AI on the Lot, a one-day conference held in Los Angeles, brought together over 850 filmmakers, AI startups, technologists, and media executives to explore the increasing applications of generative AI in filmmaking. Hosted by AI education non-profit Artificial Intelligence Los Angeles (AI LA), the event featured a keynote from former Warner Bros executive Renard Jenkins, panels, hands-on demos, and a screening of AI films created as part of a competition. The focus of the conference was on how AI can enhance filmmakers’ workflows, potentially reducing costs and enabling smaller teams to achieve more.
Thought leaders from established AI companies like NVIDIA and pioneering founders like Edward Saatchi from Simulation AI gathered at AI on the Lot to discuss the impact of AI on the entertainment industry. Notable filmmakers and showrunners such as David Slade (Black Mirror), Matt Nix (Burn Notice), and Mark Goffman (Bull) were also in attendance. The overall goal was to explore how AI can revolutionize filmmaking processes, providing new opportunities for collaboration between artists and technologists.
Former Warner Bros. technology executive Renard Jenkins delivered a keynote address at the conference, highlighting the applications of generative AI in the film industry. Jenkins, now President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, emphasized the importance of AI as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity. He addressed concerns about the role of AI in filmmaking, noting that it can save time but may not necessarily save money. Jenkins stressed the importance of maintaining humans at the center of the AI creation process.
Panelist Edward Saatchi of The Simulation offered a contrasting perspective, presenting Showrunner as a proof of concept for AI-generated entertainment. Showrunner has created South Park episodes from a single prompt, suggesting that legitimate, original content can be crowdsourced and written by AI with minimal human input. Saatchi envisioned a future where AI-created content could prompt itself, potentially leading to new channels of entertainment. The day concluded with a screening of three AI short films created using a variety of AI and tech tools, showcasing the creative potential of AI in filmmaking.
The screening featured “Love at First Bite,” a zombie romantic comedy created by AI filmmakers Nem Perez, Adriana Vecchioli, and Jagger Waters. The film utilized real actors along with AI and tech tools like Midjourney, Runway, Adobe Premiere Pro, and more. The script was written by Emmy Award winner Bernie Su, demonstrating the collaborative nature of AI-enhanced filmmaking. AI on the Lot provided a platform for filmmakers, technologists, and industry professionals to come together and explore the possibilities of AI in shaping the future of filmmaking.
