How will AI shape the movie industry?

The whirlwind of 21st-century technological advancements continually reshapes our daily habits, choices, perceptions, and emotions, much like software undergoing constant updates.

Some view the history of technology as an extension of human desires. From discovering fire to inventing the first smartphone, technologies have freed us from relying on hunting and gathering, enabling the development of cities and civilizations. Transportation innovations have altered our mobility, reshaping our relationship with time and space.

This process, seen as renewal, is more societal than personal. Marx and Hegel argue that social order, technology, and the material conditions of life shape human thoughts and creations. Marx believes technology reveals our active relationship with nature, the production process, and consequently, social relations and mental conceptions.

Marshall McLuhan highlights how technology transforms our senses. He explains its societal impact by stating that technological tools have turned the world into a global village, viewing these tools as extensions of humans. Unlike Innis, who focused on the impact of communication technology on social organization and culture, McLuhan emphasizes its sensory effects, suggesting that people become captives of their own creations. McLuhan is a prominent advocate of “technological determinism,” which posits that technology is central to human life and societal transformation.

Mass communication tools are inherently influenced by technological advancements. In the digital age, where information transforms into binary code, new communication tools have significantly changed the field.

Cinema, as a mass culture industry, exemplifies this transformation, quickly adapting its production, distribution, and viewing practices to new technologies. This makes cinema’s relationship with technology more crucial compared to other media.

The digital revolution in cinema signifies a major shift. The traditional film reel has been replaced by digital data. This radical change underscores that all art forms are shaped not only by society’s politics, philosophy, and economy but also by its technology.

The relationship between cinema and technology transcends mere functionality. It is not solely the production tools and techniques that have evolved with technological advancements; cinema's narrative and storytelling structures have also experienced profound transformations.

The post-digital revolution era has seen another groundbreaking development: the advent of artificial intelligence in the cinematic arts. The integration of AI technologies has unlocked unprecedented opportunities for the film industry. From automating intricate editing processes to generating innovative narrative forms and visual effects, AI now offers countless possibilities.

This technological evolution broadens the creative horizons for filmmakers, facilitating innovative storytelling techniques and immersive viewer experiences.

AI's capability to analyze vast datasets allows filmmakers to gain deeper insights into audience preferences, enabling the creation of more personalized and engaging viewing experiences.

AI opens the door for experimentation with dynamic storytelling formats that were once the domain of speculative fiction.

Let's cut to the chase and get to the point.

AI today is able to;

• dissect scripts to predict box office success and identify potential hits,
• suggest the perfect actors for roles based on a vast array of data,
• generate jaw-dropping visual effects faster and cheaper than ever before,
• assemble scenes with precision, saving countless hours in post-production,
• serve up films tailored to your exact taste on streaming services,
• craft targeted marketing strategies that maximize audience reach,
• invent fresh, compelling characters that resonate with audiences,
• generate innovative scene concepts that enhance storytelling,
• produce entire video sequences from text prompts,
• design eye-catching film posters that capture the essence of a movie and draw in viewers.

This is a lot... Comprehend the profound influence of technological innovation on the creative processes and cultural significance of cinema.

Would you like to see a practical example? Let's show you right away.

Spend a little time with any AI image generator, and you'll find that completing the process below takes just a few minutes.

Sometimes, an absurd example is the best way to explain something because it hits you with the truth in its most exaggerated form.

Right now, you could go to ChatGPT and imagine an octopus dressed like a businessman.

My prompt: Create a character, an octopus dressed like a businessman, in 30 words.

The output: Meet Sir Squiggleton, the Executive Octopus. Sir Squiggleton is a charming octopus dressed in a sharp business suit, complete with a tie and glasses perched on his head.

Then, using Midjourney, you could vividly depict it in a world resembling your favorite Disney animation from 1994, The Lion King.

The method: Introduce a film scene as a reference to Midjourney. Then, detail your character and command the AI to use that reference for style. Watch as the AI effortlessly blends your character into the film's aesthetic, bringing your vision to life with stunning precision.

You could place it against a pristine white background and put it in a variety of striking poses. If you play around with prompts for ten more minutes, you will get precise colors and styles.

But sometimes you’re just lazy...

Next, you could call an animator friend and, within about 15 minutes, have the initial character drafts sent over.

Or;

• you could opt to create the animations entirely with AI,
• spend a bit more money to transform these into fully-fledged videos,
• edit them to perfection,
• and create a professional-quality animated film at home with minimal cost!

Two years ago, this level of creativity and efficiency was unthinkable.

Ten years ago, it was pure fantasy.

The speed and ease with which we can now create and innovate is nothing short of astonishing.

Consider what’s happening in the industry right now.

The 2nd AI International Film Festival in Los Angeles, produced by AI video startup Runway, highlighted the growing integration of AI in Hollywood, showcasing diverse films created with advanced AI tools.

Disney’s FaceDirector software allows directors to create composite expressions from multiple takes, enabling precise adjustments to an actor's performance during post-production.

Studios like 20th Century Fox use AI tools such as Merlin Video to forecast film success by analyzing audience demographics and actor popularity and tailoring advertising campaigns for maximum engagement.

AI tools, exemplified by Runway, played a significant role in the production of the Oscar-winning film "Everything Everywhere All At Once," marking a new era of AI-assisted filmmaking dubbed "Hollywood 2.0."

AI tools like Mubert and AIVA allow producers to create custom, low-cost scores for movies, providing nearly limitless musical options and enhancing production value on a budget.

If you’re questioning the significance of AI and whether it truly matters for the movie industry, the answer is unequivocally yes.

Cut!