Reading time: 8 min
30-sec Key Takeaways
- AI in acting: Jefferson Lan explores how artificial intelligence challenges what it means to perform with emotion and presence.
- Authenticity over perfection: The conversation dives into why audiences now crave real, imperfect performances over digital “flawlessness.”
- Human unpredictability: Jefferson explains why spontaneity and emotional nuance make human actors irreplaceable.
- The father effect: A martial arts legacy that taught Jefferson discipline, aura, and confidence AI can’t imitate.
- Partnership, not replacement: Why the future of film lies in collaboration between AI and artists, not competition.
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Show full transcript
0:00 Writers only have so much that they can curate on paper or in Chat GPTf or example.
0:08 But there's something that actors give and that is living in the moment.
0:15 I've met some of the world's most famous people. I think about that aura—something that's really ineffable. Can that be manufactured by code?
0:26 With human beings, we are so complex. We can flip the switch in any given moment. That's something AI cannot do yet. And human beings can present a state of feeling through the eyes alone.
0:40 AI cannot manufacture a soul... yet.
0:47 Today we're talking about how AI is hijacking Hollywood. Jefferson, let's cut right into it — the death of a rehearsal.
0:54 The idea that the magic of acting is both in the becoming and in the result — both have magic. If we lose that, how much of the X factor do we lose in film?
1:19 Right now, with AI, you have to prompt it, right? And those prompts need to come from human thought.
1:28 Writers only have so much they can curate on paper or in ChatGPT, for example. But there's something that actors give — and that’s living in the moment.
1:49 Living in the moment can really manufacture different states of performance. You never know what you're going to get.
2:02 Directors can always dictate which direction you should go emotionally. But then there are those takes where they weren’t expecting a scene to go that way — that’s the magic.
2:25 Like every other human being, we live life. And through living life, we are inherently taking in information on a daily basis — subconsciously.
2:46 Those unconscious pieces of information can come out in a scene — things AI cannot curate right now.
3:00 AI still needs to be prompted and given direction. God forbid the day comes when it doesn’t.
3:13 As a script writer, I think about someone like Joaquin Phoenix in the Joker — could that ever be prompted?
3:28 He walked through a physical transformation. Besides what lives within you mentally and emotionally, physical transformation adds layers of emotion and mental states that start piercing through performance.
4:04 You could prompt, “This is how you need to feel in this scene,” but what he went through physically created something the director or writers could never curate.
4:29 That’s the difference between humans and AI — we’re nuanced, layered, and unpredictable.
4:56 I could be happy with you right now, and the next second, snap and throw this mic. Why? I don’t know. Something triggered me. That’s something AI can’t do.
5:13 When you said “throw the mic,” it reminded me — an actor was working with Al Pacino. He told the director not to warn Pacino so he could create a real fear moment. During the take, he slammed the table and grabbed Pacino by the collar — that unscripted moment of surprise. AI can’t replicate that.
6:01 Eyes are the window to the soul. That’s something AI cannot adopt yet.
6:09 When a camera is up close, expressions come from the soul. On stage, we act physically; on camera, the eyes alone can convey everything.
7:03 AI cannot manufacture a soul... yet.
7:15 This leads perfectly into romance. Can two AI prompts create chemistry that humans have? Can they convey intimacy that feels real?
7:44 My wife said, “You can get sucked into anime or cartoons — you feel the story, but not the expression.” That’s the difference.
8:03 You get sucked into the plot, not the facial expression. It’s not the same gravitas.
8:20 So can that emotional layer be coded?
8:23 Physical intimacy, yes. On set, actors have intimacy coordinators for physical and emotional safety. AI can manufacture that — but not the *build-up*. Not the emotional journey leading to it.
9:05 If we’re just talking about the act itself, AI can fake that. But not the *buildup*. Not the tension, the subtle emotional language.
9:25 Because even in real life, intimacy isn’t like the movies. It’s messy, awkward, and full of direction from others. That human awkwardness — AI can’t create that.
10:00 So yes, we need coordination. We get prompted — and AI can step in there. But the emotion, the chemistry, the spark? That’s human.
10:09 Now imagine this — your AI avatar exists. Jefferson 2.0. Always perfect. Always shredded. You can bulk him up with a prompt. How would that affect your mental health — or the industry?
10:26 It depends on how far AI infiltrates the industry. Business-wise, it makes sense — it cuts costs and saves time. But as an actor, it affects my livelihood. It affects my *purpose*.
10:49 But I’ve reached a point where I accept myself — emotionally, physically. Especially in appearance-driven industries, that takes strength.
11:26 If you’re completely attached to your physical appearance, this will be ruthless. AI Jefferson 2.0 would affect me emotionally and mentally — no doubt.
11:58 It’s already bad enough in modeling — no one looks like the edited magazine photo. If AI gives us only perfected specimens on screen, imagine the psychological toll.
12:27 Kids growing up, women comparing, men feeling inadequate — we already struggle with that now. Imagine if everyone on screen is flawless.
12:39 What kind of world are we going into?
13:00 It’s crazy because we’re getting to a point where perfection becomes boring.
13:14 I think we’re already there. On social media, authenticity wins now. It’s not about perfect content anymore — it’s about being relatable.
13:25 And that shift will happen in Hollywood too. Audiences will crave imperfection again — because imperfection feels real.
13:30 AI can mimic tone, but it can’t *feel* it.
13:39 There’s a difference between acting emotion and feeling emotion. That’s what people connect with.
13:45 Because the moment we stop feeling, we stop creating. Creation is human — it comes from pain, joy, failure, and love.
14:01 AI can’t simulate that. It’s not alive — it’s only learning.
14:25 That’s why AI should never replace actors. It can enhance the process, sure — but not *be* the process.
14:34 It can be a partner, not the performer.
14:40 If we treat it as a facilitator that helps us go deeper into what makes us human, maybe it has a place.
15:10 Because AI can’t experience loss or love. It can’t wake up inspired by a song or broken by a memory. It’s not *living*.
15:56 That’s why the human experience still matters — always will.
16:04 Because the day emotion becomes synthetic, we’ve lost what makes us human.
16:10 We’ve lost the story. And without story, there’s no art. No soul. No connection.
16:33 That’s the real difference between AI and us. It can’t create meaning — it can only mirror it.
16:50 And that’s the beauty of being human. We don’t just reflect — we feel, we live, we become. No algorithm can ever learn that.
17:57 That’s the art — the imperfection, the unpredictability, the soul.
18:06 That’s what makes us human. That’s what makes acting human. That’s what makes story human.
18:16 And I don’t think AI will ever be able to code that.
18:23 Never.
18:25 That’s why we keep creating. That’s why the human experience still matters. Always.
18:45 You know what, man — this whole conversation reminds me of your father. The aura you described when you spoke about him.
18:55 Yes. My father — he trained me in Wushu and traditional Chinese weapons. He’s a martial arts instructor — the one who passed on his skills to me.
19:06 Now I’m a Sifu myself, but what I inherited most wasn’t just the technique — it was his aura. The confidence and charisma he carried.
19:22 That’s the kind of thing AI can never code — energy, presence, legacy.
19:35 Exactly.
19:38 It’s something that’s *felt*, not written.
19:44 Like sympathetic resonance — when one note vibrates, another resonates with it. Humans do that naturally with emotion. AI can’t.
19:56 We feel each other’s frequencies. That’s empathy.
20:04 That’s why film and art still belong to people.
20:10 Because when something resonates, it’s not just seen — it’s *felt*.
20:20 Exactly. It’s why storytelling matters.
20:24 Even if AI starts writing stories, humans will always be the heartbeat.
20:30 Because story without soul is data — story with soul is art.
20:40 Exactly.
20:43 And I think that’s the perfect note to end on.
20:48 Exactly, brother.
20:51 Thank you so much for being here.
20:54 Thank you for having me, man.
20:57 Thanks a lot, man.
Deepfakes & Digital Identity
Jefferson and Marko begin by exploring how AI deepfakes blur the line between identity and imitation. When your likeness can be sold, copied, or even used without consent, what does that mean for ownership, authenticity, and respect in film?
Reflection: If your digital likeness could act without you, would it still represent you?
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Tip: Stay grounded in what’s real, our Lion’s Mane extract helps support focus, clarity, and mindful presence.
Why Deepfakes Challenge Authenticity
- Consent collapse: AI-generated faces and voices risk being used without permission.
- Identity theft 2.0: Deepfakes distort reality and undermine artistic credit.
- Ethical urgency: Jefferson argues that art must have integrity, something AI alone can’t guarantee.
The Human Difference
Acting isn’t just words, it’s emotion, spontaneity, and vulnerability. Jefferson explains how human unpredictability is what breathes life into every scene. Where AI calculates, people feel, and that difference is everything.
Why Humans Still Lead the Story
- Unscripted emotion: True performances come from real reactions, not programmed outputs.
- Presence over perfection: Audiences connect with authenticity, not algorithms.
- Flaws as art: Imperfection gives meaning to human expression, AI’s perfection feels empty.
Q: “Can AI ever replace human actors?”
A: Not until it can feel uncertainty, connection, and emotional risk. Acting isn’t data, it’s vulnerability performed with intent.
A: Not until it can feel uncertainty, connection, and emotional risk. Acting isn’t data, it’s vulnerability performed with intent.
Discipline & Aura: Lessons from His Father
Jefferson’s father, a martial arts instructor, trained him in Wushu and traditional Chinese weapons. That discipline shaped his aura, the kind of confidence and presence no algorithm can replicate. His father taught him that mastery isn’t mechanical; it’s energy transferred through generations.
- Discipline as foundation: Years of martial arts instilled patience and focus.
- Aura as authenticity: True presence is felt, not performed.
- Legacy in motion: Jefferson carries his father’s principles into every role, blending art with spirit.
Pro Tip: Charisma and confidence can’t be coded. They’re cultivated through discipline and purpose.
Authenticity vs Perfection
Jefferson and Marko discuss how social media’s obsession with perfection has made authenticity feel rare, and powerful. Real connection now comes from truth, vulnerability, and being seen as imperfectly human.
Why Perfect Is Boring
- Relatability rules: Audiences crave sincerity over spectacle.
- Burnout of perfection: The pursuit of flawlessness drains creativity.
- Balance returns: People want real moments, not polished masks.
Q: “Why does authenticity matter in a digital world?”
A: Because humans connect through truth, not filters. Real emotion resonates in ways no AI algorithm ever will.
A: Because humans connect through truth, not filters. Real emotion resonates in ways no AI algorithm ever will.
The Future: Partnership with AI
Rather than resisting technology, Jefferson believes artists should learn to collaborate with it. AI can assist with production, but emotion, meaning, and story must remain human. The future of film isn’t man *or* machine, it’s both, guided by intention.
Hope for the Future of Art
- AI as a partner: Use it to enhance creativity, not erase it.
- Humans as storytellers: Emotion, empathy, and imperfection will always lead.
- Technology with purpose: The soul of film belongs to people, not programs.
Checkpoint: Technology should serve art, not replace it. The power of film lies in connection, not computation.
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FAQ
Who is Jefferson Lan?
Jefferson Lan is a South African actor, martial artist, and stunt performer whose work blends physical mastery with emotional storytelling.
Can AI replace human actors?
AI can replicate movement and dialogue, but it lacks emotional depth, unpredictability, and lived experience, qualities that make human performances unique.
What is the main difference between AI and human creativity?
AI generates based on data; humans create from emotion, intuition, and empathy. That’s what gives art meaning.
How can actors use AI positively?
By using AI as a creative assistant, for editing, visualization, or production, while keeping storytelling and emotional performance human-led.
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