The actor and his wife attended the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival, where Cage cautions up-and-coming performers against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in film performances.
- October 21, 2024
AceShowbiz - Nicolas Cage and his fifth wife, Riko Shibata, made a memorable appearance at the 25th Newport Beach Film Festival, where they shared a heartfelt laugh. Cage, at 60, beamed at Shibata during the honors brunch at Balboa Bay Resort, where he sported a dapper white blazer and she flaunted a leggy black mini-dress.
Cage, who won the festival's Icon Award, met Shibata in 2020 while filming in Japan. They married three years ago and are parents of two-year-old August Francesca Cage. Cage's previous marriages include Patricia Arquette, Lisa Marie Presley and Erika Koike. He also has two sons: Kal-El Cage (with Alice Kim) and Weston Cage (his oldest child).
Cage's appearance was not only marked by his affection for Shibata but also by his strong stance against the use of AI in film performances. He urged young actors to protect their "instrument" and resist pressure from employers to manipulate their performances through technologies like EBDR (Employment-based digital replica).
"Film performance is handmade, organic, and from-scratch," Cage emphasized. "It's from the heart, the imagination, and the thought."
He warned that AI technologies could potentially replace the human element in performance, compromising the authenticity and emotional connection that actors bring to their roles. "They can change your face, voice, body language, and line deliveries," Cage cautioned.
Cage's concerns stem from his own experiences, including his cameo appearance in "The Flash", which involved the use of EBDR. He believes that AI has the potential to undercut the livelihood of performers and diminish the art of filmmaking.
"Consider MVMFMBMI: my voice, my face, my body, my imagination-my performance, in response," Cage urged. "Protect your instrument."
Cage's message resonated with the attendees at the festival, who are closely watching the evolution of AI and its potential impact on the entertainment industry. The use of AI to alter or enhance performances raises ethical and artistic concerns that the industry will need to address in the coming years.
