Shekhar Kapur discusses AI Changing Filmmaking

Shekhar Kapur discusses the future of Hollywood. AI will democratize the film industry —why the fear?

Is the Era of Hollywood Over?

Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has sparked a major conversation about the future of cinema through a tweet. He says that the old business model of Hollywood and big studios is now under threat.

Those who are at the top today operate in ways that are becoming outdated.

Their strategy is to invest a lot of money so that no newcomer can enter the market. This game of exclusivity is about to end.

Will AI Become the New Hero?

Shekhar Kapur believes that Artificial Intelligence will dismantle this system. AI will make filmmaking more ‘democratic’, meaning it will become easier for everyone to make films.

When ordinary people also have the same tools that big-budget films have, then why would the top players promote a technology that will shut down their own business?

AI is not just new VFX; it’s a completely new technology that will change the way stories are told.

A Climate of Apprehension in the Industry

Some people within the industry are also apprehensive about this AI tsunami.

For example, director Vikramaditya Motwane has clearly stated that the threat is not from AI itself, but from those who will misuse it to save money.

He says, “These are the people who will say, ‘I’ll use AI, then I won’t need to employ so many people’.” This mindset is the real danger.

The Soul of Films at Risk

A real example of this was seen with the film ‘Raanjhanaa’. The film was re-released with an alternate ending, which used AI.

Both the film’s director, Anand L Rai, and actor Dhanush are very upset about this.

Dhanush said that the AI ​​ending completely stripped the film of its soul. Both artists are now exploring legal avenues to protect their film from this kind of lifeless ‘intervention’. Clearly, the power of AI is also its biggest threat.