How AI is Taking Over Hollywood and Changing Filmmaking Forever
Science & Technology
Introduction
I firmly believe that the story element is lacking in many AI-generated films. Having watched nearly all movies made by P's users on sta video.com and Runway TV, I've noticed that only a handful of artists are trying to integrate storytelling effectively. Here are my recommendations for anyone wanting to venture into AI filmmaking: don't neglect the story element. It's not just about creating a film that looks like an AI gimmick full of video snippets, moving sounds, and trippy visuals. There's a reason people love and consume story-driven content, complete with well-developed character arcs. Without these elements, AI films will never become just films, and that's not what we want.
We are not seeking to create a separate industry for AI films; we aim to enable regular people to make Hollywood blockbuster-quality films on small budgets and get into film festivals. Remember the early episodes of The Simpsons or South Park – though the animation quality was poor, people loved the characters, dialogues, and stories.
I'm from Toronto, Canada. I studied electrical engineering and computer science, and my first job was at Microsoft as a PM. Interestingly, the profession of a PM was invented during that time. I learned from the best and, towards the end, delved into machine learning and big data. Features like Excel's autofill, powered by AI, are examples of this. But I always wanted to work in startups, and after several years at Microsoft, learning about building good products, I moved down to Silicon Valley. I joined a startup in San Jose called Viv Labs, founded by the Siri founders. They aimed to create a new AI agent that could interact with anyone in the world.
Viv Labs got acquired by Samsung to develop Siri-like functionalities for Samsung devices, allowing me to learn deeply about founding an AI startup. Yet, my journey took me to JP Morgan next, where I helped integrate AI tools within their financial systems. However, I realized finance wasn't my calling. During the pandemic, while taking Stanford night courses in AI product management, I co-authored a paper on AI disrupting the film industry with my brother, a filmmaker.
Seeing the potential of GPT-2 and other emerging AI technologies for storytelling, we co-founded a startup focusing on AI-driven storytelling tools three years ago. My brother, our Chief Story Officer, and I envision an app that supports people in their creative endeavors, whether in writing, storyboarding, or animation, without compromising on the essence of storytelling.
Many current AI video generation tools approach the process backward, from the finished product. We started from the story and built our app to assist with idea generation for plotting, character arcs, and scripting, based on established storytelling principles. Our app gives users creative suggestions grounded in their existing texts, aiming to empower both amateur and professional filmmakers.
Although the writer’s strike post-launch limited early adoption, we observed enthusiasm among writers, who found our tool invaluable for overcoming creative blocks. As AI video generation improves, we plan to integrate longer and more sophisticated video shots, encouraging users to blend real-life performance with AI-generated content for maximum effect. Our primary objective remains to assist aspiring filmmakers in creating compelling stories.
While our initial focus targets aspiring writers and film school students, we sustain a vision of eventually serving Hollywood professionals. Our platform aligns with industry standards, recommending shot types and camera levels to ensure professional compatibility. We also facilitate global storytelling by including archetypes and story types spanning various cultures, enabling diversity in filmmaking that can appeal to international audiences.
Films made on our platform should feel like traditional movies, not AI gimmickry. The ultimate goal is not to distinguish AI films from conventional ones, but to let everyday storytellers achieve Hollywood-level quality on modest budgets. Moviegoers expect compelling stories and characters – attributes that our tool continuously aims to deliver.
We encourage filmmakers to focus on great storytelling, with the understanding that powerful narratives outshine visual aspects that AI currently struggles with. Just as early episodes of The Simpsons and South Park captivated audiences despite primitive animation styles, stories crafted with heart and depth will resonate profoundly through our AI-enhanced tools.
Keywords
- AI filmmaking
- Storytelling
- Character arcs
- Hollywood movies
- GPT-2
- Runway TV
- Film school
- Plot development
- Silicon Valley
- Microsoft
- Samsung
- AI video generation
- Democratize filmmaking
FAQ
Q: What is the primary focus of AI-driven filmmaking tools?
A: The primary focus is to support storytelling by providing tools for plot, character development, and scripting, ensuring these elements are well-integrated into films.
Q: Who can benefit from these AI filmmaking tools?
A: Aspiring filmmakers, film school students, hobbyists, and even professionals in the industry can benefit from these tools to enhance their storytelling.
Q: How do AI filmmaking tools compare to traditional methods?
A: AI tools provide innovative suggestions based on established storytelling principles, helping overcome creative blocks and improving efficiency without compromising on quality.
Q: Can AI-generated content be integrated with live-action footage?
A: Yes, filmmakers are encouraged to blend AI-generated content with real-life performances to create more engaging and authentic films.
Q: What makes a successful AI film?
A: Success hinges on strong storytelling, well-developed characters, and compelling narratives, rather than relying on AI-generated visuals alone.
Q: Will AI filmmaking tools democratize the industry?
A: Yes, these tools enable more people to create high-quality films, breaking entry barriers, and fostering diverse storytelling globally.