Having nightmares of robots coming to take your directing gigs?

Fear not.

Directors are more valuable than ever in the age of AI, and today we’ll discuss why.

What makes directors uniquely positioned to take advantage of what AI has to offer?

AI’s role in the film industry has been a hot topic during the writer and actor strikes this year.

Are our jobs in danger? Will all content soon be created by robots?

The blazing development and improvement of AI over the last two years has been mind blowing. I understand why a lot of creatives are scared.

A quick example of the the improvement in AI image generation in just the last 12 months.

Machines are doing some wildly creative stuff right now. It’s hard to keep up with the constant upgrades to the AI apps popping up seemingly every week.

But to be completely honest: I’m not worried.

Three things are clear to me:

• AI is here to stay
• Humans will never stop telling stories
• Creatives who use AI will have a leg up on those who don't

How do we as creatives take advantage of this technology to tell better stories?

There are three reasons why I see directors having a massive advantage in this landscape.

The first reason is the way we currently interact with AI.

Prompts.

Written or spoken instructions that tell the AI what to do. That is literally what film directors have been doing for over a century.

Our core skillset consists of providing our collaborators with a clear vision of our film and to help them execute on that vision.

Now we’ll be talking to robots as well as people.

The second reason why directors have a great advantage is that interacting with an AI let’s us practice the fundamentals of our crafts.

We are forced to clarify our thinking. We get immediate feedback on whether our vision is coming through. The more we talk to our AI tools, the more we develop the skillset of clear communication.

The third reason is the further democratization of filmmaking. Ever since the birth of cinema the technology required to make movies has become more and more accessible. The introduction of AI tools is another step in leveling the playing field.

We will have access to tools that were reserved for giant studio movies.

And they will live in our pockets.

AI is the sidekick you always wanted

If you’re the hero, AI will be your sidekick. As of right now, the AI models widely available are reliant on human input.

We’re still in control.

I’m excited to use these new tools. They give us access to skillsets and tools we would never have been able to afford or use on a small indie feature.

As of today we can:

• Create concept art with tools like Midjourney and Dall-E
• Have a writing assistant in ChatGPT
• Use AI tools to add CG characters to your footage with Wonder Studio

Soon we’ll have AI specific tools for every part of the filmmaking process.

What me and you have to choose, is whether to embrace this technology or fight against it?

I find it liberating to think about all the things I won’t have to do anymore because technology can help solve those challenges for me.

If used well, AI can allow us to express our creativity, more easily and in more abundance than ever before.

And that can be kind of scary too.

If you and I don’t have to spend hundreds of hours making storyboards, or organizing dailies we’ll quickly run out of excuses not to make our films.

How you can start leveraging AI today for your films

So where do you go to get started using AI in your next project:

• Join the conversation: Educate yourself about what’s going on. I’ve found a lot of AI creators on Twitter, where they share the process behind how they made their AI art. Midjourney (image creation) has a Discord which gives you access to make your own images, and also to a giant community of creatives using the tool. There is still an "open-source" vibe around AI, where people are sharing what they learn in public. It's a great way to learn and grow alongside other creators.
• Dive in: Whenever you see an “AI Expert”, remember they’ve been at this for less than 18 months. Probably less. The barrier to entry in this field is extremely low. You can get up to speed in days, even hours. Most tools have free trials, or are cheap to try out for a month. Pick one and mess around with it.
• Remember you are the director: Your vision and direction are more important than ever. AI is not some “get creative quick”-scheme. The quality you receive mirrors the quality you put in. Don’t go into this expecting AI to magically ideate, write, shoot and edit your next film. Also, what would the fun of that be anyway? Figure out ways in which these tools can amplify your films so you can share your stories with the world.

The opportunities in this space are limitless. I encourage you to learn more and decide for yourself if and how you want to use these tools.