IPG / SSI Interviewed

Tuesday Cinema Club - AI Attitudes!

Two weeks ago, the Tuesday Cinema Club podcast reached out and asked for an appearance on its weekly video podcast. The topic was AI in film and media - they wanting to get the perspective of professionals in the industry. It was a great chance to push the IPG and SSI profile on into the future, so naturally I agreed. Attending were myself as Head of the IPG and Diamond Monique Washington as Artistic Director of Stage And Screen Innovations.

The Tuesday Cinema Club podcast meets weekly to discuss topics of art and film process, from perspective of cinephile viewers. After about an hour long discussion, they then select a film from a pool and continue on with a live-stream viewing party, in which they stop and discuss the techniques or lighting, acting, trivia etc. throughout.

While Diamond and I are sophisticated about the current generative AI trajectory, as well as using a lot of AI in our support and technical endeavors, we weren’t quite prepared for the attitude of the podcast and audience - which was distinctly and severely hostile to the use of AI in film and in still image media. In fact, the first half hour or so was a critical (and homogeneously disapproving) review of movie posters AI generated by indie filmmakers and fans of films they would want to see. They compared and commented on the differences between what they considered professional posters and animation sequences, and what they termed “AI slop” (their term, which the showed is a thing on social media).

There is a lot of discussion in the film industry on the potential uses of AI. However, that discussion almost never considers the attitudes of the audience. It always assumes that audience accepts AI and will gladly do so.

My own observations about audience acceptance of AI is that it has quickly become disliked at best. I always tell aspiring creatives to beware: generative AI is based on statistical models and as such can never ever create something that rises above mediocre. Unless and until such models change (and I don’t know of any movement to do so), it can never create anything of superior quality and by definition cannot create anything original. However, I was taken aback by the attitude of the podcasters and audience to the presentations of AI. Far from making fun, it bordered on anger.

I firmly believe, and it is my experience, that audience has a much wider appetite and broader tastes than the mainstream studios - and therefore much of the independent film community - consider to be true. However, that does not mean I think audience are simple. Quite the opposite. While they notably accept lower “production values” where story and acting performance are good, that is in fact because they are sophisticated about culture and art, and more concerned about it than we often give them credit for.

Listen to the discussion, it is enlightening. One takeaway is, for any filmmaker thinking of using AI - consider that it is one thing audiences already - and increasingly - do not want any more of. They want your original expression. That’s the function of art.

The Tuesday Cinema Club Podcast on Spotify:

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We are at a critical stage, and need your support - grants this year have, as you may know, all but dried up. We need to keep the lights on and pay for things which cannot be donated or volunteered! We have a goal of $10,000 the bulk of which we need immediately, to get through the rest of August and 2025. Whatever you can do - please do and do now! Go to stagescreen.org for secure online tax-deductible donations. Don’t hesitate because you can only donate a little - it all adds up. You are helping new voices get the training they need to craft the future of the industry. You are making a difference! We are also looking for in-house grant writers and fundraisers! As always, contact Shadow Dragu-Mihai direct for questions and to be involved.