Unlock the Potential of Generative AI in Entertainment Studios

Aggressive Experimentation

In this "wild West" of technology application in filmmaking, these studios are fearlessly delving into the unknown through purposeful trial and error. Their teams, often on the leading edge of production technology, are achieving breakthroughs that traditional studios might struggle to match. As Paul Trillo, an AI director and filmmaker collaborating with Asteria Film, points out, "Production breakthroughs really happen through being driven by creative. That's why ILM is what it is. They had to brute-force figure out how. All of it is in service of some underlying story that is requesting something. And we're like, all right, well, no one knows how to do that. Let's figure that out." These studios' nimbleness and adaptability allow them to quickly evaluate and adjust toolkits as new models and tools emerge, ensuring they stay at the forefront of innovation.

Multiple sources emphasize the importance of this approach. They describe their teams as constantly confronting and solving actual creative problems, leveraging both creative storytelling and technical expertise. This hands-on experimentation is what sets them apart and positions them to lead the way in the future of entertainment production.

Pursuit of Efficiency

AI studios are focused on building workflows and pipelines that leverage the power of gen AI tools to drive down content budgets, shrink production timelines, and get quicker feedback. Jonathan Lutzky, COO at EDGLRD, led by filmmaker Harmony Korine, explains, "In Hollywood, it's very difficult to produce something affordably. We're looking to basically compress those unit economics, both in terms of budget and timeline for creation." By using AI, these studios aim to make content production more efficient and accessible, even during periods of contraction in Hollywood.

Bryn Mooser, CEO at Asteria, further emphasizes this point, stating, "We're building software and workflows that provide opportunities to be more efficient and bring down the time or cost it takes to make something. We talk about how these tools can help filmmakers either make something they couldn't have made before because the budget was too high or they didn't have access to those kind of tools. Now the cost can come down to where they can independently finance." This pursuit of efficiency is a key driver in their operations and sets them apart from traditional studios.

The Strength of Talent Teams

At the heart of these AI studios is the strength of their talent teams. These teams bring together creative and tech expertise, combining highly adept traditional artists, animators, and producers with deep knowledge of storytelling, senior VFX specialists, and tech talent with a profound understanding of generative AI. Creatives and tech work hand in hand to problem-solve, with AI tech talent playing a crucial role in tracking new research and tools and showing them to the production side.

For example, Eric Shamlin, CEO at Secret Level, highlights the importance of having a "dream team" with both creative and AI tool expertise. He states, "We've been trying to be home to some of the earliest and best makers in this space. We're by no means alone. There are probably half a dozen shops that are in the competitive landscape now. All of us are trying to identify the best talent out there." This collaborative approach to talent is what gives these studios a competitive edge in the industry.

Perhaps most importantly, these studios are facing a challenge in hiring from a limited pool of people with both creative and AI knowledge. As Trillo notes, "You'd be surprised how few people have both sets of knowledge." But despite this challenge, they are committed to building the best teams and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in entertainment production.