Eline van der Velden, CEO of Particle6 and the creator behind digital performer Tilly Norwood, is defending her project, calling AI actors the next step for film and television. Speaking to Variety, she argued that performers should embrace the technology rather than fear it.
“There’s a real person and a creative human vision behind Tilly,” Van der Velden said. “Actors have always brought characters to life, and that’s exactly what I did with her.” She explained that her team built Tilly through traditional creative processes, saying the project combines acting, animation, and digital design. Her message to Hollywood was blunt: “AI is here to stay. The question is not whether AI actors will replace actors, it’s whether they will own their place in this new era—or be left behind.”
Van der Velden compared Tilly to past digital characters like Gollum from Lord of the Rings and the Na’vi in Avatar, pointing out that actors such as Andy Serkis and Zoe Saldaña helped define motion capture as a legitimate art form. “Tilly doesn’t exist without human guidance,” she said. “She doesn’t move, speak, or react without careful human direction.” Still, her comments have sparked backlash among industry workers who see the rise of AI performers as a direct threat to jobs and artistic integrity.
That tension underlines a growing divide in Hollywood. This week, major stars, including Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett, launched a campaign called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation.” The initiative, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, targets companies using generative AI to create new content from celebrity likenesses without consent. A statement from the Human Artistry Campaign called on lawmakers to act, warning that “Big Tech is trying to change the law so they can keep stealing American artistry to build their AI businesses—without paying the people who did the work.” More than 700 figures have signed on, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Fran Drescher, Kristen Bell, Cyndi Lauper, and Questlove.
Dr. Moiya McTier, an advisor to the coalition, said the goal is to protect creators from being replaced or exploited. “Real innovation comes from the human motivation to change our lives,” she said. “AI companies are endangering artists’ careers while exploiting their craft.”
Industry analysts say the fight over AI’s role in entertainment is far from over. Studios see it as a tool to cut costs and accelerate production, while performers warn it threatens the basic idea of authorship and artistic labor. The gap between technology’s promise and its ethical limits continues to widen. Recent moves by companies like Disney, which reportedly struck a deal to allow AI firms access to parts of its content catalog, have only sharpened those concerns.
The future of Hollywood may depend on how far the industry, and its audience, are willing to let machines take the stage. For now, one thing is clear: the clash between artificial intelligence and authentic artistry is only just beginning.
English (US) · 