Tyler Perry, the powerhouse behind the Madea franchise, has abruptly stopped the expansion of his Atlanta studio due to significant advances in artificial intelligence technology, specifically pinpointing OpenAI's new tool, Sora. The estimated $800 million project, which would have expanded his production capabilities with an addition of 12 new soundstages, now sits in an indefinite hiatus. “All of that is currently and indefinitely on hold because of Sora and what I’m seeing," Perry told The Hollywood Reporter. The filmmaker's pivot reflects the broader implications AI advancements pose to the entertainment industry.
The Sora tool Perry cites can create highly detailed scenes merely from textual descriptions, effectively reducing the need for costly location shoots and elaborate set constructions. "If I wanted to be in the snow in Colorado, it’s text. If I wanted to write a scene on the moon, it’s text, and this AI can generate it like nothing,” Perry revealed, noting the shock at AI's capabilities after being given an early look at the tool prior to its Feb. 15 launch. This cost-saving potential is hard to ignore, however, it's balanced against the prospect of job losses—ranging from set designers to location scouts—a concern Perry has not taken lightly, “I’m thinking this will touch every corner of our industry,” he expressed his concern to The Hollywood Reporter.
The "Madea Family Reunion" creator, who opened Tyler Perry Studios back in 2019, has used AI on two upcoming films, showcasing a practical embrace of the technology. Despite recognizing the efficiency AI brings, Perry remains apprehensive, "I’ve got two sides here to this thing. For me, I’m looking at my business and the bottom line, but I’m also very concerned about all the people that I have trained and [brought] up in this industry,” he shared with Black Enterprise.
In the wake of mounting concerns regarding AI's impact on creative professions, Hollywood recently navigated a writers and actors strike that concluded with specific AI-related provisions. According to comedian Adam Conover's statement to The Guardian, the new agreement ensures studios can't replace human writers with AI for scriptwriting tasks. While these developments offer some protection, Perry's decision to suspend his studio's expansion serves as a significant indicator of the far-reaching changes AI could usher in for filmmaking and beyond.
