Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

I hope your weekend has been a creative one so far. Whether you have been writing, filming, editing, or sketching out the next spark of an idea, I have something today that will give you a boost. So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

This week’s featured video comes from The Hollywood Reporter: Daniel Kwan on AI Reshaping Creative Workflows & Independent Filmmaking

Kwan opens with a simple truth: passion comes from surrounding yourself with people who challenge you. It’s a fitting entry point for a conversation about staying grounded when the ground keeps moving. He’s also feeling the weight of endings, ten years since Swiss Army Man, and the final Sundance in Park City. Not as nostalgia, but as a reminder that when something closes, you get clearer on what you want to protect and what you want to build next.

That’s what pushed him into an AI documentary after Everything Everywhere All at Once. He admits the topic is exhausting and polarizing, but he said yes because clarity is missing. And when clarity is missing, people either fight or disengage, while the most powerful players move forward unchecked.

Kwan’s core point is that “AI” is too vague to be useful. Assistive tools that streamline work are not the same as generative tools designed to replace it, and without shared definitions, creators lose the ability to set boundaries. He champions coordination across creators, unions, studios, and independents, not to stop progress, but to make sure the rules are set by the people doing the work. And he ends on what matters most: this isn’t about preserving a brutal status quo. If we do this right, the real win is a healthier industry, where efficiencies improve lives instead of siphoning value upward.

Now, I want to transition into my own thoughts on all of this.

AI is not the end of the world, and it is not the thing that is going to “ruin the industry.” We are at a point where it feels like every advancement is treated like it’s the moment everything collapses. That’s not where this is going to land.

AI is going to become a category, like every other category. Animation is a category. If you want to watch an AI film, you will have the opportunity to watch it. But what people want, and what they will always want, is great storytelling. Great emotion. Something that makes you feel, something that holds the mirror up so you can see yourself. That’s what great art does.

And right now, for me personally, the “AI-ness” of what I’m seeing often takes me out of the story. But AI is not replacing people in post-production. In many cases, what it’s doing is creating jobs for people who know how to use it well.

As it relates to screenwriting, I think most people can tell the difference between something written by a human and something written by AI. I do think people will use AI for brainstorming, for research, and as a tool to explore options faster. In a lot of ways, it’s a quicker, more interactive version of search, and that’s where it can be useful when you treat it as a tool, not a replacement for your voice.

So here’s what I want to ask you-

When you think about AI as a tool in your own creative life, where do you personally draw the line between “helpful support” and “something that pulls you out of the human experience of storytelling”?

Share your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to keep this conversation going with you.

As always, here at Stage 32, we love sharing stories and knowledge with our fellow film fans. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. You can keep up with all of our videos by subscribing to the Stage 32 YouTube Channel. For more inspirational, educational, and motivational content on all things entertainment industry, follow me on Instagram and X @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

The Hollywood Reporter | Daniel Kwan on AI Reshaping Creative Workflows & Independent Filmmaking

RBWalksIntoABar | Is AI Going to Ruin the Film Industry?

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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