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You’ve no doubt heard the claim that "A poet needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." Well, with the advent of AI-generated film, we’re approaching the time when a filmmaker just needs to sit at their computer and get access to AI to make their film. You may be able to “write” your entire film the way you can write a script - creating “performers”, action and location, alone with your computer. We’re not there yet - but this course will help you see where we are now.
This intensive weekend workshop will take you through the complete pipeline of AI-assisted filmmaking, from initial concept to finished production. By the end of this course, you will have created your first pieces of AI-generated video and gained hands-on experience with the latest cutting-edge AI image and video tools currently available.
Are AI tools perfect? No. Things which are easy to film - two people speaking in a room - can be very hard or impossible to do well in AI. By contrast, things that are very hard to film for real - a 19th century dock scene with working steam trains and tall sailing ships - can be done very easily in AI. You’re not making a film in five years’ time - you’re making a film now. So we will show you what you need to know now, warts and all.
Do you need technical skills to participate? No. But it is helpful if you have some basic familiarity with using AI. We will focus on accessible tools that are easy to use for non-technical people, not complex systems requiring coding experience.
You will have the chance not only to learn these cutting-edge techniques but also to interact in a very direct way, as the group will have up to 25 participants, making it highly practical and interactive. The workshop will be hands-on, with participants working on their own material throughout the weekend. Depending on the scale and complexity of your vision, you may not complete your short film by the end of the workshop, but you will have the knowledge you need to continue independently.
WORKSHOP CURRICULUM
PRE-WORKSHOP: SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT
Two weeks before the in-person course, we conduct a 1-hour Zoom call exploring how to use an AI system for scriptwriting and development, including ways to shape the writing style and improve creative output. We’ll also look at successful AI films and current limitations to help you prepare your script in advance.
FOUNDATIONS: PROMPTING AND IMAGE GENERATION
Using an LLM to help generate advanced prompts for image creation. Fundamentals of creating compelling images from text. Understanding the strengths, limitations and quality-control issues of AI image generation. Considering your "shooting ratio" - how many images you may need to create to get the one you really want.
CHARACTER CONSISTENCY AND VIDEO GENERATION
Building character consistency across multiple angles and shots. Creating character libraries. Generating video from still images and text. Managing challenges with voice, continuity and performance control. Understanding video "shooting ratio" and costs.
ENHANCEMENT AND POST-PRODUCTION
Refining and improving AI-generated images and video. Making footage feel more realistic and production-ready. Preparing material for further video generation and editing. Understanding the critical importance of human oversight in the edit, and why AI systems still give imperfect results that need human judgement.
FINISHING AND MUSIC
Adding music and sound. Final editing and delivery considerations.
ETHICS AND POLITICS: AI AS A HISTORICAL MILESTONE
AI represents a major milestone in human history which will have a major impact on all our lives. AI films are very unpopular with some people - so if you describe yourself as an AI filmmaker, you will likely be challenged about AI ethics. We won’t push a particular viewpoint, but we will explore the key questions so you can articulate your own position on these issues.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
To get the most from this workshop, participants should be prepared to subscribe to suitable AI image and video services. We may also provide shared access to certain tools during the workshop where appropriate.
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