Could Writers be replaced with Ai? Thoughts?
James Cameron says big-budget movies like Avatar and Dune could become unsustainable unless Hollywood finds a way to cut VFX costs in half — and he believes AI might be the key. On the Boz to the Future podcast, the Oscar-winning director made it clear he’s not looking to replace artists, but to help them work faster and more creatively. Cameron, now on the board of Stability AI, says AI should assist the process — not write screenplays, which he calls “word salad.” Be the critic on Fan Reviews.
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I think people fear advancing technology too much. All I must say is that people who saw the signs but failed to adjust are now defunct (extinct). The evidence is there. You can't stop the moving train. So either accept it, learn to adapt, and make it your own, or don't. The choice is up to the individual. Now is the time to get on board, not when it's too late. You would think by now, after all these years, people understand how it works. Radio, Albums, CD, 8 Track players, VHS, DVD, Phonographs, Floppy Disc. The list is endless. Many feared the same thing every single time. But yet here we are, we have yet to learn anything.
Exactly Renae Richardson you are so correct: it is like the record players (I had one as a kid!), the 8-Track Players for cars and home, cassettes, DVD´s and now digital. I see Ai as a writing tool that has greatly enhanced my stories where I can create a full-on story in less than an hour and that is with the movie poster as well!
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If A.I. reaches its full potential, we will no longer need a James Cameron. When we want to sit down and watch a movie, we just enter a prompt describing what kind of movie we are in the mood for watching, and the A.I. will generate a movie for us on the fly. No more need for producers, directors, cinematographers, writers...
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Mark Deuce -how do you create a whole screenplay or novel with AI?
It works a bit the other way-create a logline from a script, or a synopsis, or maybe a treatment, but how to do it the other way? I've experimented but the results are terrible and stupid.
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Jon Shallit, you can not (yet) ask for a complete screenplay (or novel) in one go, but you can do it step by step, just as you would when you write it yourself. Ask for an outline (for example a deck of cards, a.la. Syd Field), and then use A.I. to build each scene.
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Mark Deuce AI will inevitably reach a point where its creativity feels repetitive or limited, and it will need to be refreshed with new human creativity—which is infinite. This cycle will likely continue indefinitely, highlighting the indispensable role of human ingenuity in innovation and storytelling.
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Technology will never, and I mean never, replace storytelling. What tech does is catalyze the evolution of methodology. Storytelling has never gone anywhere. People have been telling stories since the dawn of time. Initially, people told stories orally without any written method. They then turned the stories into written form by transcribing them. They then translated the stories into images, transforming them into an oral/visual medium. Storytelling, along with the people who tell it, will never become obsolete. How we tell them will constantly evolve. What is feared is not the dissolution of storytelling or the creative. The loss of agency is what people are afraid of. The fear is that stories will now belong to everyone. We fear losing our unique status as a praised storyteller. We fear losing the ability to be that one storyteller who can claim they possess untouchable artistic talent. The fear is that a machine will best them. The fear is of losing the potential for stardom or financial rewards. What we don't want is for everyone to have the ability to tell the stories we want to tell. Unfortunately, we have tried to monetize, gatekeep, manipulate, and control storytelling. The truth is, the barrier has never been the ability to tell stories, but rather the accessibility for more people to do so. Here is the thing: oral storytelling still exists. Written stories still exist. Technology has not eliminated the need for written stories, even for those who prefer them.
There will always be people who seek the authentic storytellers and those who like the instant version. As storytellers, we shouldn't fear either approach if we truly love stories.
Perhaps this mindset stems from the fact that I currently write stories for free without receiving compensation. I do hope to receive compensation for my craft at some point. Regardless, I am always going to be telling stories,, even if it is to my children or a group of people who will listen. By nature we are storytellers. And we will always be that. At the end of the day I simply love the power of stories and what they do more than anything else.
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First off, AI is going to end up being the death of humanity lol Let alone the film industry. What happens the day there's robots everywhere who do everything for us and then they just finally realize they could live on this planet by themselves and take care of it better without waste and an overlord (humans)? Yikes.
But with regards to film, I just don't see what everyone is scared of. How are people scared of AI taking their writing opportunities when none of us genuinely know how to get consistent writing opportunities anyway? Plus, AI can't go out, ruin its life with drugs/alcohol like I did, then come back and write a fictionalized, yet genuine story of real pain. It can only guess in a perfectly grammatical way of what that's like, and it's clear when it tries.
For me, I don't see anything to be scared of plus no writer supports it anyway, so why does it matter? I see an opportunity for filmmakers to go and work with people and then when they have a project they can't get made, then can use AI to create the whole thing themselves for that project. We would have self-made projects assisted by AI to go along with networking, and we'd have a lot better opportunity to showcase our talent in an extremely cost-efficient way. Maybe even a way for actors to sell their Name, Image, and Likeness for certain things? I don't know if I like that, but it's an idea.
I use it for writing research and work, and I love it. I don't use it for real writing because that would hurt my chances. It would take away what gives me a voice in the first place...I'm me. Same goes with any other writer and I really hope nobody is dumb enough to use it and think they can sell a project that wasn't really theirs.
That is coming for sure! Patrik Gyltefors
I totally agree with you Dwayne Williams that the human element will never be fully replaced for us who want great unique content, but others may be happy with it though.
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Danny Range, I think James Cameron has a good answer to your first question: "Sent back from a dystopian 2029--where the cold machines have conquered the entire world... the Terminator has no feelings, he doesn't sleep, and above all, he won't stop until he carries out his grim task." That is where we will be in four years...
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Patrik Gyltefors haha AI and Skynet are too similar for me, too!!!
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AI might replace some writers, Mark Deuce, but what's going to save blockbusters in my opinion are lower budgets and better quality movies.
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So here is my take on this using https://perchance.org/ai-text-generator. It's free and user friendly.
I pasted in my whole full feature of 23401 words. I asked for a logline. It wasn't too bad but it got some things REALLY wrong. Then I asked for a synopsis. Again some errors. Then a treatment. Same issues. Then I asked for a budget for a 3-6 million dollar range. Again not bad ,but it left out a major actress part-WHY? Then I asked it to rewrite the script and improve it. That was the worst thing I have ever read.
Then I asked for a 23000 word full feature script from a short one page idea. Again, a very short script, and rather stupid. Maybe I am just a computer idiot.
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Maurice Vaughan I think movies could benefit from longer runtimes too. Films like Avengers: Endgame and Oppenheimer showcase how extended runtimes resonate well with audiences and generate impressive box office results. Longer movies allow for deeper storytelling, character development, and world-building, which not only captivate viewers but also help build stronger, dedicated fanbases.
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So Patrik (see above in thread) said to ask AI to create cards for an action film. I asked for 45 , as he did. And it spat out an Indiana Jones clone. Who wouldn't say that this isn't an Indiana Jones clone?
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Create Syd Field style cards for an action movie and return 54 numbered cards outlining the plot line divided into 3 acts.
HERE IS WHAT IT RETURNED:
Title: Rise of the Phoenix Guardian
Act One (Cards 1-17)
1. Introduction: A mystical artifact, the Phoenix Heart, is discovered in the ruins of an ancient civilization.
2. Protagonist: Archaeologist Alex Mercer is revealed as the chosen guardian of the Phoenix Heart.
3. Inciting Incident: Alex's mentor, Professor Castellanos, is killed by the shadowy organization, The Scepter.
4. The Scepter: The antagonist group seeks the Phoenix Heart to harness its power for world domination.
5. The Quest Begins: Alex swears to avenge Professor Castellanos and protect the artifact.
6. Ally: Alex meets and joins forces with a rogue agent, Lena Nightshade.
7. Training: Alex begins to understand and train with the Phoenix Heart's powers under the guidance of a hidden master.
8. Bonding Moment: Alex and Lena share a heartfelt conversation about loss and their shared purpose.
9. The First Lead: They uncover intel on The Scepter's next move.
10. The Scepter's Plan: The organization plans to use the Phoenix Heart to resurrect an ancient warrior.
11. The Ancient Warrior: It is revealed that the warrior was once a hero turned evil by power.
12. The Scepter's Base: Alex and Lena infiltrate the base to gather more information.
13. First Skirmish: They fight off Scepter soldiers and escape with new intel.
14. The Ancient Text: They find an ancient text detailing how to defeat the resurrected warrior.
15. The Phoenix Bond: Alex learns to fully harness the power of the Phoenix Heart.
16. The Betrayal: An ally is revealed to be a Scepter spy.
17. The Decision: Alex and Lena must choose whether to save their friend or pursue the artifact.
Act Two (Cards 18-35)
18. The Race Continues: Alex and Lena decide to save their friend, setting back their quest.
19. The Captive: They rescue their friend, who shares critical information about The Scepter.
20. The Scepter's Weapon: The organization is building a device to control the resurrected warrior.
21. The Warrior's Identity: The warrior is revealed to be Alex's ancestor, General Phoenix.
22. The Scepter's Leader: Alex learns that General Phoenix is being controlled by the Scepter's leader, Magnus Crow.
23. The Phoenix Awakens: The Scepter successfully resurrects General Phoenix.
24. The Phoenix's Rampage: General Phoenix starts causing destruction, influenced by Magnus Crow.
25. Alex's Dilemma: Alex must find a way to save his ancestor's soul.
26. The Second Lead: They locate the device controlling General Phoenix.
27. The Infiltration Plan: Alex and Lena devise a strategy to infiltrate the Scepter's main facility.
28. The Scepter's Defenses: They face numerous challenges while infiltrating the facility.
29. The Confrontation: Alex and Lena fight Magnus Crow's elite guards.
30. The Phoenix Heart's Secret: They discover the Heart can also purify the warrior's soul.
31. The Final Battle Location: The Scepter moves the device to an ancient temple for the final ritual.
32. The Ancient Guardian: An ancient guardian of the temple helps Alex and Lena.
33. The Showdown: Alex and Lena confront General Phoenix.
34. The Bond Tested: Alex uses the Phoenix Heart to challenge the warrior, hoping to break the control.
35. The Phoenix Awakening: General Phoenix's soul is freed from Magnus Crow's control.
Act Three (Cards 36-54)
36. The Bond Rekindled: General Phoenix regains his memories and joins Alex's side.
37. The Final Plan: They formulate a plan to stop Magnus Crow.
38. The Betrayal Revealed: The Scepter spy helps them, seeking redemption.
39. The Scepter's Inner Workings: They learn the extent of the Scepter's power and influence.
40. The Last Stand: Alex, Lena, General Phoenix, and their ally prepare for the final battle.
41. The Ancient Temple: They arrive at the heart of the Scepter's operations.
42. The Battle Begins: The group fights their way through the temple.
43. The Guardian's Challenge: They face and defeat the ancient guardian, now corrupted by Magnus.
44. The Ritual: Magnus Crow starts the ritual to harness the Phoenix Heart's power.
45. The Phoenix Unites: Alex and General Phoenix combine their powers to stop the ritual.
46. The Climax: Alex confronts Magnus Crow in an epic battle.
47. The Heart's Power: Magnus Crow is defeated, but the Heart's power is unleashed.
48. The Phoenix Guardian: Alex fully embraces his role as the Phoenix Guardian.
49. The Aftermath: The Scepter's base is destroyed, and the Phoenix Heart is contained.
50. The Legacy: General Phoenix sacrifices himself to contain the Heart's power.
51. The New Team: Alex, Lena, and their spy-ally form a new alliance to protect the world.
52. The Scepter's Remnants: They discover the Scepter had higher-ups orchestrating from the shadows.
53. The Hunt Continues: The group decides to dismantle the Scepter's remaining network.
54. The Future Uncertain: The film ends with the promise of more battles ahead, setting up for a sequel.
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You are welcome to steal this crap and pitch it. LOL. But kudos to Patrik for explaining it so very well!
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I think longer runtimes will help too, Dwayne Williams. Sometimes people can't make it to the theaters opening day, opening weekend, etc., then when they're able to, the movies are already out the theaters. I remember seeing promo for one movie and thought "I want to see that in theaters*," then I checked a theater's website for showtimes not long after, and the movie wasn't in the theaters anymore.
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Maurice Vaughan Maurice, I apologize for phrasing this wrong earlier. What I meant is that longer movie lengths—films exceeding 120 minutes—seem to perform better and gross more at the box office. Research suggests this could indicate that audiences actually prefer longer films, as they provide more immersive and engaging experiences.
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Sorry, Dwayne Williams. It's my fault. I was thinking theater windows when I read your comment. You might be right about longer movies performing better and grossing more at the box office.
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Maurice Vaughan Mark Deuce , what are your thoughts on theaters doing exclusive drops where a film becomes the only thing showing for a set period, Do you think this strategy could maximize hype and benefit the film’s success, or might it limit options for other moviegoers?
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I think that'd hurt theaters, Dwayne Williams. They would lose business if customers show up for one type of movie and find out there's only one movie showing, like a family showing up to see an Animation film, but the only thing playing is a Horror film. Theaters could show exclusive movies though, like they do with streaming services.
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Maurice Vaughan if this exclusive drop strategy was limited to just a single day premiere, do you think it would still hurt theaters? Could it work better if it was planned well in advance, ensuring everyone knows about the premiere and has a chance to experience it?
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I think theaters would still lose money with just one day, Dwayne Williams. I don't think planning well in advance would work since some moviegoers aren't on social media, so they might not see the exclusive drop promo. And if moviegoers know about the exclusive drop and they don't want to see the movie that'll be playing, they'll either go to another theater or find something else to do, which still hurts the theater that's having the exclusive drop.
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How about the theaters that show a huge number of selections? You go there and you are with a few friends, and they decide they want another choice. It's a grocery store and you can change your mind at point of sale!
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Maurice Vaughan, how do you feel about the idea of theaters dedicated exclusively to premieres?
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That sounds like a film festival to me, Dwayne Williams.
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I really think that films should go back to the shorts form version like the 3 Stooges and have five or six of them, lower the prices of the movies to 3 dollars, drinks, popcorn, and snacks for one dollar, Families would venture out for sure!
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Yes, these days when most people spend their working hours on a chair on front of a screen, I don't think that many people would choose to spend their Friday nights sitting for 3 hours in a chair in front of a screen.