AI and the Next Generation of Filmmakers
12/November/2025
When we talk about artificial intelligence, most people picture machines taking jobs or algorithms replacing human creativity. But I’ve started to see it a little differently, and with a touch of hopefulness. As someone passionate about opening the creative industries to new voices, I believe AI could become one of the most important tools for democratising filmmaking, particularly for those of us who’ve had to work with limited resources.
For most filmmakers starting out, money and resources are scarce. Making my first short film, I remember that struggle clearly. We had passion, ideas, and a camera that barely worked, lent to us by a friend. What we didn’t have was a budget or access to the right people who could make things happen quickly. It taught resourcefulness, but it was time-consuming and cost us money we did not have. Every minute spent chasing locations, rewriting scenes to fit logistics, or trying to find someone with more advanced editing skills was time lost to creativity. In those moments, I often wished there was something that could help us focus on storytelling instead of logistics. Today, with AI, that’s becoming possible.
​
AI is already transforming pre-production. Script-breakdown tools can automatically identify props, wardrobe needs, and shooting locations, saving weeks of planning. Storyboard generators can visualise a scene in minutes, helping directors communicate their vision more effectively to small crews. Even scheduling, which used to require endless spreadsheets, can now be handled by intelligent software that optimises shoot days around light, travel time, and cast availability. For anyone who’s tried to manage a project with no assistant and a borrowed laptop, this is revolutionary.
But beyond productivity, AI could also help level the financial playing field. Indie filmmakers often face impossible choices: cut corners or not make the film at all. AI tools for editing, sound design, and even visual effects are changing that equation. Programmes like Runway or Adobe’s Firefly can generate realistic backgrounds, remove unwanted objects, or improve lighting, all without the need for expensive equipment or teams of specialists. That doesn’t mean the artistry is gone; it simply means filmmakers can stretch their resources further and focus their limited funds on what really matters: performances, story, and emotion.
​
Of course, there are valid concerns. Creativity can’t be automated, and the industry must ensure that human voices remain at the centre of storytelling. The danger lies not in AI itself, but in how it’s used. If studios start using it purely to cut jobs or homogenise creativity, we’ll lose what makes a film special, its humanity. AI should not replace roles like screenwriters, directors, actors, casting directors, or editors, to name a few. Those roles need to be informed by lived experiences, by the feelings and soul of a human, not AI. But if AI is treated as a supportive tool rather than a creative replacement, it could make filmmaking more accessible, more diverse, and more experimental than ever before.
There’s also a strong case for how AI could improve opportunities across the UK film landscape. Smaller regional studios and community projects could produce work that stands shoulder to shoulder with big-city productions. Training schemes could incorporate AI literacy, teaching young filmmakers how to use these tools responsibly and creatively. It could be the next step in closing the gap between those who “know the right people” and those who simply have the right ideas.
​
Ultimately, I think the question isn’t whether AI will change filmmaking, it's how we guide that change. If we approach it with openness and responsibility, AI could become the apprentice every young filmmaker wishes they had: someone who never sleeps, never complains, and helps you bring your story to life, no matter your budget. The magic of cinema has always been about the possibility of turning imagination into something tangible. Perhaps AI, used wisely, can help us do just that!
