How is artificial intelligence being applied to filmmaking?

(Dan Tri) - During the process of making a movie, many film studios have applied many AI tools, from writing scripts, creating effects, editing faces to planning marketing and promoting the movie.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied in many different areas of life, from work support, learning, content creation, information search...

The film industry is also applying many different AI tools in the production process of a film, from pre-production to post-production before the film is released to the public. The application of AI has brought many benefits, high efficiency, cost savings and created more creative opportunities for filmmakers.

Here are ways filmmakers are using AI to help speed up the process of creating a movie.

AI tools applied in pre-production

To have a good movie, the quality of the script and the idea generation process are very important factors. With the development of AI, many movies have been completely scripted or partially supported with ideas by artificial intelligence.

AI tools have been used to write movie scripts. Although still in its infancy, this is considered a premise for the birth of AI-produced movies (Illustration: Hollywood Reporter).

For example, in 2023, the filmmakers of the popular animated series South Park used ChatGPT to write the script for the latest episode. Of course, ChatGPT did not write the script alone, but rather acted as a co-writer with Trey Parker, the head writer of the South Park series.

Additionally, some of the films were also scripted by an AI tool called Benjamin, which was trained on hundreds of sci- fi movie scripts.

Benjamin's screenplays include Sunspring (2016), It's No Game (2017), Zone Out (2020)... However, these films are experimental and are shown on YouTube, instead of commercial films shown in theaters.

One AI tool used by many major studios today is ScriptBook. This is an AI tool that uses natural language to analyze scripts, evaluate plot, character development, and predict the film's likelihood of success.

In addition, an AI tool called StoryFit is also chosen by many film crews to analyze, evaluate scripts and predict how much the audience likes them. The producer of the TV series “The Queen's Gambit” used StoryFit to evaluate the script before starting production on the film.

AI tools applied in film production

Compared to pre-production, AI tools are used more in film production and post-production.

One of the most popular technologies used in cinema today is NeRF (Neural Radiance Fields). This is an artificial intelligence-based technology that uses deep neural networks to recreate 3D space and lighting effects from a series of regular 2D images.

This technology is revolutionizing the way cinema is filmed, filmed and created visual effects.

AI tools also help filmmakers choose the best shooting angles, analyze scenes, etc. Filmmakers also use AI tools to optimize footage quality, helping to save editing time.

Some AI technologies such as Deepfake and de-aging are also applied to change the faces or rejuvenate actors in movies. For example, the two movies The Irishman (2019) and Here (2024) used AI techniques to rejuvenate the faces of actors in the movies.

In 2019, a film project called “Finding Jack”, based on the novel of the same name by writer Gareth Crocker, planned to use technology and AI to “resurrect” actor James Dean, who died in 1955, as the main character. However, this project was later canceled.

Recently, the movie "Closing the deal" in Vietnam also used AI to change the face of the main actress, becoming the first movie in the world to do this.

In addition to image processing, AI tools are also used to support voiceovers, sound creation, and even film music composition. Some short films such as Zone Out (2020), Sunspring (2016)... have used AI-generated background music in their films.

Filmmakers also use an AI tool called Respeecher to edit voices or singing in films. For example, the film The Brutalist (2024) used this AI tool to refine the Hungarian voice in the film.

Using AI in film post-production and distribution

After completing production and filming, filmmakers will continue to apply AI for the final editing process before releasing the finished product.

Some AI tools such as Adobe Firefly, Adobe Premiere Pro... will be used to edit, optimize the color of the footage, remove unwanted details in the frame... to save editing time.

AI tools are used by many film crews to synthesize audience and public reactions, comments and reviews of the film (Illustration: Screencraft).

Film studios also apply AI technology to analyze data from social networks, online platforms... to grasp trends, issues of public concern... thereby developing appropriate advertising and marketing strategies.

After the film is released in theaters, AI tools are also used to collect feedback and user reviews on social networks or websites, helping the film studio decide whether to continue investing in the sequel of the film or not.

Controversy over the use of AI in cinema

The application of AI in cinema and film production has caused a lot of controversy in public opinion, as well as in the actor community itself.

For many people, the application of AI is a mandatory trend in today's era, not only in cinema but in all areas of life.

In the future, will AI actors replace human acting? (Illustration: Joel).

However, many people believe that the abuse of AI will reduce the creativity of filmmakers, even destroy the acting efforts of actors, when their faces and expressions will be replaced by AI, no longer representing the real emotions of the actors.

Using AI to write scripts, edit content, images, etc. will also affect human work.

Many actors are even concerned that their performances will be saved in the AI database, from which filmmakers can create AI actors with acting and voice identical to famous celebrities, replacing real actors.

Recently, many actors and crew members have protested against the application of AI in the film industry. However, with the current trend, the application of AI in all areas of life, including cinema, is inevitable.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/cong-nghe/tri-tue-nhan-tao-dang-duoc-ap-dung-vao-qua-trinh-lam-phim-nhu-the-nao-20250806140553984.htm