Interview: Dells Yan Chen and Alex Timbs discuss AIs role in VFX for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and the future of filmmaking [Video]

In the closing months of 2024, the following has happened:

• Ridley Scott revealed that AI can now achieve what used to take 10 people 10 weeks, in just one week, and he plans to integrate it into his process.
• Robert Zemeckis credited generative AI for making his latest film, Here, possible within a $50 million budget.
• James Cameron joined the board of Stability AI, led by an ex-Weta VFX CEO.
• Lionsgate partnered with Runway to create custom AI models from its library.
• Disney launched an AI department, while Blumhouse partnered with Meta AI for cost-effective video generation.
• Coke made 3 infamous AI-generated commercials – and they were fairly imperfect.
• An independent 9-person team created an 87-minute AI-driven animated feature: “Where the Robots Grow” for just $780,000.

Needless to say, AI is both a lightning rod for controversy and a catalyst for transformation in the film and television industry. As Cate Blanchett’s Galadriel solemnly proclaimed in the opening prologue of The …