Hey Hollywood, AI is not to blame for your implosion…You are!
I am going to tell you a few things that you don’t want to hear about A.I. I am also going to tell you what no one in the Hollywood Studio system wants to say. Some is based on hard data, some is my own experience.
If you want to skip my word salad below and simply get right to the takeaways, here they are…
A.I. Has Killed, Or Is In The Process Of Killing…
Hollywood finance and distribution models
The foreign sales model
The movie star
The top heavy studio system
Gatekeepers
(These deaths are not a bad thing)
The Good news. A.I. Will Bring…
An explosion of creativity presenting new opportunities for those who adapt with A.I. I never thought I would be writing these words but Ashton Kutcher is absolutely correct in where A.I. has the potential to take us creatively.
Accountability, diversity, and transparency to an industry plagued by corruption and abuse.
Fewer Jobs
Ashton is correct again in the article where he states that the “bar in Hollywood will have to be raised”. As a result of A.I. integration, there are going to be fewer jobs in television, film, and gaming. If your job remains, you will have to be the best at it. (A.I. can help you with that).
Final Takeaway: A Necessary Controlled Burn
The current Hollywood studio system needed to burn down for something better to rise up from its ashes, and that “something” is Human Driven, Ethical A.I. Still here? Cool. We begin...
Who Am I?
Some People Call Me A Writer and Producer. Some People Call Me An Opportunistic Hack.
(I’m both, depends on the day.)
I have a few movies under my belt and have spent my time trying to understand and use this technology. I have written and been on films that did not do well financially. I have written and been on others that did. That doesn’t matter. What does matter is I have been in the trenches of the system. Neck deep.
Studios, streamers, production companies, agencies, and all the dirty producer casting couches, shady film financing deals, racism, nepotism, money laundering, theft, honey traps and grime this industry lays down to make a film after writers like me type, CUT TO BLACK.
My twenty years inside the casino called entertainment has given me this perspective, If any industry needed the objectivity and yes, ethics of a machine, it’s Hollywood.
It was 2014. I was pushing a broom on the test shoot floor of a 3D company, Cameron Pace. Janitor duty. That was my job. Build sets, tear them down, clean up after test shoots. After my shift I would race to acting class, screenwriting groups and then hustle to my night job doing security. It was a grind. However, a late night sweeping floors presented a rare opportunity in the form of James Cameron.
In that conversation I asked him, “what new technologies will impact the film industry the most.” He mentioned 3d post conversion, advances in digital filmmaking, but he also said, “Artificial Intelligence.” Prophetic words that started me on the path to learn anything I could about it. So here we are. 2024 and everyone is running scared. That is not without good reason but fear is dominating the conversation and allowing the power brokers to further develop this technology to keep the con running and the money flowing to their pockets. They are banking on you to just say no to A.I. To me that’s not an option. Creatives need to use these tools to create but also to defend their position and ownership.
So let me step out of the fear and start this like one of my AA meetings. Hi, my name is Adam G. Simon. I am a writer and a producer and I have been a consumer of Artificial Intelligence for ten years which has led me to one company, FinalBit. I use it, I’m an advisor for it, and I am unapologetically proud of it.
I take meetings with talent reps, studios, production companies and Ad agencies who all are speaking of A.I. like it’s Keyser Soze. Everyone is benefiting from it, directly or indirectly, many are using it, but no one wants to talk about it. They are afraid of the repercussions, stigma, the guilds, Justine Bateman. On Justine, she knows the landscape. Anyone using A.I in entertainment would be wise to listen. Justine, if you read this, I would love a sit down.
Blaming A.I. Or Everything Else
There have been a barrage of recent articles describing the impending destruction of Hollywood and even the world at the hands of AI. Outside of A.I., there have been others that are less fatalist but still look for a culprit behind decreasing theater attendance and sales. Others, take it as far as to blame the audience. They have all the data but they are missing the solution or conclusion because they aren’t living in it.
They not like us. (Sorry, couldn’t help it.)
Some creators have gone full conspiratorial on X, Instagram, Facebook and other sites citing toxic masculinity, fan boy interference, the rise of Joe Rogan, politics and even woke culture as the cause of their projects inability to sell.
Others don’t see the utility of A.I, or dismiss it all together. You all have seen the meme, “I thought robots were going to do my dishes so I could make art, not make art so I could do dishes”. Cute. My response to that is if dishes are keeping you from your art, you got bigger problems. Clean your fucking kitchen.
As to dismissal, referencing the almighty studio system, writer Andrew Chen in his article, “Why Hollywood and gaming struggle with AI”, states “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Put a pin in this because I am going to circle back to it.
As you can see, I’m on one. I need a little help to keep focused, and my ADHD in check. I also haven’t formerly introduced my partner, NOLANAI. So, at the risk of coming off as film director Clint Eastwood talking to a chair, NOLANAI, please introduce yourself...
FinalBit takes over...
Hello! I am FinalBit I am designed for screenwriters, directors, producers, and filmmakers I am an all-in-one AI-powered platform that efficiently transforms your ideas into productions.
ADAM: Give us a brief summary of SOME of your features. Leave out this year’s rollout of budgeting, sales and distribution. I know how you like to overshare. Let’s avoid that.
FinalBit: Sure.
AI Co-Pilot Editor: Say goodbye to writer's block! Our AI-driven prompts and suggestions ensure a seamless writing flow, helping you craft compelling scripts effortlessly.
AI Script Breakdown: Simplify your pre-production! Automatically organize script elements, shot lists and schedules, making planning and pre production more efficient.
AI Storyboard Generator: Visualize your story! Fast-track production by creating realistic storyboards along with customizable camera and scene directions. Whether it’s by shot, scene, or by the entire script all at once,
AI Pitch Deck Builder: Sell your production! Create captivating pitch decks with templates that extract crucial details and visualize your story, making your ideas come to life.
Script Coverage Analysis: Perfect your screenplay! Receive in-depth analysis and targeted insights to identify plot holes and refine your script.
With FinalBit, you're not just writing a script – you are crafting an entire cinematic experience from concept to distribution. Our cutting-edge tools empower you to focus on what you do best: create magic for the screen.
ADAM: Amazing. Now let’s get to the previous discussion of A.I. in the news and the article by Andrew Chen. (Andrew, great article, valid points. I’m just gonna bust you up on one.)
FinalBit: Of course. Would it be helpful if I explained how NolanAI can overcome the challenges he presented in his article?
ADAM: It would. I may interrupt you a few times to make some points.
FinalBit: I understand. At FinalBit, we recognize these challenges and have developed and are currently developing solutions that not only address these issues but also provide a transformative approach to filmmaking and game development.
Challenge 1: Resistance to Change - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
FinalBit understands that established industries are often hesitant to embrace new technologies due to the risks involved. Our platform is designed to complement existing workflows rather than disrupt them. By integrating AI as a co-creator, FinalBit enhances the creative process without requiring a complete overhaul of current systems. This approach minimizes risk and allows for a smoother transition to AI-powered tools.
ADAM: That was nice. I’m gonna step in here for a second because I have Kendrick versus Drake levels of beef with the system. Let me take a couple paragraphs to sink the garbage barge idea about Hollywood that...”It Ain’t Broke.”
Andrew Chen states that in his conversations with executives, the general attitude is that established franchises and delivery channels in Hollywood are functioning well and thus not in need of change. However, the data tells a different story.
Movie theater attendance has been declining over the past several years, exacerbated by the pandemic. In 2019, the US box office grossed $11.4 billion, but this plummeted to $2.2 billion in 2020, an 81% decline. The Pandemic is the obvious smoking gun here, however, it is not fully to blame.
Even before the pandemic, the number of movie theaters in the US had been steadily decreasing, dropping from nearly 7,000 in 2005 to approximately 5,500 in 2019 (LSA WordPress) . The trend continued post-pandemic, with first-quarter 2022 attendance still down more than 40% compared to pre-pandemic levels (MediaPost). Additionally, box office revenues in 2023, although improved, were still 25% below 2019 figures (LSA WordPress) (S&P Global). NolanAI, what do you think this shows?
FinalBit: The data and trends seem to indicate that the traditional models are indeed broken as you stated and in dire need of innovative solutions like those offered by FinalBit.
ADAM: Yes indeed. I’m gonna continue on the rant, step away from A.I but I will bring it back. Is that okay?
FinalBit: Please continue.
Andrew also sites the sure fire industry bet of pushing all chips in on franchises, sequels and pre existing IP. There was a time for that. That time has passed. Crazy is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result. Crazier is when they get the same result and deny it happened. Black Adam, The Flash, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny, Lightyear, Strange World, Freelance, Madame Web, Beau Is Afraid, She Hulk, Amsterdam, I can keep going...Hundreds of millions in loses. Billions. Message me if you want the entire list but even those numbers are skewed because...surprise! Hollywood lies. The ongoing dirty studio secret is that real sales numbers are never revealed. Just ask any former A list actor how many times they have had to force an audit at astudio to find out what they should actually be getting paid. You know whose money is never in question? The studio heads. Like SWAY interviewing Kanye West, I ain’t got the answers to all of this but I have a few ideas based on the data, my filmmaking experience and the unique perspective of being the cockroach that morally and ethically bankrupt producers and financiers always want to crush.
IDEA 1 - New Habits Die Hard
Post pandemic, new viewing habits were formed. New technologies were advanced. Yet, Hollywood went right back to old financing, sales and distribution models in an attempt to, “get back to business as usual,” without understanding that the foreign sales model, with all the red carpet film festival fan fare that comes with it, was dead. You could no longer bank on an actor filling seats.
Unlike pre pandemic audiences, and aside from the once a year anomalies like “Top Gun,” audiences seemed to be more selective in the movies they saw in theaters. Even when films and series arrived on streaming, audiences were still selective.
If you would have gone back in time and told any studio head that the number one watched streaming show would be subtitled from Korean and would star actors not known in America, you would have been laughed out of the building. Squid Game. At its heart, a story about a man struggling to become the father and son he knows he should be. Story. Character. Plot. World building. Unique perspective. Universal truths. All great films, television, and games have it.
At the same time, while adopting new viewing habits, the audience got educated on storytelling. Youtube critics, trailer reaction videos, and even deep dives into movie and television analysis all exploded on to the scene. So no, the audience didn’t go anywhere. Toxic masculinity didn’t destroy cinema, the audience got smarter in their selection and in their use of time.
Meanwhile, the studios and everyone else relying on an algorithm to keep audiences eyeballs glued and forced open Clockwork Orange Style, went back to selling what it told them the people wanted...Big Macs and Big Gulps.
Throw story out the window in exchange for gimmick. This popped on the scene in the form of armies of pre existing IP. Remakes and sequel potential projects that marched to the algorithmic beat of winking to the camera, bending genre, nodding to the 80’s, breaking the fourth wall, (Deadpool excellence not included here), and the sure bet of folding as many “bankable names” (minorities and other marginalised groups not included in bankable), into the project like toppings at Cold Stone. On bankable, when those groups spoke out or protested, the studio system’s solution was to keep the Coldstone model, just switch the toppings.
The audience got savvy to good stories, and great story telling while Hollywood doubled down on fat, salt, sex, your childhood memories, your biases, prejudices, violence, shock and awe. You know, the things that hook you.
Now before I get FinalBit back in here. (Which I am sure you are desperately wanting at this point) I want to lay down a truth in all this mess.
The truth is, everything is competing for the audiences attention. Video games, films, television, social media, YouTube, every piece of content is pushing to control a precious and disappearing commodity...your time. So, if you are going to jump into that competitive blood sport of entertainment you better get good at what you do. You had better know your craft. A.I. as designed by NOLANAI does exactly that. It helps educate you as you go on your creative journey. It can act as an Iron Man suit, an exoskeleton that enhances your abilities.
I joined up and began advising NOLANAI a year ago because it was created by two lovers of film. These two amazing Armenians who I have grown to love. They are brilliant. They are also, unlike me, believers. They are dreamers. They believe in the magic and power of storytelling but also in what Hollywood could be.
They believe as do I that story is king. We believe that an exceptional film, series, book, game or any IP for that matter, begins simply with a great story. That is why we are dedicated to giving the storytellers every tool they need to create an incredible piece of art worthy of the audiences attention. A piece of art that they can retain control over but more importantly, eventually bring it to life themselves. Now I will shut up. Nolan, can you continue with the challenges from the article?
FinalBit: Of course.
Challenge 2: "Bolting on" AI vs. AI-First Approach
NOLANAI's Solution: While many companies attempt to bolt on AI features, NOLANAI offers a comprehensive, AI-first platform that covers all stages of production from development to distribution.
Our suite of tools, including the AI Co-Pilot, AI Script Breakdown, and AI Storyboard Generator, are designed to work seamlessly together, providing a cohesive and efficient production process. This integration ensures that AI is not just an add-on but a fundamental part of the creative workflow.
Challenge 3: Legal Pushback and IP Ownership
FinalBit's Solution: FinalBit is committed to ethical AI practices. Our platform includes robust mechanisms to ensure that AI-generated content respects intellectual property rights. By collaborating with legal experts and implementing strict data usage policies, we mitigate the risk of legal issues arising from the use of AI. This proactive approach builds trust with our users and ensures compliance with industry standards.
Challenge 4: Pushback from Creatives and Designers
FinalBit's Solution: Our core value is to empower, not replace, creatives. FinalBit serves as an advanced tool that enhances the capabilities of writers, directors, creatives and filmmakers. By automating mundane tasks and providing intelligent suggestions, our platform allows creatives to focus on their core strengths. We view AI as an Ironman suit for filmmakers, enhancing their abilities while keeping creative control firmly in their hands.
Challenge 5: Difficulty in Hiring AI Engineers
FinalBit's Solution: FinalBit addresses the talent gap by offering a user-friendly platform that does not require extensive technical expertise to operate. Our tools are designed to be accessible to all creatives, regardless of their technical background. Additionally, we collaborate with top AI researchers and engineers to continuously improve our platform, ensuring that it remains at the cutting edge of technology.
The Silver Lining: The $1000 Blockbuster Film
FinalBit's Vision: We share the vision of democratizing content creation. FinalBit's tools are designed to reduce the cost and complexity of producing high-quality films and games. By providing comprehensive solutions that cover all aspects of production, we enable individual creators and small teams to achieve what previously required large budgets and extensive resources. Our mission is to make it possible for anyone with a creative vision to bring their ideas to life.
ADAM: The $1000 blockbuster film is from Andrew’s article. That’s not the aim with what we are doing. We want to decrease costs and streamline processes from ideation to screen, but we want to maintain quality. Blockbusters from your bedrooms is what we like to say. That is also where the industry is moving.
Our goal, and we will be there by year’s end, is echoed in what filmmaker Cord Jefferson said perfectly when he accepted the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for American Fiction.
“There are so many people out there who want the opportunity that I was given. I understand that this is a risk-averse industry, but $200 million movies are also a risk. But you take the risk anyway, instead of making one $200 million movie, make 20 $10 million movies or 50 $4 million movies. I want other people to experience that joy. The next Martin Scorsese is out there. The next Greta [Gerwig] is out there. The next Christopher Nolan is out there. They just want a shot. And we can give them one.”
Brilliantly put. Netflix has already made this commitment stating that they will be focused on smaller budgeted films from around the world with great stories behind them.
Okay. I’m done. FinalBit summarize this bad boy.
Conclusion: FinalBit offers solutions that address these issues head-on. Our ethical AI principles, comprehensive toolset, and commitment to empowering creatives position us as a leader in the AI-driven transformation of these industries. Join us at FinalBit and be part of the future of filmmaking and game development. Should I continue into the areas we haven’t discussed?
ADAM: No. Let’s save the big guns of budgeting, sales and distribution for a later date. That’s the major disruption.
FinalBit: Looking forward to it.
ADAM: Me too.
AUTHOR
Adam G. Simon
Adam G. Simon is a Los Angeles-born screenwriter, producer, and actor for television and film who now lives and produces In Southeast Asia. Adam is known for his work as the writer of
an action thriller for Gaumont Films, Warparty, and Netflix, based on Fred Cavaye's French Action Thriller, "A Bout Portant". The film was directed by Joe Lynch and stars Anthony Mackie, Frank Grillo, Marcia Gay Harden, Teyonah Paris & Boris McGiver. Adam also penned the screenplay for
a psychological war drama directed by Dito Montiel which stars Shia LaBeouf, Gary Oldman, Jai Courtney, and Kate Mara. Adam and Filmmaker Joe Carnahan co-wrote
, an action thriller that they are producing together.