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- Masters of the Universe's director has had his say on AI use in the entertainment industry
- Travis Knight says it shouldn't replace those who make movies and TV shows
- However, it has it uses if it's implemented properly
Masters of the Universe's director has offered his opinion on the ongoing debate surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry.
Ahead of the new Amazon movie's release, Travis Knight exclusively told me that studios shouldn't use AI to replace those who, in his words, give movies their "spirit and soul".
However, Knight also suggested that AI could be beneficial to the wider business if those in charge of the world's biggest entertainment companies are "thoughtful and careful" about its application.
Knight's comments come amid a watershed moment for the implementation of AI in the entertainment sector, other industries, and our wider society.
Indeed, as the nascent technology becomes an increasingly prevalent fixture in our everyday lives and governments struggle to fast-track legislation to keep the tech in check amid its ongoing proliferation, businesses across the globe are looking at ways to utilize it.
That includes the world's biggest movie and TV makers like Amazon MGM Studios, the aka entertainment behemoth behind He-Man's latest big-screen adventure, and the studio that recently came under fire for announcing plans to make three new series for its Prime Video streaming platform via its newly-established GenAI Creators' Fund.
With numerous other entertainment giants, including Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros., also exploring new avenues to use AI to make films and TV shows, as well as, in their words, "improve" the user experience on the best streaming services that they own, conversations about the technology will continue to dominate the news cycle for months and years to come.
Key among those discussions is whether AI will eventually replace the writers, artists, animators, directors, and various other creatives. Knight, though, believes it would be a dark day for the industry if such a scenario ever came to pass, even if he's not dead-set against AI having a role in some aspects of the moviemaking sector.
"To me, it's always about the amazing creatives who make movies," the man behind one of this year's new movies told me. "They're what gives movies their spirit and soul.
"And that's one of the things I love most about making movies," he continued. "You get all of these people together from all these different disciplines, and it's only that combination of people that could have told that story that way.
AI can be a tool or it could be a crutch — and it's not something that that we used on this movie
Masters of the Universe director Travis Knight
"Now, look, artificial intelligence can be a tool, or it could be a crutch — and it's not something that we used on this movie. I try to do stuff as much as I can practically. It's my background [in this industry], so I want to get as much stuff in camera as possible. We also used computer-generated imagery, a lot of simulations, and high-tech stuff to bring the movie to life in the best way, and I love that combination of the old school and practical kind of filmmaking with whatever new tech helps to tell the story that you're telling.
"It's a very interesting time for the industry, and I don't know where it's going to go," the sci-fi fantasy movie's director added. "I generally don't think this technology is something to fear, I just think it's something that we need to be thoughtful and careful around."
Masters of the Universe is out now in the UK, and launches in the US and other countries on Friday, June 5. Before you watch it, find out if it's worth seeing by reading my Masters of the Universe review.
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