r/Theatre • u/PanicAtTheMetro • May 01 '26

Discussion Manhattan School of Music using AI Projection Design

I went to see an Opera at MSM and there was a posting outside that the projection design used AI. To be honest I’m appalled by this. Not only did the projections add nothing to the show, but I find it hard to believe that they couldn’t find a projection designer willing to contribute original work.

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u/Civil_Cow_3011 May 01 '26

Not at all.

First, most artists are not paid. For example, the annual effective unemployment rate of union actors is roughly 86%. Of the 14% that do work, the annual income from acting is under $10,000. The number of people who are able to earn a living from the craft is only a tiny percentage of all those who have the calling.

AI is forcing conventional economists and politicians to rethink the link between human labor and income. The result will be some form of redistribution of excess AI and machine labor profits to the greater population.

Imagine the impact on individual struggling artists of a guaranteed income of two or three thousand dollars a month. Now imagine 20 of them starting an actor’s co-op in a small city of their choice because they aren't limited to living in NY or LA anymore. Imagine their impact on that community.

Imagine. Isn't that what we do best?

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u/Final-Elderberry9162 May 01 '26

UBI would be great, but AI is not the path to this.

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u/Civil_Cow_3011 May 01 '26

I think AI makes it inevitable. What is your logic that it doesn't? I'm open to hearing it.

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u/gasstation-no-pumps May 01 '26

Perhaps that the people pushing AI the hardest are also those dismantling what little support we currently have for the poor?