“This podcast will self-destruct in 5 seconds…”

We’ve often talked on this show about the potential of science fiction to become science fact. It’s fairly common for even the most out-there concepts discussed here to be on the verge of becoming reality, even if they don’t yet fly in the real world, they sometimes will soon. It’s more rare for us to tackle a concept that seemed like pure fantasy at the time but that has almost become reality in the present day.

But such is the case with Mission: Impossible III and the voice cloning device. As you’ll see in this week’s episode, this is one piece of spy tech that is suddenly no longer as unrealistic as it was in 2006 when the movie was released. But perhaps more relevant for today are the ethical implications around the existing technology’s use…or misuse, as is so often sadly the case.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check out the latest episode of Does it Fly? to learn more…

Watch the video version of this episode here! https://youtu.be/9fRFdjq0iR4

SUGGESTED VIEWING 

The Mission: Impossible franchise now encompasses a whopping eight movies when you factor in the release of this year’s Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning. Something tells us that movie isn’t the final anything for these movies, but that’s another story. ANYWAY…

Our episode today is based primarily around Mission: Impossible III, directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci. And if those names sound familiar to folks tuning in to this Roddenberry production, you’re right, and Tamara gets into just how pivotal this movie ended up being for Paramount and some other key franchises in the episode. Hold your horses, we’ll get to it!

FURTHER READING 

Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do!

Voice Cloning via A.I.

As Hakeem points out, this technology seemed pretty far-fetched in 2006 when Mission: Impossible III was released, but actually exists (kinda) today! While there are websites out there that will allow you to enter text and get audio that mimics a celebrity voice, we’re not super sure how we feel about that. But here’s a pretty well regarded text to voice A.I. service for you to play around with.

The Physiology of Voice Changing

For a quick overview of how your voice actually works, you’ll want to go here. This should give you a new appreciation for how impressionists are able to uncannily mimic other human voices (not to mention non-human sounds). Think of legends like Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, or the incomparable Rich Little for people who didn’t need tech to do this. It’s the kind of thing that everyone thinks they can do, but it’s a unique talent when it can be done right.

Noise Cancelation

It’s obviously not a 1:1 ratio here, but the science of how noise canceling headphones work is informative when it comes to how this theoretical device might be able to change your voice in real time as you’re speaking. 

That Poem is Real

The poem that Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Owen Davian is forced to read at gunpoint in this movie in order to get his voice saying every possible sound in the English language? It’s real and it has a kind of amusing story from its author behind it.

The Mission: Impossible and Star Trek Connection

Some of what Tamara details about the early production and creative struggles of Mission: Impossible III can be found here. For some earlier connections between the Star Trek and Mission: Impossible franchises, check this out!

The Challenges of Voice Actors

A.I. has become a central issue in the labor struggles facing all creative talent recently, including actors. Fortunately, one group of voice actors has banded together to try and get more recognition for their craft.

WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?

The Mission: Impossible movies follow in the tradition of the James Bond franchise in their embrace of wild but plausible technology. We took a look at not one, not two, but three pieces of such tech in our episode on Goldfinger which you can watch here.

Final Destination Bloodlines is in theaters now and we went back to the very beginning to examine the central concept of the franchise. Watch it here!

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