Iconic Horror Filmmaker Making AI Horror Movies Sounds Like a Bad Idea
by Jacob VanGundy | Published
Jason Blum is one of the latest Hollywood bigwigs to agree to a deal with a major AI company, according to The Hollywood Reporter, entering into an experimental program to make short films with this technology. The popular horror producer will collaborate with Meta, serving as the director of the short film. That choice will put him and Blumhouse Studios deep into controversial territory with fans and many in the film industry.
Meta Movie Gen
Meta has been testing its new Meta Movie Gen tool that generates video and audio based on text commands. Jason Blum is one of several directors who signed a deal to help Meta develop that AI tool. The shorts are non-commercial, they are used to help test and improve Meta technology before its big release.
So far, three short films have been made with Meta Movie Gen, and Jason Blum’s will be the fourth created using the controversial AI technology. Casey Affleck, Aneech Chaganty, and the Spurlock Sisters have directed short films that have already been made. Chaganty is short, I am h8 he was the first to be released, officially starting the pilot program.
The AI Controversy
Jason Blum’s involvement in making AI films worries many fans, as the use of technology in art has become incredibly controversial. Production tools like Meta Movie Gen are built on existing artwork, which some feel is a form of creative theft. The environmental impact of the technology has also been compromised due to the huge power they require, the text-to-video problem is expected to intensify.
While there will be fan backlash to Jason Blum’s AI short, the response from the film industry is likely to be more negative. Concerns about technology replacing human jobs were at the heart of last year’s Hollywood strikes and animators are expected to strike next year over the issue. One of the most fearsome manufacturers using technology is sure to cause some friction and possibly drive founders away from the company.
Commenting on his involvement in the program, Jason Blum called AI a new tool for directors. He stressed that creative people will always be the cause of filmmaking and says he wants to help refine technology to meet the needs of those creators. His statement did not mention creators who will not be involved in the making of the short film or future projects made in their own way, such as actors.
A Growing Problem
The pilot program Jason Blum is involved in is just one small part of the emerging text-to-video AI trend. OpenAI has developed a similar tool called Sora, and the company has reached out to several studio executives about using it. Adobe has also entered the world of text-to-video rendering with the Firefly Video Model, which is currently in Beta.
A Hollywood producer helping to polish new filmmaking technology wouldn’t normally be a cause for concern, but Jason Blum’s use of AI is a worrying development. Technology is threatening many jobs in the industry and it is very disappointing to see a new, old studio like Blumhouse embrace that change. His short film is set to release in 2025 and is sure to ruffle a few feathers.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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