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This is a week of grand series finals. Friday ended The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Monday will end Succession and Barry, and Wednesday will end the third season of Ted Lasso. It has not yet been confirmed that it is the definitive end of the latter, it could continue in some way, but it does seem the end of Ted Lasso as we know it.
Here we are going to talk about endings, but also about artificial intelligence. One of the important points that the screenwriters have put on the table in their negotiations with the studios (negotiations that did not come to fruition and hence the current strike) is the regulation of artificial intelligence in their work. They do not ask to prohibit its use, but to take advantage of it only for certain activities. A long article in Variety delves into how conversations around the use of artificial intelligence have evolved in the writers' union in the face of the strike.
The article tells how artificial intelligence has become one of the main topics of debate in this strike. The fear of screenwriters is that studios will end up using artificial intelligence to write scripts and thus reduce their work or replace them completely. The union set up a group of about eight people to study this issue and raise the proposal they would make at the negotiating table. The idea was not to ask for a ban on its use, but to protect screenwriters from the economic damage it could cause. The group set about intensively testing different models of artificial intelligence and different scenarios in which it could be used in their work. One of the conclusions they came to early on was that, as it is designed right now, artificial intelligence is not good at writing scripts. Yes it is useful for making summaries, for example, but not with the work that the writers do.
An image from the fifth season of 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'Philippe Antonello/Prime Video
One of the writers in this group spent hours working with ChatGPT trying to generate something worthwhile with this tool. The conclusion was that it took him more work to get something half-decent than to have done it himself.
On the other hand, there is the legal problem that can suppose. This artificial intelligence is trained from the material that is published on the network, much of which is protected by copyright. That's why one of the screenwriters described these systems as "plagiarizing machines."
But the writers fear that all this will not slow down the studios. "Should we be worried? Of course. They're going to try to use artificial intelligence to replace the writers. Will they be good series? Will that stop them? No," one of the writers says in the article.
With all this work, they came to the conclusion that it was absurd to oppose artificial intelligence, but that they should propose that its use be close to what visual effects artists already do: use it as a tool, but always with a human creative in charge. The group came to the discussions with the studios with three basic proposals. First, that the material generated by an artificial intelligence is not considered "literary material" so that the screenwriters do not lose credits and are paid less. Second, that artificial intelligence would not be allowed to write for itself or rewrite what a human has already done. And third, prohibit studio AI programs from being formed from the work of union members. If they do, they proposed that they pay a license fee for doing so.
Bill Hader, in an image from the last season of 'Barry'.
When negotiations began, union leaders did not see artificial intelligence as one of the main issues in the debate. But the issue became more and more central as the talks progressed and the studios refused to regulate the issue.
In an interview on NPR, screenwriter David Simon was blunt when asked about using artificial intelligence to write. "I don't think AI [artificial intelligence] can remotely challenge what writers do on a creative level," he said. The interviewer insisted, "But if you're trying to transition from one scene to another and you're stuck, you could put those script parts into an artificial intelligence and ask it to give you 10 ideas to make that transition." "I'd rather put a gun in my mouth," Simon said.
Experiments with AI
That there will be tests in the audiovisual with artificial intelligence is evident. And its dangers too. A few months ago there was a lot of talk about Nothing, Forever, the result of an AI generating uninterrupted Seinfeld chapters on Twitch. The machines produced a chunga animation and even more chungas plots. So much so that the program only took a week to be removed by Twitch after starting to launch increasingly inappropriate jokes until they led to homophobic and transphobic content.
To see practical examples, we put ChatGPT, that artificial intelligence with which you can chat, to the test, proposing to rewrite some series endings, a game that they put into practice before in The Guardian. Some results are summarized while maintaining their essence.
We started by asking for an alternative ending for Los Serrano. On the first attempt, he didn't remember that Lucia (Belén Rueda) was dead when he finished. By reminding him of this, he went on to become the center of his proposals:
DIEGO (excited) Today we are here to remember someone we love and who will always be with us. Lucia was an exceptional mother, wife and friend. Their joy, love and energy have left us an immense legacy.
The Serrano family visits the park where they used to spend time together. They sit on a bench, surrounded by nature.
MARCOS (moved) Mom always said that life is a gift and we should take advantage of every moment. Let's move on, as she would have wanted.
GUILLE (nods) Yes, let's remember the good times and make mom proud.
TETÉ (with a smile) Let's live our lives to the fullest and take your spirit with us!
Álvaro Morte, in the last season of 'La casa de papel'.
In the case of La casa de papel, it cost even more for ChatGPT to get it right. First he did not remember that there was continuation on Netflix and proposed an end for the second season. ChatGPT ended with the Professor quietly saying, "I will always remember those who were part of this team. Our legacy will live on in the history of the paper house." When we reminded him that there were more, he added Inspector Sierra (Najwa Nimri). We ask you several options, this is the most acceptable:
INSPECTOR SIERRA Stop! Don't move!
THE TEACHER (calmly) There is nothing else to do. The war is over.
INSPECTOR SIERRA (with determination) You won't sneak away this time. You have caused a lot of pain and suffering.
THE TEACHER (sincerely) Sierra, I understand that you have to do your duty. But I assure you that everything I did had a purpose. Now I am here to find redemption and make peace with my past.
INSPECTOR SIERRA (doubtful) I don't know if I can believe you. But justice will decide your fate.
EXT. COURT - JUDGE DAY
(severe) Mr. Professor, you have been charged with serious crimes. Do you have anything to say in your defense?
THE TEACHER (with conviction) Yes, your honor. I accept responsibility for my past actions, but I also want to focus on building a better future. I am ready to cooperate and repair the damage caused.
EXT. PRISON - TEACHER'S DAY
(voiceover) My time in this prison will be a period of reflection and change. I will seek redemption and prepare for a new beginning.
Before moving on to foreign series, we asked for proposals for series that could star Antonio Resines on the one hand and Jose Coronado on the other. The one he devised for Resines is a drama series in which he plays a Spanish actor who is in the final stretch of his career. "It explores the complexities of the life of a mature actor, showing the lights and shadows of fame and the constant search for one last great act that defines his career." For Coronado, he proposed two options. In one, he would play a veteran and charismatic investigative journalist "entangled in a web of corruptions and conspiracies" that would be titled The Price of Truth. The other, In the Shadow of the Law, stars a former policeman turned private investigator "after a dark incident forced him to leave the body." He would become embroiled in complicated cases and struggle "with his own inner demons." They don't look very original.
We also asked ChatGPT for an alternate ending for The Sopranos. Possibly David Chase would not be very happy with any of the options. One is this:
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
CARMELA (serious) Tony, we have lived in the midst of violence and uncertainty for far too long. Our children deserve a better life, and so do we.
TONY (uncertain) Carm, where do you want to go?
CARMELA (affirmative) I've been making some arrangements. We have enough money saved and contacts in safe places. We can start over, in a place where we can live without fear.
TONY (astonished) Are you saying let's leave all this behind? That we leave?
CARMELA (hopeful) Yes, Tony. I don't want our children to grow up in this world. I want them to have the opportunity to live a normal life, away from all this.
TONY (taking a deep breath) Carm, if that's what you really want... If you think it's best for all of us, then we will. We will leave this world behind and start again.
James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and Robert Iler, in 'The Sopranos'.
In the various endings he proposes forGame of Thrones, the machine insists that Daenerys become all love and understanding. One of them begins with the leaders of the different houses gathered:
DAENERYS (to the leaders) I propose a new era of peace and reconciliation. Westeros will be ruled by a Council of leaders representing all the Houses, without an absolute king or queen. Together, we will build a future in which power is shared and the well-being of citizens is the priority.
LYANNA MORMONT (House Mormont) I think this is a fair and necessary proposal. I am ready to participate in this Council.
OTHER LEADERS nod and agree, one by one.
DAENERYS (smiling) The Mother of Dragons could never bring peace by ruling alone. But together, we can achieve a better and fairer Westeros.
The scene fades as the leaders continue to discuss and plan the new future of Westeros, full of promise and hope.
At this point we can already deduce that ChatGPT likes happy endings, no matter how much it is told to remove syrup from the proposals. We will ignore the alternative endings that he proposes for Lost. To get an idea, one of them includes this phrase in Jack's mouth: "Lost, but never forgotten." And they all conclude with hugs and smiles.
And let's go to the title of the article. How would Succession end if its script had been written by ChatGPT? First, we had to insistently remind him that it's not The House on the Prairie and that Logan... well, that. He also has a special affection for Gerri and sees her as a very apt candidate to lead the media conglomerate; It is the chosen one in several of its options. This is one of the versions that the chat offers when we ask for "a dramatic ending" to the series. Start with the family's lawyer:
MR. SULLIVAN (with solemnity) In accordance with Logan Roy's last will and testament, it has been decided that none of the sons will assume the position of CEO of Waystar Royco. Instead, the company will be liquidated and its assets distributed among charities selected by Logan Roy.
KENDALL (furious) This can't be! We have worked all our lives for this, so that everything goes to hell.
SHIV (crying) Dad can't do this. It is unfair, treacherous.
ROMAN (unruly) This is a joke in bad taste! It cannot leave us with nothing.
CONNOR (in disbelief) How could he do this? It can't be real.
GERRI (calmly) Logan Roy made this decision with full awareness. He was tired of the family's struggle and toxicity. He wanted his legacy to become something more meaningful than a company. He wanted to do good in the world.
EXT. STREET - KENDALL DAY
(with resignation) Perhaps this is for the best. Maybe it's time to go our own way, away from this shadow.
Luckily, the ending of Succession will be written by a screenwriter and not a machine. And if you don't like Monday's ending, keep in mind that it could always have been worse.
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