The Morning Brief How AI is Rewriting Cinema Part 2
Aug 28, 2025
Artificial Intelligence is transforming filmmaking, pushing beyond editing to scripting and directing. Acclaimed director Shakun Batra discusses creating AI-driven car chases and reimagining workflows, leading to more accessible storytelling. The conversation dives into ethical concerns like authorship and data ownership, questioning if AI can truly capture the essence of human storytelling. With AI democratizing creativity, filmmakers are exploring new horizons while maintaining the vital human touch in the art of making films.
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Car Chase As An AI Stress Test
- Shakun chose a car chase as a test because it bundles many costly set needs and showcases cinematic tools.
- He planned an Imagine series of short experiments to test varied AI-driven ideas between one and two minutes.
Make Post The New Prep
- Treat post-production as part of early prep: edit, iterate, then create new elements in AI.
- Use non-linear workflows so writing and editing evolve together across the project.
Learning Prompting Firsthand
- Shakun taught himself to prompt and led much of the AI work personally during early experiments.
- His AI crew for a two-minute car chase was a lean six-to-seven people instead of the usual hundreds.