Lionsgate is exploring new ways to use artificial intelligence (AI) in making movies. The studio recently partnered with AI startup Runway to help filmmakers create movies faster and cheaper.
Michael Burns, Lionsgate’s vice chairman, said AI can help the studio make movies they might not be able to afford otherwise.
For example, AI could reduce costs by half, letting them make a movie for $50 million instead of $100 million.
Burns gave an example: the studio could take an action movie and use AI to make a new version in anime style with a PG-13 rating.
He said, “Do it in anime, make it PG-13. Three hours later, I’ll have the movie.” Even though they would still need to pay actors and rights holders, this approach would allow Lionsgate to sell the movie again in a new form.
AI can also replace expensive and time-consuming film shoots. Burns described a scene with 10,000 soldiers and horses in a snowstorm. Instead of filming it in real life, the studio can create the scene with AI for about $10,000, saving millions and days of work.
Filmmakers at Lionsgate are already excited about using AI for both pre-production and post-production work. Runway’s AI technology is backed by major investors like Google and Nvidia, and it aims to change how art and entertainment are created.
This AI approach could let Lionsgate produce more movies and offer different versions to different audiences quickly and affordably.
