Hollywood must embrace AI or risk falling behind, warns Zack Snyder

The relationship between artificial intelligence and filmmaking continues to evolve, with prominent directors like Zack Snyder weighing in on AI’s potential impact on the entertainment industry.

Current industry perspective: Director Zack Snyder shared his views on AI in filmmaking during WIRED’s The Big Interview event in San Francisco, offering a pragmatic take on the technology’s role in cinema.

• While acknowledging that widespread access to technology doesn’t automatically lead to quality content, Snyder emphasized the importance of understanding and embracing AI rather than avoiding it
• He drew a parallel to smartphone cameras, noting that despite their ubiquity, we haven’t seen an explosion of “awesome movies” being created by amateur filmmakers
• The director stressed that industry professionals need to view AI as a practical tool rather than taking a resistant stance

Technical advantages and limitations: AI presents specific benefits for filmmaking while still having notable constraints in creative applications.

• The technology shows particular promise in creating complex environments, with Snyder noting that AI doesn’t differentiate between challenging scenarios like burning buildings, Martian landscapes, or underwater scenes
• Snyder envisions potential for AI systems that could understand a director’s aesthetic preferences, creating an “aesthetic bank” that could merge actual performances with AI-generated environments
• Current limitations include questions about AI’s practical application in simple shooting scenarios, where traditional methods might be more appropriate

Creative balance and artistic vision: The human element remains central to the filmmaking process, despite advancing technology.

• Snyder emphasized that actors’ performances should remain at the forefront, with other elements serving as contextual support
• He highlighted the importance of directorial perspective, noting that audiences specifically seek out human creativity and unexpected narrative choices
• The director maintains that while the methods of achieving creative vision may evolve, the fundamental goal of delivering compelling human stories remains unchanged

Streaming impact and audience reach: The rise of streaming platforms has fundamentally altered how films reach audiences.

• Snyder acknowledged that streaming services like Netflix have dramatically expanded the potential audience for films
• He noted that even traditional “blockbusters” can potentially reach larger audiences through streaming than through theatrical release
• The director expressed openness to creating content specifically for streaming platforms, emphasizing the importance of understanding the intended distribution format from the project’s outset

Future implications: The integration of AI in filmmaking appears inevitable, but its role will likely be as a complement to, rather than replacement for, human creativity and artistic vision, with success depending on finding the right balance between technological capability and artistic intention.