which really pays off. To be fair I think the acting needs more work, but I see the potential. I think with better make-up and better direction (through prompting) it could work better. Of course this takes more time in execution, and also might need a larger team with complementing expertises. I understand this complete short was a more or less one man effort with software available to everybody. That is in my opinion maybe not so special today, but quite amazing from a traditional producing point of view.

Charles Chas Green

The reality is, in time to come, AI will get this rendering down so well, so seamless that the requirement for real flesh & blood actors will almost be redundant. And ‘ everyone’ or anyone can potentially make movies from the relative comfort of their home studio or even bedroom computer. The gatekeepers are gone, and now everyone has permission to make the next Hollywood blockbuster.

Willem Elzenga 2

I read a lot about AI movies being soulless. But what does that actually mean? It's obvious that the AI tools need to be handled by the propper (creative) talent. I have seen better AI shorts than this one, so to me the whole AI is slop movement and we need a human in the loop because else.., else what? I think we really don't know and that people working with AI have a very interesting future for themselves ahead. How can you be against that?

Suzanne Bronson

Well this has me asking Willem Elzenga 2 can you teach AI to act? They don't have feelings, they don't understand feelings. How would you teach that? Would it be then, just mimicry? It's similar to the question about AI written scripts. AI has no personal experiences and emotions from which to draw from. I see AI as sociopaths.

Suzanne Bronson

There are Charles Chas Green actors who have sold their voice and likeness for AI use. so the physical rendering is not a problem. I actually know a producer/director who is doing this very thing. Using real people as the skin and voice of the AI and then AI are the actors. Which reminds me I need to check out his YT channel and see how it plays. You can't make AI feel no matter how it's dressed.

Willem Elzenga 2

It can't be taught, it has to be programmed. We don't know if AI has personal experiences and emotions, maybe the human brain and body isn't that complex after all in a couple of years. I see AI as my famlily and good friend. Together we're a great team!

Charles Chas Green

Willem Elzenga 2 .... I'm not sure I follow your reasoning?. Programmed "Yes"... but I can say without reservation that "NO" AI doesn't have personal experience and emotions.....only sentient creatures i.e. Human beings possess that ability. That's not to say that things can't/won't possibly change in the future - but certainly not in my tenure on this earth I'm confident in saying.

Alexandra Stevens

Willem Elzenga 2 I agree there’s clear potential as the tools improve, especially when a filmmaker’s sensibility is shaping the material. There’s something exciting about seeing where the two might eventually intersect in a way that expands possibility rather than replaces craft.

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