Like it or not, the digital boogeyman known as AI or Artificial Intelligence has very much entered the sphere of filmmaking for good. But the question that many still ask is – should it have?
Throughout history, there has been pushback against advancements in film. A perfect example of this can be seen with the inception and rise of CGI, or Computer Generated Images. For generations, special effects in movies revolved around hand-drawn animation, grand physical sets, miniatures (as in miniature versions), puppets, or animatronics, among other methods.
But when films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1992) and Jurassic Park (1993) became box office successes, audiences saw how incredible and versatile CGI could be. Both films actually included minimal CGI compared to today’s standards and relied heavily on traditional special effects methods. Yet, at the time, many traditionalists decried what CGI would do to traditional special effects artists.
While it’s obvious that some movies rely too heavily on CGI, many viewed it then as they do now – as just another storytelling tool. Still, a few things are true – traditional special effects artists still have a place in the film industry, and CGI has allowed creators to do things on screen that were not too long ago thought impossible.
So what does this have to do with Generative AI and its place in film? Few pictured the exponential influence AI would have not just in special effects studios, but in writing rooms. But as the 2024 writers strike taught us, the reach of AI is vast and its disruption capabilities are unlimited.
While many rightly sound the alarm about what the future could hold for this technology, it’s important to remember that it is just a tool, and it’s only as useful as the person wielding it. Yes, AI programs can do neat things, and in some cases, they can be used as a springboard for ideas or a shortcut for drafting copy…but if looked at as just a tool, a potential creative extension, then in my opinion, generative AI could be a valuable aid for writers.
I don’t think generative AI should be relied on as the sole source of a script – nor do I think it ever will be. While generative AI can quickly create images or string together words, the question remains if what is generated will make you genuinely feel in the same way that a handwritten script does. I’m betting on – most likely not.