Is AI the Future of Hollywood? New era screenwriting

AI is everywhere. And it’s making its way to Hollywood. In this article, we are addressing some of the fears of AI taking over Hollywood and how you as a screenwriting can best prepare you and your scripts for the inevitable. ​

THE AI AND HOLLYWOOD INTERSECTION

It’s a tough feat to try to be better than a computer. If you’re on Screenwriting Twitter then I’m sure you’ve heard the rumblings about studios looking to AI to help write screenplays. AI, or artificial intelligence, simply put is computer programming that can be used to mimic human behaviors. AI is behind commonly used devices like Siri and Alexa, but what place does it have in Hollywood? Well, some of the major studios may be trying to find out. 

So what would a world look like with AI powered screenplays? While these are only rumors, what it would likely look like is the studios using formulas to make what they think is a great movie. Data would be drawn from the box office to see what worked and what flopped and then using science to generate what they think will be the best screenplay. Let’s face it, screenwriting can sometimes be formulaic, but there is nothing that can take the place of a writer.

What AI will lack, if the rumors are true, is the heart that comes from a true screenwriter. The nuance of dialogue. Inverting genres and flipping it on its head. Likable characters that are still deeply flawed. That’s something only a writer can do, not a computer program. So fret not, your job is not yet to be replaced by a robot but it’s important to stay abreast of industry changes, especially when technology is involved.

KEEP YOUR SKILLS SHARP

So how can you best prepare for an industry that’s changing? By keeping your skills sharp! That means practicing the craft and working it out just like a muscle. Check out our Mentorship service to work one-on-one with an accountability partner and quickly take your stories from idea to pitch!

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author

Khadija Roane is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from the illustrious Howard University where she received her BFA in Theatre Arts. Khadija then graduated from UCLA's MFA Producers program where she interned in film and television development at MACRO, Vertigo Films, Gamechanger Films, and Pamplona Productions before working as a Scripted TV Assistant at WME. She has placed in the Pittsburgh Shorts Screenwriting Competition and the Atlanta Film Festival, and received the Barbara Boyle Promising Producer Award. Khadija lives in Los Angeles where she is an independent filmmaker and a Story Expert at The Professional Pen.