I actually know of a clause in a recent contract for a small, one-episode/one-line role in a new TV show, that said it gave permission to use something (I was told) that said "synthesized performances".

Like I said the role was small, not a big-name actor/who might die soon. It was just a character who worked in a place who would've been seen regularly in the background. So the agent said it was their guess that the production would film the character live first, then recreate the person with A.I. after that.

The agent struck out the clause, and the production accepted it.

So could that mean they'll do the right thing and pay the actor to come back every time they need filler? Or just won't fill-in future scenes with that character/actor, to save paying them?

And did they intend that just for this character this time, or all the other small & background characters in that scene & beyond? Or are they just testing the waters, putting it in all contracts for any size role from now-on, just in-case?

I guess we'll see how many agents are reading every clause buried within the sea of standard stuff.

And I hope it comes with royalties for the families.