Discussion AI in Filmmaking - Revolution or Real Threat?

Cinema Doktor

Cinema Doktor

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Industry Professional
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Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the filmmaking workflow.

Today AI tools are already used for several things in production and post-production. Some filmmakers use AI for video generation, concept art, storyboards, VFX assistance, automated editing, voice cloning and even early script development.
Independent creators often use AI to reduce costs and speed up production. For small teams it can replace expensive tools or large crews. At the same time many professionals in the industry are worried about how far this could go.
There is a growing debate about whether AI will become a normal filmmaking tool or whether it could replace certain creative jobs in areas like editing, VFX, voice acting and screenwriting.
Another interesting question is which AI platforms are actually useful for filmmakers today. Tools like Runway, Sora, Pika, Midjourney and others are developing very quickly.
Do you think AI tools are worth using in film production today?
Which platforms have you tried and what were your experiences?

And looking ahead 5–10 years do you think AI will mostly help filmmakers or fundamentally change the industry?
 
AI has its place in filmmaking, but only if we treat it as a tool, not a substitute for craft.
At the moment, it is useful mainly in preparation and technical support: concept work, previs, cleanup, transcription, subtitling, and speeding up repetitive post tasks. For smaller productions, that can be a real advantage.
What I do not believe is that it can replace cinematic judgment. A film is built on choices rhythm, tone, performance, framing, silence, restraint. Those decisions are not just technical, and that is where real filmmaking still lives.
So yes, AI will become part of the workflow, and in some sectors it will move very fast. But I think the danger is not the tool itself. The danger is when producers start using it as an excuse to lower standards and replace experienced people with shortcuts.
In the long run, the filmmakers who benefit most will be the ones who know exactly where AI saves time, and where human instinct must stay in control.
 
John said:
AI has its place in filmmaking, but only if we treat it as a tool, not a substitute for craft.
At the moment, it is useful mainly in preparation and technical support: concept work, previs, cleanup, transcription, subtitling, and speeding up repetitive post tasks. For smaller productions, that can be a real advantage.
What I do not believe is that it can replace cinematic judgment. A film is built on choices rhythm, tone, performance, framing, silence, restraint. Those decisions are not just technical, and that is where real filmmaking still lives.
So yes, AI will become part of the workflow, and in some sectors it will move very fast. But I think the danger is not the tool itself. The danger is when producers start using it as an excuse to lower standards and replace experienced people with shortcuts.
In the long run, the filmmakers who benefit most will be the ones who know exactly where AI saves time, and where human instinct must stay in control.
Click to expand...

One thing I’m particularly curious about is what happens later, when a film that used AI reaches distribution.

If AI-generated material ends up in the finished film, what exactly should a producer be documenting today? Is it enough to record which AI tools were used and for what, or are distributors and insurers already expecting more detailed records?

Has anyone actually encountered a situation where the use of AI caused problems with delivery or E&O insurance?

And one more question: if an AI-generated element later creates a rights or clearance issue, who ultimately carries that risk the producer, the production company, or the distributor?

I’d be really interested to hear any real-world experience with this.
 
Samantha said:
One thing I’m particularly curious about is what happens later, when a film that used AI reaches distribution.

If AI-generated material ends up in the finished film, what exactly should a producer be documenting today? Is it enough to record which AI tools were used and for what, or are distributors and insurers already expecting more detailed records?

Has anyone actually encountered a situation where the use of AI caused problems with delivery or E&O insurance?

And one more question: if an AI-generated element later creates a rights or clearance issue, who ultimately carries that risk the producer, the production company, or the distributor?

I’d be really interested to hear any real-world experience with this.
Click to expand...

Here's a question I think deserves more attention: who picks up the bill if an AI-generated scene creates a legal problem just before distribution?

Replacing a scene, reshooting footage, or modifying a finished film can get expensive. That's why contracts should address not only usage rights, but also who bears the responsibility and costs if something goes wrong.

Has anyone here encountered a production where AI-generated content had to be changed or removed for legal reasons?
 
George said:
Here's a question I think deserves more attention: who picks up the bill if an AI-generated scene creates a legal problem just before distribution?

Replacing a scene, reshooting footage, or modifying a finished film can get expensive. That's why contracts should address not only usage rights, but also who bears the responsibility and costs if something goes wrong.

Has anyone here encountered a production where AI-generated content had to be changed or removed for legal reasons?
Click to expand...

Imagine finishing your film, finding an interested distributor, and then struggling to prove you have the necessary rights to your AI-generated scenes.

That alone could hold up a deal. Better to keep the paperwork from day one than scramble for it when a buyer starts asking questions.
 
Cinema Doktor said:
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the filmmaking workflow.

Today AI tools are already used for several things in production and post-production. Some filmmakers use AI for video generation, concept art, storyboards, VFX assistance, automated editing, voice cloning and even early script development.
Independent creators often use AI to reduce costs and speed up production. For small teams it can replace expensive tools or large crews. At the same time many professionals in the industry are worried about how far this could go.
There is a growing debate about whether AI will become a normal filmmaking tool or whether it could replace certain creative jobs in areas like editing, VFX, voice acting and screenwriting.
Another interesting question is which AI platforms are actually useful for filmmakers today. Tools like Runway, Sora, Pika, Midjourney and others are developing very quickly.
Do you think AI tools are worth using in film production today?
Which platforms have you tried and what were your experiences?

And looking ahead 5–10 years do you think AI will mostly help filmmakers or fundamentally change the industry?
Click to expand...
Yes, I think AI tools are worth using when they solve a practical problem and filmmakers keep control of the work.

I’ve worked with Runway, Kling, Grok, Google Flow, Gemini and Seedance, alongside ComfyUI workflows, for visual development and AI-assisted productions. My experience has taught me that generating a shot is only part of the job. Maintaining character continuity, controlling movement and getting shots to work together still take considerable human judgement and revision.

My approach is hybrid. I see value in previsualisation, concept trailers with the original actors’ explicit consent, and backgrounds or VFX that professionals direct and refine. I wouldn’t use AI to write a story or suggest changes to its creative direction. I also want actors, dubbing artists, editors and technical crews to work alongside these tools and retain their roles.

There’s another opportunity in production coordination. That’s where I’m focusing with StoryOPS: keeping scenes, requirements, revisions and decisions connected. Its current screenplay processing uses built-in rules, which also shows that useful automation doesn’t always need generative AI.

Over the next 5–10 years, I expect AI to change how we work substantially. Whether that benefits filmmakers will depend on the choices producers, studios and technology companies make about consent, employment and creative responsibility. I’d judge progress by how well it supports people and their craft.
 
Adam Films said:
Imagine finishing your film, finding an interested distributor, and then struggling to prove you have the necessary rights to your AI-generated scenes.

That alone could hold up a deal. Better to keep the paperwork from day one than scramble for it when a buyer starts asking questions.
Click to expand...
I haven’t personally encountered a production where someone had to remove AI-generated material for legal reasons, so I can’t share a firsthand example.

But you raise a question teams should settle before production: who pays if they need to replace an asset? I’d want the agreements to address who supplies and approves the material, what permissions they must secure, and who covers replacement work, delays and any claim.

That’s one reason I favour a hybrid approach with explicit consent and human review. Teams need to check permissions early, while they still have time to choose another approach. Discovering a gap just before distribution puts everyone under pressure.
 
Cinema Doktor said:
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the filmmaking workflow.

Today AI tools are already used for several things in production and post-production. Some filmmakers use AI for video generation, concept art, storyboards, VFX assistance, automated editing, voice cloning and even early script development.
Independent creators often use AI to reduce costs and speed up production. For small teams it can replace expensive tools or large crews. At the same time many professionals in the industry are worried about how far this could go.
There is a growing debate about whether AI will become a normal filmmaking tool or whether it could replace certain creative jobs in areas like editing, VFX, voice acting and screenwriting.
Another interesting question is which AI platforms are actually useful for filmmakers today. Tools like Runway, Sora, Pika, Midjourney and others are developing very quickly.
Do you think AI tools are worth using in film production today?
Which platforms have you tried and what were your experiences?

And looking ahead 5–10 years do you think AI will mostly help filmmakers or fundamentally change the industry?
Click to expand...
Oh boy I am glad to see this conversation!

As an independent poet, author and lyricist, turned screenwriter - AI has been paramount! I have not used it for any of the writing itself, but rather I have used it to learn the expectations and requirements of each stage while writing my first screenplay.

As a writer, I already knew about the story arch, character bibles, writing the main story itself but, this changed a LOT when adapting my writing to a screenplay.

Without this, I would have been guessing each step, or looking to try and find funds that I did not have, to join classes just to learn the same.

As mentioned by someone else above - if AI is used as a tool, I do not see a problem. If it is used to substitute skills you can learn and use, then it becomes pointless to those who enjoy that part of the craft. That's the main difference though - if someone wants to learn, they will. If someone wants to make money quick, they won't - they will take the easy way.

Just don't be completely fooled however, as companies like Disney openly admit the use of AI too. Whether this is just for storyboards or not.

AI is the future across all avenues. We just need adapt and keep the use as assistance rather than replacement. (People using AI also do not realise that only certain subscriptions allow you to own the rights to the work!) I have my sample soundtrack online, created using handwritten lyrics, turned into sample songs by AI, just to give an idea but, I am upfront about this needing to be redone by a fresh score if Bloom is ever picked up for production. Being open and upfront can save a lot of issues in the longrun.

I could write an essay on this topic but I'd rather not put you to sleep, therefore for now? I'll ask in return;

Are there any aspects where AI is NOT in use and as someone in your line of work - with your level of experience - what do you hope it will be able to do in the future?

Mark
 
Anderson-Mark-Ian said:
Oh boy I am glad to see this conversation!

As an independent poet, author and lyricist, turned screenwriter - AI has been paramount! I have not used it for any of the writing itself, but rather I have used it to learn the expectations and requirements of each stage while writing my first screenplay.

As a writer, I already knew about the story arch, character bibles, writing the main story itself but, this changed a LOT when adapting my writing to a screenplay.

Without this, I would have been guessing each step, or looking to try and find funds that I did not have, to join classes just to learn the same.

As mentioned by someone else above - if AI is used as a tool, I do not see a problem. If it is used to substitute skills you can learn and use, then it becomes pointless to those who enjoy that part of the craft. That's the main difference though - if someone wants to learn, they will. If someone wants to make money quick, they won't - they will take the easy way.

Just don't be completely fooled however, as companies like Disney openly admit the use of AI too. Whether this is just for storyboards or not.

AI is the future across all avenues. We just need adapt and keep the use as assistance rather than replacement. (People using AI also do not realise that only certain subscriptions allow you to own the rights to the work!) I have my sample soundtrack online, created using handwritten lyrics, turned into sample songs by AI, just to give an idea but, I am upfront about this needing to be redone by a fresh score if Bloom is ever picked up for production. Being open and upfront can save a lot of issues in the longrun.

I could write an essay on this topic but I'd rather not put you to sleep, therefore for now? I'll ask in return;

Are there any aspects where AI is NOT in use and as someone in your line of work - with your level of experience - what do you hope it will be able to do in the future?

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark, your experience shows one of AI's greatest benefits: making industry knowledge more accessible to independent creators.

I'd like to see it help filmmakers identify budget, scheduling and clearance issues before production begins. In many cases, that could support professionals rather than replace them.

But we also have to be realistic. Some film industry jobs will change, and unfortunately, some people will lose their jobs. The goal shouldn't just be to make films cheaper, but to help filmmakers work better while preserving the skills and experience that make filmmaking possible.
 
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