AI’s New Role: Reshaping the Film Industry

By Michael Jacobsohn

For the past six months, it has become apparent to me that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a significant role in the creation of moving images. I’m bringing this to your attention because the AI-generated short films I’m seeing are increasingly photorealistic and engaging.

The last few years have been challenging for New York’s film community. Other states and countries have lured production companies away with attractive tax incentives. The year-long strikes by the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA placed additional hardships on the film industry. Now, AI is here, threatening to redefine many of our livelihoods.

Soon, a breakthrough AI full length feature will be the talk of the town, much like Tangerine was hailed for its use of an iPhone and its raw authenticity. Theater audiences will marvel at what they see on the big screen. Similarly, a socially progressive documentary will be featured in a prestigious film festival, with audiences scrutinizing and debating the seamless integration of AI archival footage.

To learn more about the AI phenomenon, I spoke to three filmmakers who are actively involved in the craft of AI moving image creation.

Philip Shane is a long-time documentarian and editor in New York City who observes that the film industry is in a slump, with many veteran editors out of work. He offers a solution: learning AI. He asserts that having AI training might help someone get hired because some producers of new shows are very interested in finding people with those skills. He argues against the misconception that AI is so simple an intern can use it, emphasizing that it’s a new, powerful tool that still requires a talented professional with a good eye, patience, and storytelling skills. He mentions a producer friend who is creating a series that’s using a lot of AI, noting that some networks are starting to become okay with it. Shane  is candid about the challenges of privacy and ownership concerns, noting his own reluctance to use AI with personal story materials. While he believes these issues will be resolved legally, he advises filmmakers to understand the guidelines of networks and streamers before incorporating AI into professional projects. He also warns that AI is not a quick fix; it takes time and practice to master, like any other tool.

Roxanne Ducharme is a long time 2D animator who decided to get into AI in early 2023 when she was out of work and the entertainment industry was at a standstill. She saw it as an opportunity she didn’t want to miss, unlike her decision to avoid 3D. She has been intensively learning AI ever since, often working seven days a week. Ducharme finds the learning process ongoing and difficult to keep up with due to the constant updates and new features in various apps. She started with image generation and then became more interested when video AI platforms emerged. Ducharme highlights that a film background is crucial for success with AI. Skills like editing, compositing, sound design, and an understanding of cinematic language are essential for transforming AI-generated clips into a coherent story. She believes that AI is a tool that enhances the work of existing artists, rather than replacing them. Ultimately, AI has given Ducharme the opportunity to fulfill her lifelong dream of making her own films, a feat that was previously too expensive and labor-intensive in 2D animation. She is excited to explore different styles, including abstract and illustration-based projects, and is also experimenting with AI-generated music. While it’s a juggling act, she hopes to balance commercial work with her personal creative projects.

Brian Waddell has been involved with 2D and 3D visual effects for over a decade. He sees an increasingly larger role for the adoption of AI in post-production, describing it as a “force multiplier” that allows individuals or small teams to achieve results previously impossible without significant investment. Waddell shared some of the hurdles he personally encountered in content creation, often being hindered by the prohibitive costs of stock footage, music, and sound effects. AI removed many of these barriers, enabling him to generate the specific assets he needed to realize a vision quickly and cost effectively. Addressing concerns about job displacement, he sees his use of AI as enabling the creation of content that otherwise would never have been made, as he lacked the budget to hire crews or license expensive assets. For those starting in AI, Waddell typically recommends beginning with an affordable Midjourney subscription to experiment with text to image and image to video workflows.

Based on the experiences of Shane, Ducharme, and Waddell, it’s clear to me that AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a powerful tool actively reshaping the film and content creation industries. These professionals demonstrate that while AI presents challenges like privacy and the learning curve, its benefits, from generating assets affordably to enabling new forms of storytelling, are undeniable. The consensus among them is that AI won’t replace human creativity; rather, it amplifies the skills of seasoned artists and filmmakers, acting as a “force multiplier” that makes ambitious projects more accessible than ever before. As the industry evolves, those who combine their traditional cinematic knowledge with a willingness to learn and adapt to AI will be best positioned to thrive in this new landscape, unlocking creative possibilities previously out of reach.

Philip Shane: philipshane.com

Roxanne Ducharme: roxanneducharme.com/ai

Brian Waddell: youtube.com/@LitanyOfIgnition

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Michael Jacobsohn is an independent New York filmmaker. His recently completed documentary, “The Cornelia Street Cafe In Exile,” is screening at the IFC Center. He also curates and hosts a bi-monthly screening of short films by New York Metropolitan filmmakers at New Plaza Cinema.