Latest news with #JetLi
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
AI is controversial in Hollywood. For China's film business, it's no holds barred
Hollywood's relationship with artificial intelligence is fraught, as studios balance the need to cut costs with growing concerns from actors, directors and crew members. But in China, efforts to use AI in entertainment are taking a more no-holds-barred approach. The China Film Foundation, a nonprofit fund under the Chinese government, plans to use AI to revitalize 100 kung fu classics including 'Police Story,' 'Once Upon a Time in China' and 'Fist of Fury,' featuring Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee, respectively. The foundation said it will partner with businesses including Shanghai Canxing Culture & Media Co., which will license 100 Hong Kong films to AI companies to reintroduce those movies to younger audiences globally. The foundation said there are opportunities to use AI to tell those stories through animation, for example. There are plans to release an animated version of director John Woo's 1986 film 'A Better Tomorrow' that uses AI to 'reinterpret' Woo's 'signature visual language,' according to an English transcript of the announcement. 'By empowering cultural storytelling with technology, we can breathe new life into the classics and tell China's stories farther and louder,' said Zhang Pimin, chairman of the China Film Foundation, at the Shanghai International Film Festival earlier this month. The project raised eyebrows among U.S. artists, many of whom are deeply wary of the use of AI in creative pursuits. The Directors Guild of America said AI is a creative tool that should only be used to enhance the creative storytelling process and 'it should never be used retroactively to distort or destroy a filmmaker's artistic work.' 'The DGA strongly opposes the use of AI or any other technology to mutilate a film or to alter a director's vision,' the DGA said in a statement. 'The Guild has a longstanding history of opposing such alterations on issues like colorization or sanitization of films to eliminate so-called 'objectionable content', or other changes that fundamentally alter a film's original style, meaning, and substance.' The project highlights widely divergent views on AI's potential to reshape entertainment as the two countries compete for dominance in the highly competitive AI space. In the U.S., much of the traditional entertainment industry has taken a tepid view of generative AI, due to concerns over protecting intellectual property and labor relations. While some Hollywood studios such as Lionsgate and Blumhouse have collaborated with AI companies, others have been reluctant to announce partnerships at the risk of offending talent that have voiced concerns over how AI could be used to alter their digital likeness without adequate compensation. But other countries like China have fewer guardrails, which has led to more experimentation of the technology by entertainment companies. Many people in China embrace AI, with 83% feeling confident that AI systems are designed to act in the best interest of society, much higher than the U.S. where it's 37%, according to a survey from the United Nations Development Program. The foundation's announcement came as a surprise to Bruce Lee Enterprises, which oversees legal usage of Lee's likeness in creative works. Bruce Lee's family was 'previously unaware of this development and is currently gathering information,' a spokesperson said. Woo, in a written statement, said he hadn't heard from the foundation about the AI remake, noting that the rights to 'A Better Tomorrow' have changed hands several times. 'I wasn't really involved in the project because I'm not very familiar with AI technology,' Woo said in a statement to The Times. 'However, I'm very curious about the outcome and the effect it might have on my original film.' David Chi, who represents the China Film Foundation's Special Fund for Film and Urban Development, said in an interview that Chan is aware of the project and he has plans to talk with Chan's team. A representative of Chan's did not respond to a request for comment. 'We do need to talk ... very specifically how we're using animated or AI existing technology, and how that would combine with his image rights and business rights,' Chi said. Chi did not have an immediate response to the DGA, Bruce Lee Enterprises and Woo's statements. AI is already used in China for script development, content moderation and recommendations and translation. In postproduction, AI has reduced the time to complete visual effects work from days to hours, said He Tao, an official with the National Radio and Television Administration's research center, during remarks at the festival. 'Across government agencies, content platforms, and production institutions, the enthusiasm to adopt and integrate AI has never been stronger,' He said. During the project's announcement, supporters touted the opportunity AI will bring to China to further its cultural message globally and generate new work for creatives. At the same time, they touted AI's disruption of the filmmaking process, saying the 'A Better Tomorrow' remake was completed with just 30 people, significantly fewer than a typical animated project. China is a 'more brutal society in that sense,' said Eric Harwit, professor of Asian studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. 'If somebody loses their job because artificial intelligence is taking over, well, that's just the cost of China's moving forward. They don't have that kind of regret about people losing jobs and there are less opportunities for organized protest against the Chinese government.' Hollywood guilds such as SAG-AFTRA have been outspoken about the harm AI could have on jobs and have fought for protections against AI in contracts in TV shows, films and video games. The unions have also pushed state and federal legislators to create laws that would give people more protections against deep fakes, or videos manipulated to show a person endorsing an idea or product that they don't actually support. There is no equivalent of that in China. 'You don't have those freestanding labor organizations, so they don't have that kind of clout to protest against the Chinese using artificial intelligence in a way that might reduce their job opportunities or lead to layoffs in the sector,' Harwit added. U.S. studios are also going to court to challenge the ways AI companies train their models on copyrighted materials. Earlier this month, Walt Disney Co. and Universal Pictures sued AI startup Midjourney, alleging it uses technology to generate images that copy the studios' famous characters, including Yoda and Shrek. In China, officials involved in the project to remaster kung fu films said they were eager to work with AI companies. They said that AI will be used to add 'stunning realism' to the movies. They are planning to build 'immersive viewing experiences' such as walking into a bamboo forest duel and 'feeling the philosophy of movement and stillness.' In areas such as animation, new environments could be created with AI, Chi said. 'We are offering full access to our IP, platform, and adaptation rights to partners worldwide — with the goal of delivering richer, more diverse, and high-quality AI enhanced film works to global audiences,' said Tian Ming, chairman of Shanghai Canxing Culture & Media Co. in his remarks earlier this month. Tian said there is no revenue-sharing cap and it is allocating about $14 million to co-invest in selected projects and share in the returns. The kung fu revitalization efforts will extend into other areas, including the creation of a martial arts video game. Industry observers said China is wise to go back to its well of popular martial arts classics out of Hong Kong, which have inspired U.S. action movies for decades. There's also not as much risk involved for China, said Simon Pulman, a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman. 'They've got very little to lose by doing this,' Pulman said. 'If it can potentially enhance the value of those movies, there's very little downside for them.' China's film industry has grown significantly compared to decades ago, boosted by the proliferation of movie theaters, including Imax screens, in the country. In the past, China's box office relied heavily on U.S. productions like movies from the 'Fast & Furious' and Marvel franchises, but now local movies dominate the market. The Chinese animated movie 'Ne Zha 2' grossed $2.2 billion at the box office globally. But those Chinese productions generally don't draw large U.S. audiences when they're released in the States. The classic martial arts movies, however, have a global following and enduring legacy. 'People love martial arts movies, because action travels,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. 'It doesn't matter what language it's in, if you have a great action sequence and great fighting sequences.'
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Jet Li on gaining fame: 'I became a bit of a recluse'
HONG KONG: Martial arts action hero Jet Li recently revealed that achieving fame early in life led him to lose himself, resulting in an unwillingness to visit crowded places or interact with people. In a recent report by AsiaOne, Li, 62, stated, "I think I may be a bit of a recluse." Li, who made his show business debut in 1982 and became a Singaporean citizen in 2009, added that after gaining popularity, he was frequently approached by fans for autographs. "I realised I had lost myself. I couldn't even eat a meal outside because everyone would crowd around me to have a chat. If I didn't smile, they would say I wasn't courteous." Featured Videos Li further explained, "I realised that I couldn't satisfy everyone. When I saw others unhappy, I felt a sense of fear and worry. I became unwilling to interact with others, attend gatherings, or go to crowded places." He once felt he should have been an athlete rather than an actor, as he would only have had to focus on his performance. "Because of this, I wasn't willing to do media interviews or go to crowded places, other than for filming," Li said. He also shared that to overcome his reclusive tendencies, he turned to charity work. One Foundation is a charity Li founded in 2007, which focuses on disaster relief, children's welfare, and funding grassroots charities. "Doing charity work isn't about me wanting to gain something from it. I was thinking about what I should do for society, so I had to go and communicate with people and encourage them to donate. "Sometimes I think, when I'm helping others, I'm also helping myself to become someone who is more open to communicating with others," he said.
AsiaOne
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'I wasn't happy having to act even in real life': Jet Li explains his absence from public eye, Entertainment News
While being a successful celebrity brings fame, wealth and attention, there are some who prefer to keep a low profile, such as Jet Li. The 62-year-old China-born action star, who has been a Singaporean since 2009, explained his disappearance from the public eye in a Douyin Reel uploaded on June 20. "I think I may be a bit of a recluse. As to whether it's serious to the extent that it has become a health condition, I don't know, but I do believe I may have some slight mental health issues," he said. Jet, who debuted in showbiz in 1982, shared that he gained fame too early in his life. He said: "After gaining popularity, wherever I go, people would want to get my autograph, and I realised I had lost myself. I can't even eat a meal outside because everyone would crowd around me to have a chat. If I don't smile, they would say I am not courteous. "Eventually, I grew to be afraid of crowds. I didn't want to go outside, I didn't want to meet anyone." He added that if someone wants his autograph or to take a photo with him, he must oblige, even though he had already fulfilled many of them and when he wasn't able to meet the requests, they would be unhappy. "I can't satisfy everyone. When I see others unhappy, I feel a sense of fear and worry. I was unwilling to interact with others, go to gatherings or crowded places." Jet felt that he should have been an athlete instead of an actor, as he would only have to focus on his performance. As an actor and public figure, there would be people who take care of his appearance and he would have to take the centre position on stage and be everyone's focus. He said: "I especially dislike things like these. I feel that as an athlete, I just need to show my results. It's good enough as long as someone watches my movies, why do I have to act as someone who is not my usual self? I am already acting (in my career), I wasn't happy having to act even in real life." Jet added that because of this, he wasn't willing to do media interviews and go to crowded places other than for filming. He also shared that to get out of being a recluse, he turned to doing charity work. "Doing charity work and setting up One Foundation is not about me wanting to gain something out of it. I was thinking about what I should do for society, so I had to go and communicate with people and get them to donate. "At the time, I spoke to all my friends in the entertainment and sports industry as well as people I didn't know... Because of that, I didn't have any struggles about my ego, I just felt it was something that I should do." One Foundation is a charity founded by Jet in 2007 in China and focuses on disaster relief, children's welfare, training of public welfare professionals and funding grassroots charities. He believed because he got himself to step out of his shell, it helped him to improve his social skills in public. "Sometimes I think, when I am helping others, I am also helping myself to become someone who is more open to communicate with others," he said. [[nid:719439]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Gizmodo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Chinese Studio Wants to Bring Back Bruce Lee With AI
If you're a film lover, one of the great things about old classics is that you can always find something to appreciate when you revisit them. If you're a studio executive, one of the great things about old classics is that you own them and can milk them for every penny their worth. At the Shanghai International Film Festival, several Chinese movie studios announced on Thursday that they would be taking their archive of martial arts classics and AI-ifying them. The government-backed 'Kung Fu Movie Heritage Project 100 Classics AI Revitalization Project' will take all-time great kung fu flicks starring the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li and give them new (but almost certainly not better) life with the help of AI. Per the Hollywood Reporter, Zhang Pimin, chairman of the China Film Foundation, described the project as an attempt to give films a look that 'conforms to contemporary film viewing.' It'd be one thing if this were simply a restoration project or a technique to upscale the resolution to something that feels more modern, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, it sounds like at least some of the effort will go into fully remaking the films with AI filters atop them. For instance, a trailer for the new AI-ed take on John Woo's 1986 film A Better Tomorrow was shown off at the festival and reportedly turns its lead Chow Yun-fat into a cyberpunk-looking character. The new take, titled A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Frontier, is being marketed as 'the world's first full-process, AI-produced animated feature film.' Yuck. The studios invited AI animation companies to get involved in the 'revitalization' effort, which will apparently seek to 'reshape the visual aesthetics' of films while trying to 'pay tribute to the original work,' by putting up a fund of 100 million yuan (about $14 million) to help get the ball rolling. Other films that will be involved in the project include Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury (1972), Jackie Chan's Drunken Master (1978) and Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China (1991)—all films that you can watch right now and will find to be every bit as magical and captivating as they were the day they first hit theaters. The stunt work still stands up, and the camera work still slaps. You can find all three of these, and plenty of other martial arts classics, on streaming. If you're a stickler for image quality, films like Fist of Fury have 4K re-releases available on Blu-ray. Just watch these movies. They don't need AI sloppification to be relevant.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tubi June 2025 Releases: Here's full list of new titles
Tubi will release a wide range of new content in June 2025. The schedule includes original programming, films and classic series. The list spans several genres, such as action, thriller, comedy, horror and drama. Tubi June 2025 Releases Tubi Original Docuseries TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs: Inside The Diddy Trial (June 6 and 13) Tubi Original Thriller TKO (June 20) Tubi Original Western Day of Reckoning (June 13) Series Spotlight All In The Family – Seasons 3 & 4 Live Events Community – Seasons 3 & 4 Cuckoo Double Cross Growing Up Hip Hop – Seasons 1-6 Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta Growing Up Hip Hop: New York Homicide: Life On The Street Hustle & Soul Macgyver (1985) Murder, She Wrote (1984) Murder, She Wrote (1997) Roots Then You Run Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) Action Battleship Big Trouble In Little China Blue Beetle Get Fast Jet Li's Fearless Kong: Skull Island Lone Survivor Moonfall Ninja Assassin Raw Deal Red 2 Run All Night Shooter Taken (2008) Taken 2 Taken 3 Under Siege Under Siege 2: Dark Territory White House Down Art House Certain Women Clouds Of Sils Maria Columbus Little Fish (2020) Mary Magdalene Moonlight Personal Shopper Phoenix (2014) Swiss Army Man The Inspection The Spectacular Now The Standoff At Sparrow Creek The Worst Person In The World (June 13) Also Read: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 4: Release date, time, new weapons, maps, modes and maps Black Cinema 1982 B.A.P.S. Baggage Claim Big Momma's House Big Momma's House 2 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son Double Cross Frankie & Alice Hustle & Flow Hustle & Soul John Henry Love & Basketball Love Don't Cost A Thing Madea's Witness Protection Nobody's Fool (2018) Set It Off Soul Food Stomp The Yard Stomp The Yard Homecoming Superfly Waiting To Exhale What's Love Got To Do With It White Chicks You Got Served Comedy 50/50 A Knight's Tale Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy Daddy Day Care Date And Switch Deadstream Delivery Man Ferris Bueller's Day Off From Prada To Nada Jackass Number Two Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) Mom And Dad Overboard (1987) Overboard (2018) Stand Up Guys Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby The Men Who Stare At Goats The Other Guys The Wedding Ringer Welcome To The Jungle Documentary Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy The Seven Five The Thin Blue Line Drama Burlesque Chariots Of Fire Delivery Man Frankie & Alice Free State Of Jones Fury Gimme Shelter Lone Survivor Malcolm X Miss Sloane Roots Stonewall (2015) The Right Stuff What's Love Got To Do With It White Boy Rick You Can Live Forever Also Read: Family Guy Season 23: What to expect in upcoming season? Here's release date, time, cast and where to watch Horror Alone In The Dark Brahms: The Boy II Deadstream Friday The 13th (1980) Frozen Get Out Gremlins Gremlins 2: The New Batch Hannibal Rising Hereditary House On Haunted Hill Jaws La Llorona Leatherface Little Shop Of Horrors (1986) Mom And Dad Piranha 3-D Stephen King's Cat's Eye Texas Chainsaw 3D The Djinn The First Purge The Lodge The Purge The Purge: Anarchy Kids & Family Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs Daddy Day Care Open Season 3 Open Season: Scared Silly Panda Plan Puss In Boots Secondhand Lions The Great Gilly Hopkins The Karate Kid (2010) The Neverending Story Sci-Fi & Fantasy Aquaman (2018) Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Clash Of The Titans (1981) Demolition Man Divergent Elysium Girl With All The Gifts Independence Day (June 15) Jumper Love And Monsters Pixels Thriller 88 Minutes A Walk Among The Tombstones Cleaner Cold Wallet (June 28) Haunted Heart (June 23) Homicide: Life On The Street In The Line Of Fire Jackie Brown Joy Ride Last Survivors (June 5) Nightcrawler (June 10) No Good Deed (2014) Phone Booth The Devil's Trap (June 9) The Impossible The Specialist The Tutor (June 30) Then You Run Western Ballad Of Davy Crockett The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada Wild Horses FAQs What are the highlights among new Tubi Originals in June? New Tubi Originals include TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs, TKO, and Day of Reckoning. These premiere on specific dates in June. Is there new content for children and families on Tubi in June? Yes, Tubi is adding Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, Open Season films, The Karate Kid (2010), and more for kids and family viewing. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
