Once I stepped on stage at B&H’s BILD Expo in New York Metropolis this summer time, I used to be struck by the sheer variety of creators within the room. It proved to me that the dialog round AI in filmmaking isn’t solely pressing, but in addition deeply private. On this article, I need to share the details of my discuss: the parallels between previous revolutions in our business, the dangers and alternatives AI brings, and sensible methods filmmakers can use it immediately: AI Workflows for Filmmakers.
We actually attend all the foremost commerce exhibits, however B&H’s BILD 2025 felt distinctive. It introduced collectively a neighborhood of creators hungry for training and inspiration, multi function place. It was actually all customers there, creators, filmmakers and photographers, hungry to be taught extra. In a world the place know-how is transferring quicker than ever, I consider these gatherings remind us of one thing essential: human connection can by no means get replaced by machines. Not even by AI.
Wonderful turnout for the CineD discuss “Prepared Creator One” by Nino Leitner at BILD 2025 in New York Metropolis on the Javits Heart. Picture credit score: Dana Glidden / B&H
Studying from the 5D revolution
To make sense of immediately’s AI dialogue, I in contrast it to what occurred in 2008 with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. On the time, no one imagined {that a} DSLR would change filmmaking. Traditionalists laughed on the concept of capturing with a photograph digicam, but the 5D created a revolution. This web site – which was once known as cinema5D – was born, as a discussion board for DSLR filmmakers. The loopy ones filming with a “photograph digicam”, and none of us have been taken significantly on set originally. However we networked and prevailed, and the remainder is historical past.
That digicam was a pathway to democratizing entry to large-sensor video and it modified the trajectory of filmmaking. Those that dismissed it have been left behind, whereas those that embraced it paved the way in which for a brand new era of creators.
I see AI as an analogous second of disruption – albeit a way more important one because it’s affecting mainly each business, not simply ours.
The uneasy reality about copyright
Generative AI has been skilled on large datasets, a lot of it copyrighted work. None of us gave permission, and but the know-how is now out on the earth. Solely lately have corporations like Disney and NBCUniversal began suing Midjourney over its output, which frequently resembles present IP virtually frame-for-frame. (Since I gave the discuss, rather more has developed on the earth of AI: OpenAI’s Sora 2 video mannequin and the newly obtainable iOS app are additionally simply re-producing copyrighted work, so let’s see who will go after them in courtroom.)
This might develop into a Napster second for AI: authorized battles might drive the business to adapt, doubtlessly resulting in extra reliable platforms — simply as streaming companies changed unlawful music downloads.
Disney and NBCUniversal are suing Midjourney, for apparent causes – screenshot from their lawsuit.
The place AI is already a menace
Some components of filmmaking are extra susceptible than others. I consider the next areas might be hit hardest within the brief time period:
- Inventory footage: why license a generic workplace shot when you can generate one immediately?
- Commercials: increasingly more short-form adverts are already being created totally with AI.
- Animation: types may be mimicked in seconds, usually elevating authorized and moral considerations.
- Mass-produced fiction: formula-driven exhibits might quickly be auto-generated as soon as character consistency improves.
Filmmaking genres by which authenticity will proceed to matter extra
Different genres are safer, not less than for now. Documentaries, information, actuality TV, and wedding ceremony movies all depend on actual individuals, actual tales, and actual occasions. These can’t be generated, although AI can nonetheless assist them with cost-saving instruments for reenactments, translations, or archival visuals.
I think many displaced professionals will shift into these areas, which might improve competitors but in addition push innovation.
As a substitute of handing the keys to the AI kingdom to some tech execs who’ve by no means held a digicam of their lives, filmmakers ought to fairly beat them at their very own sport, as a result of they don’t know how you can visually inform a narrative.
Nino Leitner presenting “Prepared Creator One” on the Javits Heart in New York Metropolis throughout BILD 2025 this previous June. Picture credit score: Gustavo Zima @gustavozima
The AI prepare has left the station
However, with all of the challenges forward, it’s essential to notice that the prepare has already left the station. It’s time for filmmaking professionals to be taught the instruments and keep up to the mark as they’re not going to go away. And as a substitute of handing the keys to the dominion to some tech execs who’ve by no means held a digicam of their lives, filmmakers ought to fairly beat them at their very own sport, as a result of they don’t know how you can visually inform a narrative. There are many AI workflows for filmmakers that may prevent plenty of time in duties you by no means needed to do your self within the first place.
AI workflows for filmmakers in pre-production
I’ve begun experimenting with AI instruments in my very own workflow. In pre-production, they will save monumental quantities of time:
- Script evaluation with giant language fashions can create draft shot lists.
- AI temper boards assist visualize lighting, colours, and design instructions.
- Storyboarding instruments generate fast iterations that shoppers can approve or refine.
- Location scans utilizing photogrammetry and Gaussian splatting apps on a cellphone create usable 3D fashions for planning digicam positions and set design.
These instruments don’t substitute my inventive imaginative and prescient, however they permit me to reach on set higher ready.
There are various methods to hurry up pre-production with AI. Slide from Nino Leitner’s BILD presentation deck, “Prepared Creator One”
Publish-production benefits
In publish, AI has already remodeled the way in which I work. Computerized transcription and text-based enhancing let me assemble documentary edits far quicker than earlier than.
Masking has additionally develop into dramatically simpler with instruments like Apple’s Magnetic Masks in Remaining Reduce Professional or DaVinci Resolve’s Magic Masks. Restoration and upscaling instruments similar to Topaz convey new life to archival footage.
The result’s extra time spent on inventive selections and fewer on repetitive duties.
Resistance is nothing new
Each innovation in cinema has confronted resistance: the transfer from silent movies to talkies, the introduction of nonlinear enhancing, the shift from movie to digital, and the DSLR revolution. In each case, those that refused to adapt have been left behind.
Worry-Adoption-Innovation. Each technological shift follows the identical sample. Slide from Nino Leitner’s BILD presentation deck, “Prepared Creator One”
With AI, we’re nonetheless someplace between concern and early adoption. The innovation stage is coming, and it’ll unlock storytelling potentialities we can’t but think about.
New AI workflow and generative AI video programs on MZed
To assist our neighborhood adapt, we’ve launched a brand new MZed course sequence known as The Environment friendly Filmmaker. It focuses on workflows that combine AI and different fashionable instruments. The primary course on subtitles and captioning is already on-line, and so is the second on AI video masking in numerous NLEs. A 3rd course within the sequence on 3D visualization is coming quickly.
Nonetheless from our AI-subtitling course. Picture credit score: MZed
On prime of this sequence which is talked about in my BILD discuss, we’re additionally about to launch our first generative video course by Drew Geraci, known as “Directing the Future – Moral AI Video for Filmmakers”. Drew is greatest identified for his work on “Home of Playing cards” (he’s the DP behind the timelapse intro) and Steven Spielberg’s “West Facet Story”, and already has a very fashionable course on MZed known as “Cinematic Timelapse“. As knowledgeable filmmaker he’s diving deep into generative AI to boost his personal inventive imaginative and prescient, and he does so ethically, engaged on his personal footage and pictures to advance his imaginative and prescient. This course will launch subsequent week, so watch this house.
The entire programs can be found as a part of an MZed subscription (annual or month-to-month) and might be recurrently up to date so subscribers can keep present because the know-how evolves.
Coming to MZed subsequent week: our first generative AI course, by Drew Geraci. Picture credit score: CineD / MZed / Drew Geraci
Remaining ideas
I see AI as a instrument, not a alternative for creativity. By making the most of it in pre-production and post-production, we will spend extra time doing what issues most: telling significant tales.
Are you already utilizing AI workflows for filmmakers, and if sure, how? Share your perspective within the feedback beneath.
