Oh, Marty, say it isn’t so. As the use of artificial intelligence continues to spread throughout the entertainment industry like a plague, reports indicate that Martin Scorsese, one of the most celebrated filmmakers of all time, is partnering with Black Forest Labs, where he will serve as an advisor with the research lab. Why? Scorsese says he plans to use the company’s FLUX technology to assist with storyboarding in future film projects.
Scorsese’s statement on adapting AI
To explain away this madness, Scorsese issued the following statement:
“For 70 years, I’ve been creating my own storyboards. There’s always been this problem of how do you communicate what you see in your head to your cast and crew. There are some things you have to see and feel. I’m interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling, and seeing how that can push the bounds of creativity to create deeper and richer experiences for audiences,” Scorsese said. “Remember, cinema is a young medium, only around 125 years old, so we have to be open to how it can evolve.”
He continued, “I utilized 3D with Hugo and de-aging technology for The Irishman. Now, with this tool, I can share what I’m visualizing more clearly and efficiently to my creative team — the production designer, art designer, and cinematographer — for them to build on to enrich cinematic intelligence. I recently tested this out on a scene and the ability to visualize and immediately share the storyboard was creatively freeing. During the pre-production process, time costs money, and this allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craft.”
Film industry workers lash out
That’s all well and good, Marty, but not everyone agrees with your perspective. “He throws every single storyboard artist he’s ever worked with under the bus, as he demolishes their livelihoods with models that are likely trained on those story board artist’s same works,” the concept artist and illustrator Karla Ortiz wrote on X.
“It takes literally seconds for me to storyboard a shot, there is absolutely no reason to need AI built on the stolen work of millions of artists to storyboard your vision, have some damn pride and respect your peers,” director and animator Sam Deats posted.
The slippery slope keeps on slippin’
For damn good reason, artists and industry workers are pushing back on Scorsese’s endorsement of using AI to streamline the storyboarding process. While using AI as a shortcut in the film industry is nothing new, Scorsese going to bat for the technology sets a terrible precedent. You can dress it up however you like, but at the end of the day, you’re taking jobs away from creative, hard-working people who lend a human touch to projects that potentially resonate with audiences.
In addition to depleting precious resources, driving up the price of computer products, and stealing other artists’ work, you’re also sending a message that says humans aren’t an important part of the filmmaking process. Is that how you want to roll?
I can appreciate wanting to evolve with the times, but at what cost? Is time and money more important than people? Beware the dark path, walk toward the light.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed