How AI Will Impact Filmmaking - Just Look at India

 

This film used AI exclusively in production

Without unions and film regulations and restrictions, India has become the most consequential experimenter of AI filmmaking - and its endeavors may become the future of the cinema industry.

The Indian filmmaking community has embraced AI. Every stage of the movie-making process - writing, pre- and post-production, special effects, etc. - is being reshaped by AI, and it has become an indispensable collaboration. 

The contrast between Hollywood and the Indian adoption of AI is profound. All of the U.S. film industry unions and guilds have fought to install guardrails around the use of AI, but as these internal battles continue, India and, to some extent, China have moved on.

In India, there are no industry unions or guilds, and no employment protection regarding the use of AI. The result is that AI is now a part of every facet of Indian filmmaking. For example, a new sci-fi series, called 'Warlord', will be created entirely using AI tools. It's estimated that over 80% of Indian films are using AI, and there is no backlash from audiences; it's transparent to them.

Ideally, the future of filmmaking will be a hybrid. Actor and performances will be shot in traditional ways, but the use of AI for site shooting, scriptwriting, special effects, created environments, etc., that require huge budgets will be AI-driven. Right now, in India, a film that would have cost $200 million to produce can be made for $40 million.