CELEB
Solving Hollywood's Oldest Problem
Filmmakers have long struggled with dangerous stunts and risky scenes that put performers in harm's way. For Jon Erwin, director of the forthcoming historical drama 'Young Washington,' one particular sequence presented a classic challenge: how do you convincingly film characters nearly drowning in freezing water without actually endangering anyone?
The solution? A massive 50-foot pool constructed in Ireland, careful close-up work with the actors, props simulating ice, and. crucially. a suite of generative AI tools that helped stitch everything together into a seamless river sequence. The film, which arrives in theaters nationwide this Friday (July 3), tells the story of George Washington before he became a revolutionary leader, with William Franklyn-Miller stepping into the role of the young future president.
Safety First, Results Second
Erwin has been vocal about why the team chose this hybrid approach. "We wanted authenticity, but not at the cost of anyone's wellbeing," the director explained in previous interviews about the production. By filming close-ups of the actors actually in the water and using AI to generate the wider, more dangerous-looking shots, the crew could deliver a convincing scene while keeping everyone safe and sound.
This isn't about replacing human performers with digital doubles. it's about using technology as a practical tool to solve real-world problems. The actors still did the emotional work; the AI just helped fill in the gaps where physics and safety concerns made traditional filmmaking impractical.
AI Finds Its Place in Hollywood
The release of 'Young Washington' comes at an interesting moment for artificial intelligence in entertainment. Just recently, musician 'Weird Al' Yankovic publicly declined a lucrative AI-related advertising deal, stating he couldn't become a 'poster boy' for the technology. Meanwhile, Netflix faced criticism and praise in equal measure for using AI to recreate Gene Wilder's voice for a Willy Wonka competition series. with the late actor's wife giving her blessing.
Music streaming platform Tidal has also made headlines by announcing it would label AI-generated music and ban such tracks from royalty distributions. These developments show an industry still grappling with where AI fits. and where it absolutely doesn't.
Erwin's approach represents a middle path: using AI selectively for specific technical challenges rather than as a wholesale replacement for creative work. The technology helped make the production safer and more affordable, according to the director, without sacrificing the human elements that make film resonate with audiences.
What This Means for Future Productions
'Young Washington' may serve as a blueprint for how historical dramas handle dangerous sequences going forward. Building practical sets and using real performers for close-ups, then augmenting with AI for wider or more hazardous shots, offers a compromise between traditional filmmaking values and modern technological capabilities.
For audiences heading to theaters this weekend, the river sequence represents more than just a dramatic moment in Washington's early life. it's a glimpse at how cinema might balance spectacle with responsibility in the years ahead.
