Will Sora Replace Filmmakers and Video Creators?

A couple of weeks back, OpenAI left us all speechless with a demo of Sora, their new AI that turns text into stunning videos in seconds. If you've caught the demos, you know Sora's magic – cinematic clips up to a minute long, sometimes even crafting full trailers. I still remember watching the first demo, feeling a whirlwind of awe, inspiration, and a hint of fear.

So, the big question: Is Sora going to replace us creatives in video and filmmaking? Here's where I stand.

For those new here, I juggle a production company and a media business focused on educational content, all while diving deep into AI for a year. Mixed feelings? Absolutely.

Tyler Perry recently paused a huge studio project due to Sora, despite it just being a demo phase. This move, echoed by many in our industry, signals a massive shift. Yet, I see it differently – a golden opportunity.

Rewind to 2007, the DSLR revolution was kicking off. Many old-school photographers dismissed it, much to their later regret. I saw the change coming and leveraged it to build a successful production company. Fast forward, and AI, especially with tools like Sora, is poised to shake things up even more.

I've shifted gears, focusing on Generative AI with my new venture, Skill Leap AI, and even exploring AI to bring my film ideas to life. For anyone in video creation, this isn't just a challenge; it's an unprecedented chance to reinvent and stand out.

Here's my take:

AI could democratize filmmaking, making storytelling and production more accessible than ever. I've started using AI for film pitches and believe we're close to blending AI with live-action seamlessly.

For my company, AI opens up innovative services for clients. It's not just about the video; it's the impact that matters, and AI can help us deliver that in new ways.

For creatives, now's the time to master AI tools, integrating them with your skills. Remember when the Canon 5D made cinematic video affordable? Or the early days of Facebook ads? AI is our new frontier.

So, to my friends panicking over Sora, see this as a fresh start, an opportunity to do what was once impossible. Let's embrace this shift and make the most of it.

Links mentioned in the video:

[Cindicate]

I work for a major studio in Burbank and I can tell you, without a doubt, what you just described is exactly where we are headed and gearing towards for major films and shows. And in our particular studio and the many endeavors and companies it owns, it’s going to change the industry faster than most can imagine. This is the biggest studio entertainment conglomerate and the other large studios in the area are also doing their due diligence. This is why I am breaking off on the side to get ahead of it from the private production company level. There is great opportunity ahead. Some of us will put our heads together and figure out the next wave of production. Many will give up and call it a day. Exciting and scary.

[david_karner]

Probably the most insightful commentary today. Thanks for that. Time to move on this.

[Savor]

The way I see it is like this along time ago. If you wanted to see someone act, you would have to go to a theater play then came the films and all of a sudden people were scared that this new invention would replace actual live performance but it didn’t. It actually continue to grow side-by-side with films…. Same thing when it came with the invention of VHS tapes or DVDs, even Blu-ray, and that last streaming.. anything that is unknown is always going to be scary at first… but for me, I’m willing to embrace it because it’s either you adapt to it or you die, holding on the old ways of how to do things… as for me I’m a survivor and I’m gonna learn every bit on how to create art with it

[imetvnj]

Be like water and you will get in anywhere. Learn and adapt.

[CireProductions]

Imagine importing mocap into Sora along with a prompt. Or, adding our own green screen into Sora and build a scene around it. Imagine voice input into Sora? Imagine Sora being used in Unreal Engine to create landscapes, backgrounds, skies? Then being able to edit and move objects. Among other ideas. WOW!

[robinshood]

The problem with assuming that storytelling experience will help give you an edge over non-professionals is that there will soon be an LLM smart and creative enough to write compelling stories and professional scripts. And that will be availabe for everyone too.

[gregjean]

I understand and I like this outlook on things. Very interesting. Here are a couple things that are bugging me :
1 - Why wouldn't clients ask companies in other countries to produce this same content ? Since like you said you can work internationally ? Pricing is also going to be lowered because now we're competting on a global market right ? We don't either have any reason to believe that companies will increase the amount of content produced enough to compensate losses because of price drops. Sure they'll increase but enough ?
2 - I'm guessing new jobs will be inventend, basically AI specialized community managers. Just like companies had started doing using Canva for graphic design but on a whole other scale. Why externalise the majority of the content they used to create (interviews, testimonials, product presentations or mini ads) if AI can edit, do motion graphics, mix audio and much more ?
3 - Aren't we all just going to transform into marketing agencies and not video production companies ? Is that what we want ?

Anyway, if AI creates a lot of unemployment in other fields, commercial work will suffer too. Why advertise to the unemployed ?
Sure there's money to be made, opportunities are exciting, but there are some important questions we need to ask ourselves. Only solution is Universal basic income in my eyes :)

[GoodRebelCreative]

I know this was 10 months ago, but there's a HUGE asterisks here. First of all, the visual abilities of AI have already started to plateau, and there is a permanent ceiling built into a technology that can only create things based on what's already been done. It can only imitate a drone shot or a sci-fi look because a human put those things together in real life. Secondly, and this is the main point, most videography is done to document things that are happening in the real world. To put it another way, AI is fake--even when it looks real enough to fool someone. You can't release an AI (fake) video of an event or an interview because, not only is it dishonest to the viewer, it's no longer valuable because it's not actually a document; it's a computer generated amalgamation of a other events. This may not entirely apply to narrative story-telling (cartoons have always done that job without people on screen). Third, as the market has already become saturated with AI imagery already, a higher value is now being placed on the real thing--this sentiment will only increase. Authenticity is at a premium (see the'24 election for proof). People naturally hate fakery. Even "overly produced" content on social media performs objectively worse than UGC style videos. The distaste for CGI in movies has finally started to have a financial impact and it's a trend that isn't letting up. AI is only valuable if the market says it is. As of today, it already looks like AI is an overvalued bubble. Yes, it's a permanent tool that will continue to amp up productivity, but these doomsday predictions are overwrought. "Old timers refuse to change" is a cliche that is quickly be replaced with, "People are way too excited about the next new thing." Think of all the "game changing" things that got huge press but ended up falling flat or outright failing: NFTs, blockchain/crypto, augmented reality, VR video games, AirBnB, smart glasses, cloud computing, e-scooter cities--and these are just the last few years worth.

[AndresArosemena]

At first I started super exited about Generative AI. I started learning and experimenting but then I learned how all those systems scraped artists' work without any compensation. I got very conflicted. On one hand, I really like the tech side of it. On the other hand I don't want to contribute to all the problems artists are having with their work and all the copyright issues those systems are already having. AI art can't be copyrighted, there are already several lawsuits. I stiped experimenting with that tech. I want to see how it all settles, legally and morally speaking.
What is your position on this Saj? It seems like you haven't considered that side of the tech.

[Marcus_Visbal]

Did you just give up on making videos? I don’t think ai is replacing content creators, as much as people believe it will

[ShaunORourke]

"ten times cheaper" means "jobs killer"

[tygorton]

QUESTION: Don't you find it odd that, right as generative AI explodes on the scene, mainstream entertainment is the WORST it has ever been? The synchronicity of this is incredibly suspect. You are right though, the opportunity on the table for content creators is off the charts right now. Getting in on this early can be very lucrative. The larger system WANTS the world to go fully digital. Meaning, the system wants the majority in the AR/VR space with everything in their lives being digital, including their money. If this sounds great to you, then by all means, get in on this opportunity and be a part of the new digital age.

Many will choose to reject the digital, however. And this will create a different opportunity. Our very own Renaissance, where traditional methods of creation will be the goal. There will always be a market for it. Each individual will need to make that choice based on the future world they want to contribute to. Making this choice based solely on money may not be wise, but it will be how many decide. There will ALWAYS be more money on the table for the side the larger system is pushing humanity toward. That is AI and everything digital in this scenario.

[jonathanperpich]

Thank you for this insightful video. I used to work in the graphic design industry. I taught the first classes in video editing (10 frames per second, two40 x 1 80, no audio) and page layout programs, such as Quark Xpress. One of my clients was the LA Times. These were people who had been using traditional tools for years – T squares, drafting boards, X-Acto knives, ruby lith. They were very resistant to using a digital tool, and were concerned about being replaced. It was a difficult transition, but many of them made it. I am currently a filmmaker and I’m very excited about utilizing Sora for certain components in my films.

[thegenerousthief]

As a one man band, videographer, photographer, editor, color gradin, writing etc Where does one start to add AI to the skillset ? Thanks for this video, super insightful.

[RawHeadRay]

I was a video editor for 15 years and suddenly everybody was a video editor via YouTube so I stopped even though my story telling skills are higher than a lot of the new editors who popped up I was still only going to be paid cheap editor fees because the industry was saturated, now at 54 years old I’m bustin into my savings to invest in pro hardware and software so I can create anything I can imagine with no limits to the power of my equipment, I want to make films and I’m going to be making films the traditional way because it’s just far more rewarding, I’ll familiarize myself with the A.I. video app because let’s face it, it’s an awesome toy/tool but my personal priority is to make some real movies in real rooms with real people. I’m open to getting in on whatever use the A.I. needs are for potential clients and with video editing, camera operator and 3 years studying classical animation in Europe I think this is the moment, … this is a big moment.

[juanGBS]

I seriously don't understand how people can watch AI-generated videos and see them perfect. They are riddled with errors that no serious production could overlook. It's like everyone is blind. I'm going crazy :S

[TheDysartes]

They kind of said the camera technology in mobile phones would end photography and video, especially when some film-makers used iPhone to create short films and feature length movies. It didn't kill off the still and motion image industry but mobile phones have changed it significantly. Now on the bright side the new developments of camera tech on phones meant more and more people were taking photos and videos. It also allowed some creators to start making videos for site like YouTube without having to buy or hire expensive equipment. So I suspect AI will be the same, it will have an effect on the industry, but it won't kill it off. For content creators the ability to create B-Roll they couldn't afford to produce under normal conditions will help to elevate their content. AI will be another tool and some will take it up and run with it, whilst others won't and will be left behind just like when new tech has arrived in to the industry in previous years. I have a bunch of short film scripts I've never been able to do anything with, and SORA got me thinking I could actually turn those printed pages in to an actual video.

[Metarig]

I'm not really into videography; I'm more of a 3D artist. But it looks like AI is coming for my gig next. People always say that even if we can't out-tech AI, we can out-create it with storytelling and stuff. But let's be real, AI's already nailing storytelling too. Not sure what's in store for folks like us, but I'm not just gonna sit around and wait for my job to disappear. Thinking of looking into other ways to make a buck, maybe dive into real estate or something. Honestly, the best advice might just be to switch things up. If it's game over, it's game over. Time to pull myself together and not get swept away by the tide.

[latenighthazard]

Another thing to consider is shooting comedy films, or working with comedians in general. It takes real human wittiness and humor to create that

[TenHeadedSkeleton]

I've been say no one cares how you made it for over decade. People fight about shooting on a phone or a DSLR and I tell them the audiences don't care and 80% of the time can't tell the difference. They wouldn't know it was shot on a phone unless someone told them. You mention Tyler Perry having a multi million dollar studio. No one cares if the movies suck. I've always said the same about music. I see musicians bragging about their expensive boards and monitors etc, and yet their music sounds like a Xerox copy of everything else on the radio. It's about the result, it's about what the people are enjoying not how you made it. So, no one will care if a movie is made by A.I. a year from now starring James Dean and Christopher Reeves.