SAG-AFTRA has gone on strike for many reasons, but one that stands out to me is an effort to make digital copies of extras and maintain the rights to use them in perpetuity. There are many implications of this, from people losing an opportunity to work, to Ethical implications ex:your likeness is used in a movie/tv show/commercial you would not want to be involved in.

I wanted to take a look at some of the past examples of entertainers likeness’ being used posthumously.

Fred Astaire Vaccuum Commercial

Bob Ross Paints the Mountain Dew

Tupac Coachella Performance

Prince Posthumous Album

Whitney Houston Hologram Tour

Anthony Bourdain Voicover

Amy Winehouse Hologram Tour

Paul Walker Furous 7

Peter Cushing Rogue 1

Carrie Fisher Rogue 1 Turns out this is incorrect, Fisher passed after filming of Rogue 1. It was Rise of the Skywalker

There are definitly more examples out there, if you know of any, post them here.

On a personal note, I find this all to be deeply unethical without specific permission granted by the entertainer.

Some souces:

Actors are digitally preserving themselves to continue their careers beyond the grave

Dead celebrities are being digitally resurrected — and the ethics are murky

  • Schwim Dandy
    link
    English
    171 year ago

    Everything I’d ever read about the Bob Ross “company” that manages his used to be so protective of his likeness being used anywhere he wouldn’t approve. I guess if you’re offered enough money, you can become okay with anything.