AI & Entertainment: The Future of Creativity or the End of It?

In this episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, Sonia delves into the growing influence of AI in the entertainment industry, including voice cloning, script writing, AI actors, and music creation. Is AI a tool that empowers artists, or is it taking their place? Engage in this intriguing discussion about the essence of creativity in an era where machines can replicate human imagination. Sonia shares her heartfelt, artistic insights as a voice actor and poet.

So what do we do now?

We listen

We create with awareness

We stay present

With our voices and our why

Because in the age of algorithms—

The human soul is still

The wildest art form

Welcome to another episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café. Itfeels like it’s been a lifetime, and to be completely honest, life has thrown quite a few curveballs my way lately. I know this is just a passing phase, but my aspirations of incorporating video into this season’s podcast? Well, they slipped through my fingers like grabbing for air. I’m healing from an injury,and my father’s health has taken a downturn, necessitating several trips to the bustling city of Chicago to be by his side. Although my heart was set on continuing the podcast, the clarity and drive to do so seemed to vanish like smoke in the wind.

On the audition front, there’s little to report. I've had ahandful of commercial auditions, including some for voiceover work. I had a funny audition – love those because I love comedy. However, the world of TV andfilm feels like a barren desert for me, with productions migrating from California in search of better incentives elsewhere.

In the legislative world, two bills have emerged inSacramento, known as AB 1138 and SB 630. According to the SAG-AFTRA website, this means the following:

What’s in the Bills?

These updates are designed to modernize California’s filmand TV tax incentive program and keep us competitive with other states and countries

Raises base credit allocations from 20-25% to 35-40%, with higher incentives for productions outside Los Angeles.

Expands eligibility to include more diverse genres and formats.

Doubles application windows and adds flexibility to better align funding with real-time demand.

Limits delays for recurring series to ensure timely production or funding reallocation.

Provides modest year-over-year increases to reflect rising production costs.

Increases the indie project cap and funding, supporting the vibrant, local storytelling that happens across the state.

I’ll keep you posted on if these bills pass as we reallyneed more productions in California.Also, please get your copy of my book Inspire Me: Awakening Dreams.

Welcome to a brief episode of Overheard at Chica's Café, where we discuss all things entertainment. This month, we address the current state of the industry, which has been slowed down due to the devastating fires in Los Angeles. As a resident of this city, I have personally experienced the effects of the Sunset Fire and had to evacuate my home.

But amidst the chaos and destruction, one thing remains constant: our love for entertainment. This is why I have decided to record this month's episode in a new format, a video that will be uploaded to both Spotify and YouTube. I hope you will tune in and join me as I discuss the future of entertainment and interview guests about their own journeys in this ever-changing industry.

So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let's dive into the world of entertainment.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to seeing you at Chica's Café for another lively and insightful discussion. See you soon!