Entertainment
James Earl Jones’ Darth Vader Voice Comes Alive Through AI, Voice Actors See Promise and Peril
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Over the course of James Earl Jones’s greater than six-decade-long acting profession, his voice has turn out to be an integral a part of his work as an artist.
On screen, Jones, who died Monday at age 93, dropped at life the lonely author beat back into the highlight in “Field of Dreams” and the haughty king of a fictional land in “A King in America.” On stage, he won two Tony Awards for “The Great White Hope” and “Fences.” work as a voice actor — the regal dignity with which he portrayed Mufasa in The Lion King and the sinister, deep timbre of his voice as Darth Vader in Star Wars — helped cement his status as a legendary actor amongst generations of fans.
But since his death, one aspect of Jones’ profession has come to the fore: his agreement to make use of artificial intelligence to recreate his performance as Darth Vader after he stepped down from the role. Skywalker Sound and the Ukrainian company Respeecher uses artificial intelligence to recreate Jones’ villain within the 2022 Disney+ series “Obi-Wan Kenobi.” Mark Hamill’s voice was also “rejuvenated” using Respeecher for his performance as Luke Skywalker in “The Mandalorian.”
Voice actors say they’re scared Artificial intelligence can reduce or eliminate employment opportunities since the technology might be used to duplicate one performance in multiple other movements without their consent — concerns which have led video game performers affiliated with the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists to go on strike at the tip of July.
For some, Jones’ decision to let AI replicate his voice raises questions on voice acting as an art form, but it surely also potentially helps lay the groundwork for transparent AI contracts that fairly compensate an actor for his or her performance with their consent. Zeke Alton, a voice actor and member of SAG-AFTRA’s Interactive Media Contract Negotiating Committee, said it was “amazing” that Jones was involved within the technique of replicating his voice.
“If the game companies, the movie companies, would agree to pay transparency for every actor they gave James Earl Jones, we wouldn’t be striking,” Alton said. “That proves they can do it. They just don’t want to do it for people they don’t think have the power to bargain for themselves.”
Hollywood video game executives have announced a piece stoppage – the second in a decade – after greater than 18 months of negotiations over a brand new interactive media take care of the gaming giants resulted in failure artificial intelligence protection. Union members said they should not against AI. Performers are concerned, however the technology could provide studios with a solution to replace them.
Concerns about how film studios are using the movies Artificial intelligence has helped drive last 12 months’s union strikes within the film and television industry, which lasted 4 months.
Jones, who overcame a childhood stutter, has said in previous interviews that he was “glad I can talk at all, because there was a time when I couldn’t.” His goal, he said, was to make his voice clear. He told the Associated Press in 1994 that he tried to make Darth Vader “more human and more interesting.” But George Lucas, the filmmaker who created “Star Wars,” advised him to “go back to a very narrow range of expression” since the villain’s mechanical body parts would make it difficult for him to talk in a more human voice.
Neither Skywalker Sound nor Respeecher responded to requests for comment. But a Skywalker Sound sound editor told Vanity Fair that Jones signed off on using archival footage to maintain Darth Vader alive, and that he directed Darth Vader’s performance within the Disney+ series as a “benevolent godfather.”
Voice actor Brock Powell said the power to make use of an actor like Jones’s voice ceaselessly could eliminate the necessity for voice actors, a job that gives regular work for a lot of performers who can recreate a famous voice for video games, animated series and other forms of media.
“To quote ‘Jurassic Park,’ scientists were so busy wondering whether they could do it or not, they didn’t stop to ask whether we should do it,” Powell said.
This sort of use of AI may also limit “creativity” in acting, as recent actors may not have the possibility to are available in and bring a task to life.
Crispin Freeman, the actor who did the voice-matching for Orlando Bloom in Pirates of the Caribbean, said the technology could reduce the necessity for voice-matching but wouldn’t negatively impact “future artists’ ability to forge their own paths” in recent roles.
“We always have to reinvent new stories going forward, and not just rely on old things,” he said. “Instead of worrying about, ‘Oh, is someone else going to be able to be Darth Vader,’ why don’t we create a new ‘Star Wars’ character who is as compelling as Darth Vader?”
Jones’s deal might be an example of easy methods to properly negotiate with a likeness actor, said Sarah Elmaleh, chairwoman of SAG-AFTRA’s interactive negotiating committee. Elmaleh, a voice actress, said there’s a likelihood those tools might be utilized in “meaningful, smart artistic decisions.”
“I worry about a world in which we equate the superficial qualities of a person’s voice with their performance,” she said. “I can’t help but move away from the metaphor that’s built into the character itself, which is that when you equate a human with a machine, you become a tool for other forces, other powers that exist.”
Alton, the voice actor, said he wondered what it might mean to make use of Jones’ voice as Darth Vader if the voice was used for an additional 100 years and people didn’t remember “all the different things that made him an iconic character.”
“It’s just a disembodied voice at this point. It’s part of the castration of art that generative AI has the potential to do, and it’s a pretty heady topic, but it’s really important for us as a world to consider what we want our entertainment and our art to be in the future,” he said. “Do we want it to be human, or do we want it to be bland?”
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Entertainment
Wendy Williams’ predictions about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s relationship resurface after reality star reveals family drama
Wendy Williams has at all times been unrivaled in the case of predicting celebrity drama.
She once famously shouted out Sean “Diddy” Combs, hinting that something fishy was occurring behind the scenes. So when he was arrested in September 2024, many individuals immediately noticed that this media specialist had been ahead of the curve for years.
It seems that Wendy could have also seen the tip of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s marriage long before it happened.
AND restored clip The June 13, 2013 episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” went viral on TikTok, with fans calling Wendy an “oracle” for predicting Kim and Kanye’s eventual split.
In the video, also available on YouTube, Wendy casually shares her thoughts on their relationship while viewers applaud her for being right.
“What do you think about Kim and Kanye?” – asked Ellen DeGeneres throughout the segment.
Wendy replied, “I mean, I’m pleased for her. She wanted a baby. “I said (please don’t laugh and don’t encourage me), but I said she would be a single mom and he would have a lot of problems.”
Fans immediately understood what gave the impression of a prophecy.
“Wendy said so,” one person wrote within the comments.
Another joked: “Wendy can tell you a joke but she’ll never lie,” while another person declared: “Wendy was an oracle.”
“Wendy tried not to say what was on her mind,” one other fan added.
On YouTube, one viewer excellent“He’s right about Kim and Kanye and this is what’s happening before our eyes.”
Wendy had an undeniable talent for reading celebrities and spilling their “tea,” and her tackle Kardashian and West was no exception.
The couple began dating in 2012, quickly becoming one in all Hollywood’s most famous couples. They welcomed their first child, North, in 2013 and tied the knot in 2014 in a lavish Italian wedding. After the marriage, they’d three more children: Saint, Chicago and Psalm.
9. In April 2012, West began dating reality star Kim Kardashian, with whom he was already longtime friends. West and Kardashian became engaged in October 2013 and married in May 2014 at Fort di Belvedere in Florence.
He had 4 children together with her – North West,… pic.twitter.com/282nefsiwQ— 𝐏𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐞 🧸✰ (@ThePadrepr) October 9, 2024
In early 2021, Kimye’s relationship fell apart and the influential billionaire filed for divorce after months of speculation about Kanye’s mental problems and public outbursts. The divorce was finalized in late 2022, with the mother awarded primary custody of the youngsters.
Kardashian recently opened up about her experiences with single parenthood on an episode of iHeart’s “What The Winkler?” of November 12. podcast together with her best friend Zoe Winkler, daughter of actor Henry Winkler.
After the comment, it gave the impression of Wendy’s prediction had come true in an uncanny way.
The reality star’s ex-husband and father of kids has been in Asia for months together with his recent wife Bianca Censori, leaving her to lift the youngsters alone. The last public sighting of the youngsters with the “Vultures” rapper was almost two months ago.
During the podcast, Winkler called Kardashian’s situation “crazy.”
As the “Kardashian” star explained why she avoids talking about this topic publicly“These conversations tend to be judgmental,” she said, adding that “I’m basically raising four kids on my own.”
West spends many of the 12 months traveling around Asia together with his second wife, Bianca Censori. Therefore, on a regular basis child-related responsibilities fall on Kim, but she noted that she has great support in the shape of her siblings and mother.
“But sometimes in the middle of the night,” she continued, “when everyone’s sleeping in your bed and kicking you and crying and waking you up — it’s not something I talk about a lot because I feel like there’s always a lot of judgment, otherwise people always they’ll immediately say, “Oh, but you have the means to have nannies and have help.” And I think that no matter what help I get, I’m basically raising four kids on my own.”
The mom also addressed the concept that she had the “resources” to have a military of nannies.
For her, doing many things on her own gives her “bonding time” together with her children. She said. “This is really important to me. (…) Taking them to school every day is just what I have to do, no matter what.”
Kardashian even compared her morning routine to a pit stop in a race. “Brush your teeth, brush your teeth, brush your teeth, OK, get dressed, get dressed, do your hair,” she described.
Regardless of Williams’ previous predictions about what sort of mother Kim could be, several social media users wondered why she did not have the identical revelation when it got here to the turmoil that ended her 22-year marriage.
One person he said“Interesting! But she didn’t see her own marriage fall apart? while another said: “She didn’t expect her marriage to collapse like this!”
The former media activist married Kevin Hunter on November 30, 1999, and filed for divorce in 2019, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce got here after Williams discovered Hunter had welcomed a toddler together with his lover Sharina Hudson. Their divorce was not finalized until 2020.
Hunter received monthly child support checks in the quantity of $250,000 until “The Wendy Williams Show” resulted in June 2022. Due to suspicions about Wendy’s health, she was placed under guardianship. However, her ex-husband, with whom she shares 24-year-old Kevin Hunter Jr., now claims she “falsely concealed” $48 million in reference to their divorce.
During the interview, Kardashian even touched on discipline, mentioning how her son Saint once posted an anti-Kamala Harris message on Instagram and promoted his Fortnite account to hundreds of thousands of followers right after the presidential election.
“It’s like if your child said a bad word or something that made you feel humiliated…” Kim said.
Kanye West’s son Saint West posted this on YouTube Shorts about Kamala Harris 😭 pic.twitter.com/a23TFrzMZw
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) October 29, 2024
She added: “When Saint took my phone and posted… my publicist texted me, ‘This is what you’re posting on Election Day?’ And I said, “It’s a baby.” He has no idea.
The reality star said that despite all of the pressure she feels about being a single mom, she loves every moment of being a mom.
While Wendy didn’t predict how the Kardashian-West kids would end up, she did nail it when it got here to their parents: Kanye’s lack of reliability and Kim’s deep desire to be a mom.
Reflecting on Wendy’s predictions, fans enjoyed her spot-on insight into Kim and Kanye’s dynamic. As one fan wrote, and many individuals said, “I miss her so much.”
Entertainment
Lindsay Lohan looks unrecognizable as fans are shocked by her ‘latest face’ in photos
Former ’90s Disney star Lindsay Lohan is popping heads with her radiant latest look only a 12 months and a half after welcoming her son Luai.
Once known for her rebellious Hollywood antics, the previous child star has undergone a striking transformation that has left fans in awe.
According to reports, she didn’t undergo any cosmetic surgery to attain this latest look, which is as a result of her lifestyle change and wonderful composition.
Lohan who he didn’t like his freckles in his youth, he now wears them as an indication of self-confidence. However, relating to red carpet appearances, her latest makeup style makes people think that she underwent cosmetic surgery to remove them.
After that, the conversation began appeared this week on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
The 38-year-old’s radiant appearance marks a pointy departure from her childhood days and shows a girl who has embraced maturity and motherhood with grace and sweetness.
One fan said: “This is a really nice flare and BACK.”
Another added: “I want what she did to her face. It looks AMAZING.”
Even when Extra TV caught up with her on the New York premiere of her latest Netflix holiday movie “Our Little Secret,” people were there out of breath.
Wearing a surprising black dress with a sheer bottom, Lohan had her blonde hair tousled around her shoulders. She walked the red carpet with her husband Bader Shammas and was later met by co-stars Kristin Chenoweth and Ian Harding, as well as her mother Dina and brothers Dakota and Michael Jr.
In elementary school, I wrote a paper about how Lindsay Lohan was my idol
Seeing him turn his life around makes me very joyful and truthfully, he still lives as much as his idol’s standards👏🏼👏🏼
Photos taken today in 2024 in comparison with 20 years ago in 2004. She fought so hard, she got here out of… pic.twitter.com/l8GRZDVrJC
— Erica Levin (@bankof_amERICA) November 19, 2024
People in the comments were very enthusiastic about her appearance.
“I do not even recognize her, she’s modified a lot. She looks healthy and joyful,” one person said.
“Wow, some work has been done on her face; however, it also looks healthy,” one other person said.
A 3rd wrote: “I love her new face.”
Lohan was also accused of using Botox as several people continued to indicate the difference in her appearance in recent months.
“Correct!! Looks great but completely different,” one person said.
Others said: “Lindsay is back on top! You look amazing @lindsaylohan,” and added: “I’m so joyful for her. All adults, married and with children. I hope she is so joyful.
Lohan and Bader Shammas have been married since April 2022. Friends of the actress, who has taken a step back from the highlight in recent years, credit her transition to a healthier lifestyle, According to to the Daily Mail.
She reportedly incorporates Pilates exercises, regular workouts and other “natural beauty routines” into her routine.
In addition to lifestyle changes, the “Parent Trap” star dedicates herself to skincare, facials and high-quality makeup to focus on her natural features. The combination of self-care and discipline left fans amazed, with many commenting on her youthful and refined appearance.
An insider allegedly told the web site: “Lindsay didn’t outsource any work. She owes her appearance to a healthy lifestyle. He doesn’t take drugs, eats thoroughly and likes to cleanse.
“She constantly undergoes facials and other natural beauty treatments,” the person said.
“He also does pilates and exercises. He is in better shape than ever,” the praise continued.
This transformation is greater than skin-deep for Lohan, whose journey has been a testament to non-public growth and self-acceptance.
Over the years, Lohan has evolved from a star she closely follows party ways devoted mother and wife.
The “Mean Girl” star’s transformation is an inspiring reminder that individuals can grow up and understand what is going on on. Her journey from a troubled Hollywood past to a glittering, confident present highlights the positive impact of prioritizing health, well-being and self-love.
For fans, her latest look shouldn’t be only external beauty, but in addition a mirrored image of a girl who has found balance and success in her life.
Entertainment
Gary Owen’s response to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical threat to white comedians talking about black women draws stern warning from fans
After last 12 months’s defeat to Drake on “Not Like Us,” rapper Kendrick Lamar caused one other storm with the surprise release of his latest album, “GNX.”
The 12-track project, which landed without warning on November 22, caused a storm not just for its good lyricism, but in addition for its sharp commentary on cultural dynamics.
One line specifically from the opening track “Wacced Out Murals” caused controversy: “Don’t let any white comedian talk about a black woman, it’s the law.”
A line from the album’s opening song caused a wave of shock on the Internet. While some thought it was directed at white comedian Andrew Schulz, who has been heavily criticized for his controversial comments about black women, fellow white comedian Gary Owen decided to join the conversation.
Owen, who has been touring with Black comedians because the Nineteen Nineties (including performing popular stand-up specials on BET’s “Comic View”) and has 4 Black children, posted a photograph on his Instagram he wrote“If this is the law, that makes me a criminal.”
This daring move gave the impression of a giant mistake for the “Ride Along” actor, who publicly admitted to cheating on his black ex-wife, allegedly together with his recent black wife, Brianna Johnson. Even today, he talks a lot about his ex-wife, Kenya Duke, during a few of his comedy sketches that she asked him to stop mentioning her.
Likewise, a lot of his 2.1 million fans didn’t feel it.
“Gary, sit down. This is not for you,” one person wrote of their comments section, while one other warned: “Hold carefully lol.”
A 3rd comment read: “You’re too comfortable.”
Two others said: “And this is why you all should stop giving away all these free tickets. Too comfortable in spaces and conversations where he doesn’t belong” and “Yes, I should have kept that in the draft.”
Some tried to distract from the warmth by saying, “He’s talking about Andrew Schulz, you’re good.” Another joked: “You have the get out of jail free card, Gary, however the damage has already been done.
It is unclear whether Owen knew about Schulz’s story and was almost canceled.
In July, Schulz hosted James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu’s podcast “Shxtsngigs” on his show “Flagrant.”
The group joked about the so-called “black girl effect,” during which black women supposedly “light up” their white boyfriends by improving their style. Schulz went further, joking that black women “complain” and are “stressful.”
Kendrick Lamar criticizes Andrew Schulz in recent song because he made fun of Black Women:
– “Don’t let a white comedian talk about black women” pic.twitter.com/fhUgSHjrVb
— Fear Gator 🔥 (@FearGator) November 22, 2024
Talking about white boys’ recent hairstyles, he said, “they’re shaving their hair because it’s starting to fall out because he’s so stressed out being around this black girl who complains all the time.”
Duncan and Dawodu laughed together before the white comedian continued his joke: “They grow beards because they need a pillow after they get hit. I feel the black girl effect could also be a protective instinct.
Since not one of the Black hosts corrected him or laughed, they were met with a barrage of backlash that forced them to apologize.
Black women around the globe were expected to get up and defend them. Other popular names resembling ESPN host Ryan Clark have weighed in on the controversy.
Clark was quick to dismiss Schulz and stated that perhaps his connections to people like Charlamagne Tha God made him feel “too comfortable.”
Addressing the difficulty on “The Pivot” podcast, he said he didn’t care whether it was a giant deal for Duncan and Dawodu to meet the “Flagrant” host. He also explained the Black woman’s experience and why the joke wasn’t funny.
I’m unsure what a black woman experiences @andrewschulz it had, however it wasn’t the true “black girl effect”. Insulting black women and describing them as whiny and aggressive isn’t only unfaithful. This is disrespectful. Worse yet, James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu allowed him… pic.twitter.com/2gQQRPSCYd
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 19, 2024
It seems that is why the “Not Like Us” rapper’s bars just hit the mark.
“GNX” is a conversation that celebrates Lamar’s unparalleled artistry, but in addition opens a dialogue about cultural boundaries, responsibility and respect.
It’s unclear whether Schulz will address the criticism, but one thing is obvious to fans: Kendrick Lamar doesn’t just make music — he speaks out and challenges anyone who says something. Owen might want to take his fans’ suggestion to watch out – this is similar man who almost ended Drake’s profession.
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