AI tool taking a star role in Hollywood

While China-backed Seedance has become a lucrative resource for filmmakers and independent artists, pockets of the industry have condemned its use

- Nilesh Christopher

KAYLA BARTKOWSKI Los Angeles Times FILMMAKER Kavan Cardoza, at his home studio in L.A. June 22, uses Seedance to create his AI fantasy series, "The Chronicles of Bone."

Earlier this year, a widely circulated 15-second AI-generated video of Brad Pitt fighting Tom Cruise on a rooftop sparked outrage across Hollywood. One screenwriter called the cinematic clip "terrifying." The Motion Picture Assn. demanded the company behind the artificial intelligence tool-Chinese tech giant ByteDance - halt its "infringing activity."

Despite the uproar, the former majority owner of TikTok has quietly continued to court filmmakers, independent artists and executives who are eager to adopt the AI video generation model called Seedance.

Seedance was launched in the U.S. this spring at a Santa Monica event hosted by a group linked to the Chinese government.

ByteDance began hiring for 100 open roles, signed multiple independent filmmakers and artists and held private conversations about financing AI films. The company threw a lavish caviar party at Cannes and in May hosted panels promoting its cinematic tool at Amazon's AI on the Lot event in Culver City.

"Like any new technology, Hollywood ultimately has no choice but to react to market realities. And that reality is that the new crop of AI-empowered Hollywood creatives see Seedance as having the most powerful video generator in the market right now," said Peter Csathy of Creative Media, an entertainment and AI business advisory firm.

Joel Kuwahara, the animation producer on early seasons of "The Simpsons," echoed Hollywood's quiet embrace.

"Within the industry, I know that a lot of studios haven't approved Seedance, but yet with a wink and a nod, they're allowing Seedance to be used.... It's kind of like a 'don't ask, don't tell' kind of a thing," "Kuwahara told The Times. ByteDance declined to comment on its U.S. expansion.