AI backdrops on Broadway

[windowwaving]

Posted: 3/26/25 at 9:30pm

I was watching Death Becomes Her recently and could not stop staring at the very AI looking video backdrops. 

I could not believe that a Broadway show this big would use AI on their sets. It really took me out of an otherwise great show.

There were actual set piece trees later on but they also looked like they were designed to match the AI backdrops. 

I wouldn’t imagine that they would be saving that much more money than by just hiring an artist??

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 3/26/25 at 9:55pm

I think it’s just stylized computer generated graphics, which are not the same thing as AI generated images. There are several set pieces, props, dressings, lighting effects, etc. Its scenic design does not solely rely on AI in the way that the recent revival of The Wiz did (which was the biggest disappointment after seeing the concept renderings). 

Like it or not, AI is about to abused to death as a cost-cutting measure, so I really don’t have a problem with someone (such as Derek McLane, whose body of work speaks for itself) using AI to compliment or add depth to the rest of the design elements, as opposed to that being the only design aspect.

I find it strange that you were that distracted by it in this show, as well as critiquing the consistency of design…would you rather they lack cohesion and stand out like a sore thumb? I don’t get the issue there. 

Updated On: 3/27/25 at 09:55 PM

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 3/26/25 at 10:09pm

Just making sure you understand the difference between AI and CGI/projections?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/26/25 at 11:01pm

I dont recall any AI in Death Becomes Her...

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 3/26/25 at 11:36pm

Because there isn’t.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 3/26/25 at 11:42pm

The problem with AI being used as shorthand is that the lines between what overuse/abuse of AI actually is vs how it actually works in day-to-day life get blurred and can lead to false or misleading accusations.

We saw this with the last Oscar race - everyday use of audio editing software got turned into "Adrien Brody and Karla Sofía Gascón's performances were AI-enhanced!". Hell, autocorrect is a form of AI, but most of us wouldn't say we "used AI to screw up our spelling and grammar when writing our latest post".

Images made from fully generative AI are still fairly easy to pick out, but the use of computer generated designs can sometimes look like generative AI, especially if the software uses automated tools for editing. That doesn't mean all CGI should be assumed to be AI.

Basically, until copyright or union regulations require explicit labeling of generative AI content, we all should be careful about assuming where the material came from. Unless it's obvious; then go nuts.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 10:27am

I didn't really clock any generative AI in the projections for DBH- but generative AI is better at handling inanimate objects (though, honestly, I barely remember the projections in the production at all). It's certainly plausible generative AI was used to create the endless columns of Viola's mansion or other scenes. I don't necessarily object to it being used in that way, either, particularly in the case of Viola's mansion since it would be originating from designs unique to the production.

 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 12:48pm

I dont particularly care for Generative AI use in any situation, but the columns in Viola's mansion are not hard to create in a short amount of time without the use of AI. You draw a few of them and then just copy and paste them and varying distances to create depth. You just... dont need to use Gen AI for that. It's not time consuming and the environmental impact is not justified.

Then you have the people who worked on The Wiz who just did not give a **** about the quality of their work because their backdrops are EMBARRASSING. As a production designer, how are you not ashamed of that? And to not even go over the AI to make it into something conducive. Just the same **** backdrops you would see at that Willy Wonka Scam experence...

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 1:56pm

How does one tell the difference between CGI backgrounds and AI backgrounds? Or is AI just because used as a catch-all for computer-generated?

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 2:28pm

Viola's mansion would be an afternoon project in Blender for anyone remotely skilled in basic 3D work, but it's possible AI was used. Looking closely at this image you can see that the fan elements on top of the columns have the typical AI HR Giger look, where things aren't quite evenly spaced or symmetrical, almost like the structure of a mushroom:



If I were being generous, I would suggest this was done on purpose to create an unsettling visual quality, but who knows? You can see similar elements in the Boop! preshow scrim, in the little cityscapes along the side:



The oddly lumpy swirl, the strange filament-like lines, and the randomly placed and weirdly distorted windows are all things you see in AI art.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 3:39pm

everythingtaboo said: "How does one tell the difference between CGI backgrounds and AI backgrounds? Or is AI just because used as a catch-all for computer-generated?"

Typically clashing art styles, elements will just stop when they should continue, elements that lack symmetry (think spires on a castle, but they're all different). 

[windowwaving]

Posted: 3/27/25 at 6:43pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I think it’s just stylized computer generated graphics, which are not the same thing as AI generated images. There are several set pieces, props, dressings, lighting effects, etc. Its scenic design does not solely rely on AI in the way that the recent revival of The Wiz did (which was the biggest disappointment after seeing theconcept renderings).

Like it or not, AI is about to abused to death as a cost-cutting measure, so I really don’t have a problem with someone (such as Derek McLane, whose body of work speaks for itself) using AI to compliment or add depth to the rest of the design elements, as opposed to that being the only design aspect.

I find it strange that you were that distracted by it in this show, as well as critiquingthe consistency of design…would you rather they lack cohesion and stand out like a sore thumb? I don’t get the issue there."

I was distracted by it specifically because it didn’t match the rest of the scenery. Everything else was so intricately designed and ornate which is why it made me wonder why they would use AI. 

I understand the difference between CGI (as used in something like Anastasia) and AI. The greenery had a cartoon-y roundness to them that I’ve seen in a lot of AI generated material.