A new biopic centered around Bitcoin is generating buzz as it reveals intriguing production techniques that include the potential use of artificial intelligence. Directed by Doug Liman and produced by Ryan Kavanaugh, the film intends to employ innovative technologies to enhance performances and streamline the filmmaking process.
According to a recent casting notice in the U.K., the indie film will incorporate AI to “adjust” certain performances. Actors will perform on a “markerless performative capture stage,” diverging from traditional filming methods that involve on-location shoots. The production’s approach utilizes generative artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, as noted in the casting notice. This includes the capability to modify lip, facial, and body movements during post-production.
Significantly, the casting notice stipulates that while AI may be used for performance adjustments, no “recognizable and identifiable digital replica” of an actor’s voice or likeness will be created without their prior written consent. Kavanaugh emphasized the cautious approach the production team is taking to ensure that the use of AI remains ethical. In a statement to Variety, he highlighted that AI is merely a tool intended to enhance efficiency in filmmaking, without replacing the roles of actors or department heads.
Despite the inclusion of AI-driven character elements in the casting notice, a source close to the film has clarified that the references to AI actors were mistakenly included and that all performers would be real actors. “Every actor in this movie will be a [real] actor that is acting,” the source stated, asserting the impracticality of creating a fully realized AI actor appropriate for a feature film.
The film, titled “Killing Satoshi,” is set to create all backgrounds and scenery using AI technologies, foregoing traditional location shoots. The intention behind this decision includes using AI to refine performances when necessary, thereby avoiding the need for reshoots. Kavanaugh described this as a process to enhance the visual and performance quality without altering the original delivery of lines by the actors.
However, the casting notice has sparked discussions about the future of actors in an increasingly technology-driven industry. The issues raised touch upon ongoing debates over compensation and consent in relation to the use of synthetic performances, particularly as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) engages in negotiations with studios and streaming services regarding these very concerns. The organization is focused on defining the boundaries for the reuse and repurposing of performers’ existing work and ensuring protections for actors’ names, images, and likenesses.
Production for “Killing Satoshi” is scheduled to commence in the U.K., with casting calls aimed at supporting actors available this month through March. The film will star high-profile actors such as Pete Davidson and Ben Affleck, revolving around the enigmatic Bitcoin creator known as Satoshi Nakamoto. This figure, who authored a pivotal 2008 white paper that initiated the decentralized cryptocurrency revolution, remains shrouded in mystery, akin to the quest for Deep Throat during the Watergate scandal.
“Killing Satoshi” is backed by Kavanaugh’s production company, Proxima, in partnership with Aperture Media Partners. The screenplay is penned by Nick Schenk, who is known for his work on “Gran Torino,” with casting directed by Dixie Chassay. The film seeks to delve into the events and figures behind one of the most significant developments in modern finance, captivating a generation striving to uncover the truth behind Nakamoto’s identity.
