*Tyler Perry has seen Hollywood’s future. And it looks like AI. For better or for worse.
Chatting with The Hollywood Reporter, Perry cited the constantly changing evolution of artificial intelligence, particularly OpenAI‘s new video tool Sora, as reason to fall back with expanding his Tyler Perry Studios production company in Atlanta.
“I was in the middle of, and have been planning for the last four years, about an $800 million expansion at the studio,” the entertainment mogul told The Reporter. “All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of Sora and what I’m seeing.”
What Perry saw was the latest development in AI. Earlier this month, OpenAI launched Sora to a limited group of creators, as well as experts working to improve AI safety, noted Business Insider.
According to the site, Sora can “generate videos up to a minute long from text and image prompts” as well as “extend existing videos by filling in missing frames.”
The video tool’s range goes far beyond creating “simple video clips.” Commenting on Sora, OpenAI mentioned how the clips can be “complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details.”
“I had no idea until I saw recently the demonstrations of what it’s able to do. It’s shocking to me,” said Perry, who confessed to hearing about Sora, but not knowing what to expect.
Now that he’s witnessed Sora personally, the “House of Payne” creator sees “mind-blowing capabilities with AI as he believes the tech would likely reduce a studio’s need to build big sets or travel to locations for shoots.
Perry’s experience seeing Sora in action comes after he halted plans to expand Tyler Perry Studios, one of the largest production companies in the country. Had things continued, the $800 million project would have added 12 sound stages, backlots, sets, and more to the 330-acre property, Business Insider reported.
Despite the expansion’s delay, Perry’s plans of competing against Disney and Universal Studios with a sprawling entertainment complex are still on, with 37 acres of property adjoining his Atlanta-based studios included in the project. Restaurants, shops, a theater, and a theme park-style experience would be among the things featured.
As a businessman and actor, Perry can see how outsourcing jobs to AI can improve things on his side as well as threaten the livelihood of everyone working in Hollywood — from actors to editors to sound and transportation technicians. Among the rewards Perry sees would be the ability to make a pilot television show for a fraction of the millions it would cost.
“This is a time for galvanizing one voice in motion to help save, and protect the individuals of our industry,” said the “Midea” franchise fixture, who called for Hollywood workers to organize under a single union.
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