AI can’t replace special effects — Hakeem Onilogbo

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Special effects artist, Hakeem Onilogbo, popularly known as Hakeem Effects, has said artificial intelligence should not be regarded as a threat to practical special effects artists, but rather as a tool that can complement their creativity and improve film production.

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In an interview with Saturday Beats, Hakeem stated that although AI could generate effects such as explosions within seconds, relying solely on speed and low production costs could discourage young practitioners from learning the skills required for practical effects.

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He also stressed that the presence of real effects on set often produced a more convincing performance from actors.

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He explained that an actor reacting to an explosion that is physically taking place on set would deliver a different performance from one asked to react to an action that is not visible.

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As a result, he noted that practical effects provide tangible elements that influence actors’ reactions and contribute to the realism of a production.

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Hakeem said practitioners should instead learn to integrate AI into their work, particularly during pre-production, where it could be used for brainstorming, developing mood boards and creating character concepts.

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He said, “I used AI to generate ideas, such as different scar designs for a tribal warrior, before applying professional skills to develop the final effect.”

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Similarly, he added that AI would not replace the hands-on expertise required for practical effects, citing prosthetics and other physical processes that still require artists to work directly with actors.

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According to him, practical special effects and visual effects should complement each other, rather than compete, to produce more elaborate and convincing results.

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Despite these possibilities, Hakeem, however, noted that Nollywood still had gaps in the technical infrastructure and skilled workforce required for the responsible adoption of AI and advanced visual effects.

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He further said while Nigerian special effects practitioners had developed strong improvisation skills, the use of AI and other technologies required adequate training and equipment.

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To address these challenges, the special effects artist therefore called for industry standards covering the disclosure of AI-generated characters, faces and major visual effects in film credits, as well as training and certification programmes for practitioners.

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He also advocated stronger intellectual property protection for actors and artists whose likenesses or creative works could be replicated using AI, stressing that “AI is not our enemy; ignorance is the enemy.”

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