brave new world....

I always thought Atlas shrugged would have done better as a TV/cable/internet miniseries. Given that so much Rand predicted has already come to pass, maybe someone could update the original to give it a contemporary feel.

Imagine what those great actors could do for an Atlas Shrugged mini-series.

For the great actors of the past, there are still trusts that control their imagery, so a lifelike image of a well known actor would have have royalties involved, but I do think those trusts would like the idea of another source of income and be very cooperative. I think the idea of composites that are lifelike but not a direct image of any one actor is clever, and would make it very hard to support lawsuits. Having the image speak synchronously with any number of languages would certainly make dubbing a thing of the past. I recall a primitive effort to use the image of Sir Lawrence Olivier in a recent sci-fi venture, but can't remember the name of the movie. That was done from analysis of his many other films, so that the famous actor could be "resurrected" as a villain.

(1) A director of the computer that is recording the actor can have an actor repeat the scenes until satisfactory. Then can the software use those to build a composite actor that can do other scenes?
The new "big name" actors will be a composite of digital images with a contractual release without royalties from any humans involved. This could be the end of the control of unions in the entertainment business.
(2) Why shouldn't the studios just create their own digital actors using images from long dead actors (with consent of their descendants)? Want to see some new movies with John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, or a host of great character actors? Never have to see any of the liberal pompous asses again.
(3) One digital movie character can speak 100 languages accurately and with little cost open the markets in many countries for any movie maker having the technology.

I understand movie actors and other entertainers are working with their lawyers to insure royalties for use of their images when artificially generated. Some (especially female) entertainers are making it clear that use of their images for porn or other sexual exploitation will draw a lawsuit. Scarlett Johansson have to pursue this action late, as a sex doll manufacturer has already made a doll in her image.

I have to wonder at what point the digital image folks will be required to contract with anyone to pay for the use of their persona. Photographers don't have to pay for everyone in their shots unless the person makes a living off of their image, like models.

With this kind of real-seeming imagery, VR entertainment should be even more in demand. The challenging part of this technology is making realistic high fidelity movement without tracking a real person's movements.

Nearing the end of the power of movie actors to demand big salaries.

I still want Brainstorm technology
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085271/
and holodeck technology (without Moriarty.)