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Could digital clones take Hollywood by storm?

New Yorker writer Margaret Talbot on increasingly sophisticated digital special effects and deeply convincing holograms.
CBC Radio ·
The real Philip Seymour Hoffman, left, and Woody Harrelson in a scene from "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire." A digital version of the late actor will continue his role. (Lionsgate, Murray Close/AP)

Philip Seymour Hoffman will complete his role in the next installment of The Hunger Games, despite his unexpected death. Stunt doubles for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be indistinguishable from lead actor Andrew Garfield. And aging actors could one day bank younger versions of themselves.

Welcome to Pixel Perfect Hollywood.

Jian speaks to Margaret Talbot, who recently wrote a piece for The New Yorker about the increasingly sophisticated digital special effects and holograms used by the entertainment industry -- and the myriad questions of taste, ethics and economics they raise.

Post-mortem performances

Watch holographic versions of Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur on stage below and tell us: What do you think of digitally cloning or resurrecting performers? Do you think you'd enjoy watching convincing avatars as much as the real deal?

Do you distinguish between clones on stage versus on screen?

WARNING: This video contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.

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