Even before OpenAI's video generator Sora made its debut, the creative world was on edge, anticipating its influence. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images shows the anticipation. Business Insider delved into the perspectives of up-and-coming filmmakers and professors as Sora began to make waves.

Sora's AI: A Game-Changer or a Limitation in Filmmaking?

Sora's Potential in Filmmaking

Sora's ability to generate short video clips, up to 20 seconds, from user's text prompts is a remarkable feat. For instance, a user can envision a scene with green monsters in a thunderstorm and have Sora create a file based on that prompt. Michaela Ternasky-Holland, one of the first directors to use Sora, is excited about its potential to cut filmmaking costs by creating sizzle reels. However, she is also aware of its limitations. "These things are giving you an illusion of control. And no matter how good the generations are, there's still someone behind them prompting it," she said. "Just because someone has a 4K camera, it doesn't make them a Steven Spielberg."Sora can also modify existing clips, opening up new creative avenues. But as industry watchers note, the image quality still has some way to go before it reaches a level where it can be widely used in finished films. Sora's pace of improvement has slowed down with later versions, and it still struggles to put multiple characters in a scene effectively.

The Fear of Job Losses

Dana Polan, a professor of cinema studies at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, believes that AI image generators don't evoke the same fears as their text-based counterparts. He points out that in Hollywood, the screenplay is considered the first act of creativity, and other people in the filmmaking process, like cinematographers, are already seen as "adapters into images of words." George Huang, a professor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, who has experimented with AI tools in his own moviemaking, concedes that the technology has a bad rap in Hollywood. "We think AI is now coming to destroy all of us, and that's a narrative that Hollywood created. It's embedded in our culture," he said.Tahsis Fairley, a creative producing student at Chapman University, expressed concern about job losses across the industry, particularly in fields like animation. He sees AI as a "double-edged sword" and while he welcomes its efficiency gains, he is worried about the impact on employment.

The Future of AI in Filmmaking

While Sora may not be ready for prime time just yet, experts believe it could be useful in the previsualization process or as a "pitch reel" for screenwriters. Polan told BI that the tech could be handy for checking pacing and flow. Michael Gilkison, a Lexington, Kentucky-based filmmaker, used a free AI app to create a scene where a car was crushed, saving a significant amount of money. He sees AI as a tool to keep costs down while maintaining artistic vision.However, other AI startups like Runway have already created tools used across the industry to expedite editing. This shows that AI is already making an impact in filmmaking. Huang doesn't believe we're far off from full implementation of AI in completed films. "By the end of the next year easily," he said.In conclusion, Sora's AI has the potential to democratize filmmaking by reducing costs and opening up new creative possibilities. But it also comes with its share of limitations and concerns about job losses. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of filmmaking.