The recently released trailer of the upcoming Indian science fiction film Kalki 2898 AD has been embroiled in a plagiarism controversy. Hollywood concept artist Oliver Beck has accused Vyjayanthi Movies, the makers of the Prabhas starrer, of copying his artwork.
Hollywood concept artist Oliver Beck recalls Kalki 2898 AD makers approaching him amid accusations of plagiarism: “There is no budget left to pay artists”
Approached for work, then alleged copying
In an exclusive interview with Indian Express, Beck claimed a surprising detail. He said that Vyjayanthi Movies had initially contacted him to potentially work on Kalki 2898 AD. However, discussions fell through. Soon after, upon seeing the film’s trailer released in June 2024, Beck noticed striking similarities to his own work.
Similarities noted by artist community
Beck isn’t alone in his observations. Another Hollywood concept artist, Sung Choi, also took to X (formerly Twitter) to make similar accusations. While Choi later removed his tweet, Beck has maintained his stance. He claims that while some may not find the similarities immediately obvious, the artistic community clearly sees the references.
“It might be difficult to see the plagiarism when you are not an artist,” Beck explained. “But all my artist friends and the community are very clear that this was referenced from my work.” He further added, “The main takeaways are the colour palettes, it is the same, and also the shapes. It is not an exact copy, but the shapes are similar. It is too much of a coincidence because they also contacted me to work on this film. So, they know my portfolio and they have seen my work, so it is too much of a coincidence.”
Sad to see that some of the work I did for Star Trek: Prodigy got stolen by Vyjayanthi movies in their trailer:https://t.co/KWrFKJkksn
This is the matte painting I did for Star Trek under direction of Ben Hibon and Alessandro Taini and then as it appears in the trailer. pic.twitter.com/CYFP008Rd7
— Oliver Beck (@OliverBeckArt) June 13, 2024
Challenges of legal action
Beck acknowledges the difficulty of pursuing legal action. Since his work wasn’t directly copied, it falls outside the scope of copyright protection. He contrasts his situation with Sung Choi’s, where a more blatant case of copying might hold legal ground.
Limited options for artists
Unfortunately, artists often find themselves with limited recourse in such situations. Beck highlights the option of a copyright strike on platforms like YouTube to raise awareness but admits the challenges in achieving a resolution. This is the first time Beck has encountered such a significant case of alleged plagiarism involving his work in the Indian film industry. He has faced minor instances previously, but this incident has left a sour taste.
Impact on perception of Indian film industry
The experience has negatively impacted Beck’s view of working in Indian cinema. He initially saw it as a positive opportunity for diversification, especially during a period of slow work in Hollywood. However, conversations with other artists have painted a concerning picture.
He explained, “As they spend a lot of money on actors, there is no budget left to pay artists, and they resort to plagiarising and doing some cheap work and it is really unpleasant. I spoke to another person who worked on Kalki 2898 AD but they quit after only a week because of a bad work environment. I have received a lot of negative feedback and now I am not interested in working in that industry.”
The accusations against Vyjayanthi Movies remain unaddressed by the production company at this time. Whether the controversy will have any impact on the film’s release is yet to be seen.
Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan strikes a pose with the ‘GREATS’ Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone from Kalki 2898 AD event: “Simply intoxicating”
More Pages: Kalki 2898 AD Box Office Collection
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