George Lucas on AI in Film and Why I Largely Agree
· AI News · 2 min
George Lucas sees AI as an inevitable part of cinema's future. I agree, but great films demand more than just technology.
George Lucas recently made a statement that sparked quite a bit of discussion.
His sentiment was that those fundamentally opposing AI in film today are reacting much like those who once rejected the automobile, preferring to stick with horses and carriages.
It’s certainly a provocative comparison.
But honestly, I couldn't help but smile a little, because I understand exactly what he means.
I’ve been working with film, cameras, 3D, design, and post-production for over 20 years. And in that time, I’ve witnessed numerous technical revolutions that supposedly spelled the end of something.
Digital cameras would destroy film.
CGI would destroy practical sets.
Digital color grading would destroy craftsmanship.
Virtual production would render real locations obsolete.
And now, it’s AI.
In the end, very little of that actually happened.
New technologies didn't simply wipe out the old. They expanded our capabilities.
That’s precisely how I view AI.
For me, AI isn't a replacement for film production. It's another layer within it.
Today, I can visualize things that, just a few years ago, would have required massive sets, extensive travel, special effects, or very large 3D teams. I can modify real footage, expand worlds, swap out weather, alter characters, or generate images that were previously simply beyond the budget of many companies.
I find that fantastic.
However, there's one point where I'd extend the automobile comparison.
Just because everyone can suddenly drive a car doesn't automatically make everyone a race car driver.
And just because everyone can open an AI video model and type in a prompt today doesn't mean everyone can make a good film.
Technology takes work off our hands.
But it doesn't make the decision for us about what constitutes a good image.
Where a camera should be placed.
When an edit works.
How light should feel.
Whether a story resonates emotionally.
What looks credible.
And when an image is simply impressively generated but tells absolutely nothing.
That's precisely why we at Chris Jean pursue a hybrid approach.
Sometimes we shoot practically.
Sometimes we build in 3D.
Sometimes we create something with AI.
And very often, we combine everything.
Not because a technology is currently trendy, but because for each shot, we decide which approach will ultimately deliver the best result.
That's also why I don't believe the crucial question of the coming years will be:
Will AI replace traditional film production?
The more interesting question is:
What can filmmakers suddenly create when the technical boundaries we've grown accustomed to for decades increasingly disappear?
Frankly, I'm quite excited about that.
Because a good idea has never suffered from the fact that suddenly more is possible.