Martin Scorsese now uses AI to prepare his films

Still perceived as a threat by part of Hollywood, artificial intelligence is now attracting some of the greatest filmmakers. Latest example: Martin Scorsese, who has just joined a specialized company.

It’s a symbolic turning point in the conflicting relationship between Hollywood and AI.

The director of Freedof Taxi Driver and of Killers of the Flower Moon announced its partnership with Black Forest Labs, a German company specializing in generative artificial intelligence.

Martin Scorsese will play an advisory role to help the company develop new creative tools for cinema. In a press release, the filmmaker explains why he believes that the industry must open up to these new technologies:

“Cinema is a young medium, only around 125 years old. We must therefore remain open to how it may evolve.“

For him, AI is a continuation of the innovations he has already adopted throughout his career:

“I used 3D on Hugo and digital rejuvenation technologies on The Irishman. Today, thanks to this tool, I can share more clearly and more effectively what I imagine with my creative team – the production designer, the visual artists or even the director of photography – so that they can enrich this vision.”

In a video released to accompany the announcement, Scorsese demonstrates how he uses AI to create storyboards. He notably takes the example of the famous sequence shot of Freed in which Henry Hill walks through the Copacabana club.

“With a tool like this, you can resolve certain questions much faster, save time in production and reduce team fatigue.”

The 83-year-old director claims to have even already tested this technology on one of his next projects: “During pre-production, time costs money. This tool allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship.”

This position comes as Hollywood is increasingly divided on AI. James Cameron is already collaborating with a company specializing in the field, while Peter Jackson compares this technology to a simple special effect. Conversely, Guillermo del Toro has recently been very critical, declaring that he would prefer “die” rather than using generative AI in its films.

The debate is therefore far from over.