I think that AI cinema could open up a lot of opportunities for people outside of the film industry to make new and exciting cinematography, and that it could also be useful as a tool for those already within the industry. The biggest risk with AI cinema is the potential for people to lose their jobs. AI is already taking over tasks like scheduling, sorting, etc. that were traditionally jobs for actual people, but I don’t necessarily view this as being a bad thing. Cutting out those jobs that most likely require the least amount of skill and expertise can cut back on production costs and allow for smaller film makers and studios to produce more often or have the budget for better quality projects.
The jobs that could be potentially lost within writing, directing, acting, etc. are more of a concern, in my opinion. Just as other artists do, these people spend their entire lives mastering their craft and finding their niche. To have all of that squashed by AI would be devastating. There is also the risk of deep-faking famous actors and voice actors for future cinematography without their consent, either while they’re alive or after they’ve passed away, and that poses another ethical concern.
These AI tools have and will inevitably further change the future of Hollywood entertainment forever. Artificial intelligence is changing a variety of industries, and I feel like the vast majority of them are not safe from exemption; therefore, there won’t be any for the film industry. Hollywood could sink or swim with these new tools, but that depends on how far people are willing to go with AI. Independent artists have the most to gain, because this could give them the edge to be more on par with Hollywood when it comes to production value, overall quality, editing, casting, etc. It will be interesting to ask myself these questions 5–10 years from now and see how the answers may differ due to developments.