Since its inception in November 2022, ChatGPT has been utilized by countless individuals for various writing tasks such as wedding toasts, college essays, and even creative endeavors like poetry. However, one prominent figure in Hollywood, Billy Ray, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter with an impressive filmography that includes titles like ‘Shattered Glass,’ ‘Captain Phillips,’ and notable marketing campaigns for ‘The Hunger Games,’ has steered clear of the technology entirely.
Ray has never accessed the ChatGPT website, nor does he consider it a solution to his writing challenges or a tool to enhance his creative process. He views generative AI not as a creative aid but as a significant threat to the industry, likening it to a malignant growth disguised as a profit center. For him, AI has the potential to undermine both storytelling and the storytellers behind it.
Expressing his concerns, Ray remarked, ‘My level of impostor syndrome, neuroticism and guilt is high enough while I’m working my ass off. There’s no way I’d make myself feel worse by letting a machine do my writing for me. Zero interest.’
The entertainment industry has witnessed rapid advances in AI technology, which is infiltrating various aspects, from script development and previsualization to marketing and casting decisions. In response to these developments, screenwriters found themselves at the forefront of the debate, which culminated in the 2023 Writers Guild strike leading to significant contract negotiations.
The Writers Guild achieved vital protections during the strike, ensuring that studios cannot mandate the use of AI by writers. Furthermore, materials generated by AI cannot be classified as ‘literary’ or ‘source’ material. While writers retain the freedom to utilize AI with studio approval, clarity and protections regarding credit and authorship are crucial.
Despite these gains, Ray believes the measures are insufficient given the situation’s urgency. He points out that studios are increasing their focus on harnessing AI’s capabilities, which he fears may lead to diminished quality in storytelling and job losses.
As a seasoned member of the WGA and former co-chair of the guild’s negotiating committee, Ray feels a heightened sense of urgency. The industry’s landscape, where many writers already face precarious job security, adds weight to his apprehensions. According to the WGA’s financial report for 2024, reported earnings among members have decreased by nearly 10% compared to the previous year and are down more than 24% from 2022 levels.
Ray emphasizes the need for the union to proactively address the fast-evolving AI issue before upcoming negotiations. While he maintains a personal stance against relying on AI for writing, he respects his peers’ choices. He stresses the public’s right to distinguish between human and AI-generated content in the works they consume.
As he shared his thoughts on AI’s burgeoning influence, Ray sounded an urgent alarm, indicating that the window for control and understanding is closing swiftly. He stated, ‘If all Hollywood has to offer is a bunch of warmed-over AI bulls—, why would someone turn away from TikTok or YouTube?’
Across the industry, AI has been gradually infiltrating every stage of production, assisting in visualizing scenes, cloning actor voices for foreign releases, and aiding in editing early drafts. However, the role of AI in writing remains the most contentious and fraught with potential consequences. Unlike human writers, AI lacks a genuine understanding of plot, motivation, or themes, leading to concerns about AI-generated work’s depth and emotional resonance.
While some industry figures, like Todd Haynes, express trepidation toward AI, others are actively exploring its potential applications. The contrast is striking: some see it as a path to enhance creativity, while others worry about its implications for the foundational elements of storytelling.
For instance, during the first ‘AI on the Lot’ conference held amidst labor turmoil in 2023, attendees engaged in discussions around AI’s role in expanding the industry, yet the absence of writers underscored the reticence and concern about the technology’s impact.
AI-focused startups argue that technology can serve to support creatives rather than replace them. For example, Amit Gupta, co-founder of the writing tool Sudowrite, highlights AI’s role in alleviating mundane tasks, allowing writers to focus on the creative aspects of their work.
However, the potential for studios to envision a future with fewer writers, especially given historical precedent for high-dollar screenwriting deals, looms ominously over discussions. Some in the industry question whether AI can genuinely create compelling narratives or merely reproduce oversimplified iterations of existing content.
Billy Ray’s rejections of AI take a bold stand against the backdrop of an evolving industry, while others, like Paul Schrader, have voiced their enthusiasm for AI’s potential, even suggesting AI may outperform human creativity in certain respects.
Yet, this appreciation for AI’s capabilities has met considerable skepticism and criticism from peers, resulting in heated debate within creative circles. Figures like Bong Joon Ho critique AI’s limited ability to engage with the human experience and question whether it can generate authentic narrative depth.
This skepticism is echoed by younger voices like Roma Murphy, co-chair of the Animation Guild’s AI Committee, who worry that increasing AI involvement in script development would dilute the unique human perspective essential to storytelling.
Amid all these discussions, academic institutions such as USC’s School of Cinematic Arts are navigating the complexities of integrating AI into their curricula while safeguarding students’ creative processes. The mixture of wariness and curiosity demonstrates the industry’s struggle to define AI’s role positively without compromising artistic integrity.
Oscar Sharp, an early experimenter in AI-science fiction screenplay development, offers insights into the ramifications of using AI in storytelling. His work emphasizes the need to understand the unique patterns within storytelling while acknowledging potential pitfalls of an AI-driven creative process.
As industry discussions continue, Sharp’s observations reinforce a shared recognition that while technological advancements are inevitable, the commitment to authentic human storytelling must remain paramount in the face of rapid change. He warns against allowing AI to dictate the structure and form of storytelling, emphasizing the importance of human creativity in producing art with meaning and depth.
With differing philosophies about AI’s place in the world of screenwriting, the conversation remains dynamic and contentious. As the industry grapples with its future, a consensus on how best to position AI while preserving a commitment to authentic storytelling is yet to be achieved.
image source from：latimes
