TLDR: CULVER CITY—Albert Cheng at AI on the Lot says generative AI is past the uncanny valley and can help revive LA sound stages by enabling smaller AI assisted productions.
Key Takeaways:
- Cheng argues LA’s production slowdown links to incentives that favor huge projects and slower role turnover after the 2023 strikes era.
- He says Amazon MGM Studios will prove the blend works through AI driven Prime Video animated series, with artists directing shot generation.
- He warns AI is addictive due to speed, but says creative teams can harness it instead of letting automation replace decision making.
- Examples of Amazon’s push include three greenlit Prime Video animated series backed by the GenAI Creators Fund.
The pitch is less about replacing artists and more about speeding up the pipeline that Los Angeles lost. If incentives finally follow the smaller crew model, AI could become a staging comeback tool, not a staffing death spiral.
The pitch is less about replacing artists and more about speeding up the pipeline that Los Angeles lost. If incentives finally follow the smaller crew model, AI could become a staging comeback tool, not a staffing death spiral.
Q&A
What changes would make LA tax incentives work for AI assisted projects, not just blockbuster sized ones?
Incentives would need criteria tied to crew hours, local spending, and measurable production labor for smaller teams, so benefits track employment turnover instead of total budget.
If viewers cannot tell what is AI derived, who still holds the accountability for creative and cultural decisions?
The accountable party remains the production artists and executives making shot selection, edits, and narrative direction, since output depends on human choices and review.
What incentive would Hollywood have to accept AI tools when unions and performers fear faster automation?
Clear labor guardrails and transparency requirements would help, paired with commitments that AI tools support new production capacity without erasing negotiated roles.
Could AI truly increase sound stage utilization in LA without shifting risk toward smaller projects?
It could, because faster iteration and previsualization reduce preproduction bottlenecks, but stage use still hinges on greenlights, scheduling, and financing for more frequent shoots.
Why does Cheng call AI addictive, and what does that imply for how studios manage teams and approvals?
It suggests teams may default to speed over scrutiny, so studios will likely need stronger review workflows to prevent automated output from drifting away from creative intent.
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