Filmmaking / Directing : I have been working with AI to do my storyboard opening scene for my feature film and it turned out better than hiring a storyboard artist. by Owen Ratliff

There are arguments to be made for and against AI, but no matter where you fall, that was awesome. You are obviously making good use of AI in pre-pro. Here is a webinar that will help you in Post-Production taught by our resident AI in entertainment expert, Joshua Young.

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Hi Owen Ratliff - great work! I'm one of those one the side of AI will never replace the human mind for creative writing or any of the arts for that matter; but using it as a tool to storyboard a story you have written? Nice use of AI (as long as the AI didn't steal artistic property from a human artist like AI is famous for doing). Catch 22.

Having worn all the hats, I realize how many departments this makes obsolete, but there is no creative substitute for instant ideation, (not having to wait for a rendering) to advance a concept QUICKLY so you can stay in the stream of consciousness, The QUALITY creative spark is finite, (you hope it returns as often as possible) so you need to be able to follow it wherever it takes you. I've lost many an idea, stopping to sketch a thought, then lost the rest. AI is a 3 second sketch artist. Lastly AI opens up the ART funnel, previously only those who could MAKE art were appreciated, now every* thought is welcome and well expressed. Just be sure to count the fingers :)

Hello, Everyone Tom is right regarding the argimnents for and against, In my exoperience from what i have seen oif Ai it rauses a few issues for those in industry. The first being images and scripts etc could be altered si thee needs to a swot analysis and security risk threat analysis, The second point it the riks involved being mitigated.

Fantastic, Owen. The creative consistency of the images, plus the fact that each image is specific to your story, really nails the genre and tone and message.

Thanks for the feedback. I am going to use AI to do the budget next.

I'm a little late to this conversation. I agree with the above, nice work. Only think I've heard from my Art Department friends is don't get too attached to these specific looks. Once you're in prep of your production, open your mind to the Production Designer's ideas. Don't make them try to create in the real world what AI did. Then you get the best of both worlds!

I’m not a storyboard artist, but sometimes I have to draw my own boards depending on the budget. To me, a storyboard needs to tell our story with the right aspect ratio, camera angles, and camera movements. I’m attaching a part of an opening scene from one of my projects.

PS: I’m neutral about AI

Owen, those are striking, moody images that help set the stage.

I agree with Sam, though. The purpose of storyboards is usually to communicate the angle, composition, lenses, cutting style, etc. So your example wouldn’t work for me in showing what shots I’d need.

I’d be curious to see if your method could demonstrate an action sequence shot by shot. For instance, the truck scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark or the bus fight from Shang-Chi.

Mike it can demonstrate an action sequence shot by shot. I did it that way because I have a meeting with some Chinese investors that is interested in funding the film and I just wanted to really see the opening act.

You definitely have some good beat boards there.

So far I haven’t seen AI do good shot-by-shot action boards. Looking forward to seeing that at some point.

What program are you using?

I'm a little late I think, and am in a gray area when it comes to AI, especially as a tool. That being said, I reacted differently to the boards than most people here. The mood is good and the palette is nice; however, there isn't really any shot variation, no intentional lens choices, and the perspectives aren't correct. All the action is in the very center of frame, the compositions are copies of one another, and I didn't feel any emotion connected with the narrative. I know there are some bad board artists out there, but when you find a good one, the straight up cinematographic knowledge and intention beats these kinds of generic results every time, in my opinion. It's great as a mood board or visual reference but as a storyboard - I'm not really sold on it.

Can't fault any of that. Well done.

This is encouraging (although storyboard artists won't be thrilled) — we're still at the stage where most AI is disappointing and easily distinguished. This is cool! I'm also curious about what program you're using?

I really like this...

I have been a storyboard artist for many years. Here are a few notes for the first two pages. Script indicated heavy rain, the visual has none. Panel 1-2 is a jump cut. The BGs are similar so the characters will appear to pop on. Panel 2 + 3 is also a jump cut because you cross the 180 degree line. Then panel 3 + 4, you jump the line again. Another jump cut. Visually, the images are very rendered and 'lit' but staging, shot angles and editing are not very good. I am confident that AI will learn and in the near future, there will be little need for a human artist. Sad.

I'm terrible with AI. I can never get it to make anything that looks even close to what I want.

John Eng, I have to disagree with you. AI is a tool., like a hammer or a saw. Yes, specialized tools can make the work easier, but until any of them attain sentience, they cannot replace us. I use AI as an editing tool and still have to pay rapt attention to keep my dystopian fiction from reading like an accounting report. AI plays to the lowest common denominator. It has to. Anything beyond that requires nuance.

For fun, I have fed some of my stuff into AI video creation programs. I have learned that you have to program in people of color, or they will not exist. Anything that requires a nonhuman character may as well be a lump of clay. Creation of static images, as shown here, can still, as you noted, miss key elements in the description.

Long story short, your job is safe, but you might want to raise your rates to eliminate those who falsely equate what you do with a YouTube video they scanned.

If I may ask..which ai software did you use?