Andrew Conklin, Founder of Soleil Clusters, on AI, Creativity, and the Future of Film Production
Andrew Conklin.webp
Photo courtesy of Andrew Conklin / Soleil Clusters.
Welcome to another edition of FilmPlatforms Industry Spotlight, our interview series featuring filmmakers and film industry professionals from around the world.
In this edition, we're pleased to welcome Andrew Conklin, actor, filmmaker, and founder of Soleil Clusters. Andrew shares his perspective on how AI is transforming film production, why human creativity should remain at the heart of filmmaking, and how modern production tools can help filmmakers collaborate more efficiently from development to delivery.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. Could you tell us about your background and what inspired you to create Soleil Clusters?
I'm Andrew Conklin, a 22 year old actor and filmmaker. The challenges of producing films under Soleil Pictures brought Soleil Clusters to fruition. Most production companies stick to just that, producing movies and TV. However, we look for opportunities bigger than that. Not only do we want to create great media, but to empower and inspire others to do the same by building out great tools and resources.
2. Soleil Clusters brings multiple stages of the filmmaking workflow together into a single platform. What challenges in traditional film production inspired you to develop this solution?
Production on any scale is incredibly hard. You have scripts, schedules, shot lists, budgets, moodboards, etc shared across hundreds, if not thousands of people. Everything ends up scattered everywhere, and in an industry where every second is valuable, you can't waste time searching while everyone is waiting for you on set. Clusters makes it incredibly easy to stay thoughtful and organized while breeding creativity and collaboration.
3. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of the film industry. In your opinion, where does AI create the greatest value, and where should human creativity always remain at the center of the process?
I believe human creativity should be there at every step of the process. While there are now some steps that AI can assist with, there should never be a final product on a theater screen, TV screen, or even phone screen that was created by AI.
4. Your platform is designed for producers, directors, writers, and many other film professionals. Based on your experience so far, who benefits the most from Soleil Clusters, and what kind of feedback have you received from your users?
Any creative can find success on Clusters. However, the biggest benefactors in the film world have been producers who can invite their entire team to organize and create their projects from pre-production to pitch, to completion, and directors who can invite their teams to ideate and build their entire creative vision in one workspace.
5. Independent filmmakers often work with limited budgets and small teams. How can AI-powered production tools help them work more efficiently while remaining competitive with larger productions?
AI can help you stay competitive on the logistics side of making a film, especially on smaller productions, where it is harder to dedicate time and resources to making sure schedules and technicalities are perfect. A budget buys you time; Just as Soleil Clusters can buy you more time creating, AI can buy you more time allocating.
6. Looking ahead, how do you see AI transforming film production over the next five to ten years? Which areas of the filmmaking process do you expect to change the most?
If Soleil Pictures is bullish on any part of AI being involved in film, as said before, it would be the logistics. The Soleil brand, both with Soleil Pictures and Soleil Clusters, will always fight for real human stories and creativity. We have no desire to replace creatives in any capacity. Our mission is to give more creatives the opportunity to make a living doing what they love, not replace them.
7. Many members of the FilmPlatforms community are interested in integrating AI into their own workflows. What advice would you give filmmakers who are excited about these new technologies but aren't sure where to begin?
Take inventory of where you think you need it, then use it to find the tools to help. AI tends not to be the solution we are looking for a lot of times; we just haven't found the right tool. This is why we built Clusters; it bridged the gap we were looking for. Where previously we might've thought AI was the correct way to keep our thoughts together, really, we just needed a better workspace built for making movies and TV where we could create, visualize, and organize our worlds all in one place.
8. Finally, what's next for Soleil Clusters? Are there any upcoming features, developments, or long-term goals that you're particularly excited to share with our readers?
We are constantly building upon Clusters to bring more tools to filmmakers; soon, we will be looking to bring more features to optimize the logistics of production as well (scheduling, shot listing, call sheets, business tools, etc). Our goal is to support and ease collaboration and creation in all film spaces. Whether that's for massive film studio teams or a 10-person short film crew. Our north star is to make and support great film.
About Andrew Conklin
Name: Andrew Conklin
Position: Actor, Filmmaker & Founder
Company: Soleil Clusters / Soleil Pictures
Country: United States
Soleil Clusters: https://clusters.soleilpictures.com/
Soleil Pictures: https://soleilpictures.com/
IMDb: https://imdb.me/andrewconklin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewconklin/
We sincerely thank Andrew Conklin for taking the time to share his experience with the FilmPlatforms community.
Interested in being featured?
FilmPlatforms Industry Spotlight showcases filmmakers, producers, distributors, sales agents, investors, film festival representatives, and other professionals shaping the film industry.
If you'd like to share your story, experience, and insights with filmmakers from around the world, we'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch to be featured in an upcoming Industry Spotlight interview.
Andrew Conklin.webp
Photo courtesy of Andrew Conklin / Soleil Clusters.
Welcome to another edition of FilmPlatforms Industry Spotlight, our interview series featuring filmmakers and film industry professionals from around the world.
In this edition, we're pleased to welcome Andrew Conklin, actor, filmmaker, and founder of Soleil Clusters. Andrew shares his perspective on how AI is transforming film production, why human creativity should remain at the heart of filmmaking, and how modern production tools can help filmmakers collaborate more efficiently from development to delivery.
1. Please introduce yourself to our readers. Could you tell us about your background and what inspired you to create Soleil Clusters?
I'm Andrew Conklin, a 22 year old actor and filmmaker. The challenges of producing films under Soleil Pictures brought Soleil Clusters to fruition. Most production companies stick to just that, producing movies and TV. However, we look for opportunities bigger than that. Not only do we want to create great media, but to empower and inspire others to do the same by building out great tools and resources.
2. Soleil Clusters brings multiple stages of the filmmaking workflow together into a single platform. What challenges in traditional film production inspired you to develop this solution?
Production on any scale is incredibly hard. You have scripts, schedules, shot lists, budgets, moodboards, etc shared across hundreds, if not thousands of people. Everything ends up scattered everywhere, and in an industry where every second is valuable, you can't waste time searching while everyone is waiting for you on set. Clusters makes it incredibly easy to stay thoughtful and organized while breeding creativity and collaboration.
3. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of the film industry. In your opinion, where does AI create the greatest value, and where should human creativity always remain at the center of the process?
I believe human creativity should be there at every step of the process. While there are now some steps that AI can assist with, there should never be a final product on a theater screen, TV screen, or even phone screen that was created by AI.
4. Your platform is designed for producers, directors, writers, and many other film professionals. Based on your experience so far, who benefits the most from Soleil Clusters, and what kind of feedback have you received from your users?
Any creative can find success on Clusters. However, the biggest benefactors in the film world have been producers who can invite their entire team to organize and create their projects from pre-production to pitch, to completion, and directors who can invite their teams to ideate and build their entire creative vision in one workspace.
5. Independent filmmakers often work with limited budgets and small teams. How can AI-powered production tools help them work more efficiently while remaining competitive with larger productions?
AI can help you stay competitive on the logistics side of making a film, especially on smaller productions, where it is harder to dedicate time and resources to making sure schedules and technicalities are perfect. A budget buys you time; Just as Soleil Clusters can buy you more time creating, AI can buy you more time allocating.
6. Looking ahead, how do you see AI transforming film production over the next five to ten years? Which areas of the filmmaking process do you expect to change the most?
If Soleil Pictures is bullish on any part of AI being involved in film, as said before, it would be the logistics. The Soleil brand, both with Soleil Pictures and Soleil Clusters, will always fight for real human stories and creativity. We have no desire to replace creatives in any capacity. Our mission is to give more creatives the opportunity to make a living doing what they love, not replace them.
7. Many members of the FilmPlatforms community are interested in integrating AI into their own workflows. What advice would you give filmmakers who are excited about these new technologies but aren't sure where to begin?
Take inventory of where you think you need it, then use it to find the tools to help. AI tends not to be the solution we are looking for a lot of times; we just haven't found the right tool. This is why we built Clusters; it bridged the gap we were looking for. Where previously we might've thought AI was the correct way to keep our thoughts together, really, we just needed a better workspace built for making movies and TV where we could create, visualize, and organize our worlds all in one place.
8. Finally, what's next for Soleil Clusters? Are there any upcoming features, developments, or long-term goals that you're particularly excited to share with our readers?
We are constantly building upon Clusters to bring more tools to filmmakers; soon, we will be looking to bring more features to optimize the logistics of production as well (scheduling, shot listing, call sheets, business tools, etc). Our goal is to support and ease collaboration and creation in all film spaces. Whether that's for massive film studio teams or a 10-person short film crew. Our north star is to make and support great film.
Name: Andrew Conklin
Position: Actor, Filmmaker & Founder
Company: Soleil Clusters / Soleil Pictures
Country: United States
Soleil Clusters: https://clusters.soleilpictures.com/
Soleil Pictures: https://soleilpictures.com/
IMDb: https://imdb.me/andrewconklin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewconklin/
We sincerely thank Andrew Conklin for taking the time to share his experience with the FilmPlatforms community.
FilmPlatforms Industry Spotlight showcases filmmakers, producers, distributors, sales agents, investors, film festival representatives, and other professionals shaping the film industry.
If you'd like to share your story, experience, and insights with filmmakers from around the world, we'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch to be featured in an upcoming Industry Spotlight interview.
