AI in Video Production
I spent part of this morning looking at AI video generation platforms. It sparked a lot of thoughts. Although many of these tools still look glitchy, it won’t be long before the video is generated flawlessly.
In the filmmaking industry, constant technological advancement has always been a major part of the profession. Nearly 100 years ago, the first film to incorporate synchronized sound for character dialogue was released to the public. People in the film and video production industry have seen technologies change at a torrid pace in the last several decades. Filmmakers are always looking for new technologies to push the boundaries of their visions. It is a profession that invites technological change to keep audiences coming back. AI will certainly alter the foundations of the industry as it will for most other sectors.
As we stand at the precipice of the transition into AI, I will extend my outlook on it as someone who knows that his job is changing forever. My profession may be obsolete very soon. It seems that not even the experts understand the full extent to which AI can be applied. Still, it is safe to assume that technologies for the average consumer to make a professional quality video will soon be at hand, if not already here. You can watch this video here to learn how to use AI to create videos on your own.
Out of the transition will come a new era of creators whose visions and ideas will be greater and more creative than anything we have seen. They will not be bound by constraints and rules that current creators operate under. The folks willing to adapt will continue to work, and the folks who are unwilling or unable to adapt will move out of the industry. The film industry has seen similar transformations in the past. Things like switching from film to digital formats, silent films to talkies, and the rise of independent productions to name just a few. Likely none of those changes will be as altering as what will come with AI. But similarly to those changes, AI will create new opportunities for creators, just as it will render older technologies and positions obsolete.
One of the great aspects of filmmaking is that it is most often a collaborative art medium. Similarly, video production takes on a collaborative process between the client and the creator(s). If AI does replace the need for certain roles, it will be a shame as one of the greatest aspects of filmmaking is coming together to build something. Like music, there is a feeling that comes from working together harmoniously. Communities and friendships are forged by engaging with one another on set. Those relationships and interactions are important and often an overlooked aspect of filmmaking.
I still like going out and shooting with a camera in my hands. That is where I plan to make my stand, and if people no longer see value in that, so be it. I doubt that AI will be able to replace the feeling that comes from being on the side of a mountain with the camera in your hands, capturing a moment. Will AI someday replicate the feeling you get when you snap a photo and capture your friend's smile at the perfect moment? Time will tell. In the meantime, I hope to see you all out there, somewhere in the world.
Listening to Silent Movie by Pokey Lafarge.