EXCLUSIVE: Producer Anand Pandit draws a line at AI replacing human writing, cites example of ‘The Entity’ from Mission Impossible franchise in a specially authored article : Bollywood News

Right from its inception, technology has exuded both transformative power and potential risks. The last two films in the Mission Impossible franchise, in fact, warn of a malevolent, all-pervasive AI force called ‘The Entity’ that threatens to take over global systems. We may not be heading towards a digital dark age but it is necessary to address questions pertaining to unchecked technology in every realm of life. For filmmakers and storytellers, this age is ripe with possibilities because of streaming, AI personalization, immersive VR/AR, cloud gaming, and social media. Stories have turned into ‘content’ and consumption models are shifting to on-demand, interactive, and highly personalized experiences. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain have also changed content creation, distribution, and ownership structures and for the uninitiated, this can be a very confusing time.

EXCLUSIVE: Producer Anand Pandit draws a line at AI replacing human writing, cites example of ‘The Entity’ from Mission Impossible franchise in a specially authored articleIronically, a few technology experts like Tim Cook are now consistently emphasizing the enduring importance of the “human touch”. In a 2017 interview, Cook said that automation can undoubtedly enhance productivity but it should not erase genuine human connection. This message is on point. As classic films like Citizen Kane, Pather Panchali, Kagaz ke Phool and many others prove, what makes storytelling enduring is a unique eye, a distinct human perspective and deep-rooted empathy for the human condition. No amount of automation can mimic true connection.

That said, I do see how technology is serving makers today. In Emilia Pérez, a 2024 Spanish film, the re-recording mixer, Cyril Holtz, confirmed that AI was used in post-production to refine Karla Sofía Gascón’s singing performance. In the show, The Mandalorian, AI deepfake technology was used to realistically recreate a young Luke Skywalker. Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman also employed AI for de-aging actors.

During the pandemic, technology indeed helped us to streamline pre-production processes and patch post-production gaps. Today, AI is mandatory for pre-production as it significantly reduces time while generating shot lists and storyboards, etc. It allows us to visualize scenes, automate tasks like colour grading and enhance visual effects (VFX) to a stunning level. This also enables independent filmmakers with limited budgets to have easy access to tools and techniques once reserved for big-budget productions.

A case in point is the Oscar-winning animated film Flow (2024), which used the open-source 3D software Blender to speed up production and compete with major studio productions. AI is additionally helping makers with data-driven audience insights. This I hope will not become the final criterion to tailor films and shut out stories that don’t conform to any saleable, market ‘trend’. We cannot afford to let AI homogenise content that can be varied, disruptive and inspired instead.

AI is poised to alter screenwriting in unimaginable ways as well with the advent of Chat GPT, which can brainstorm ideas, develop character outlines, identify plot holes, and even generate first drafts. I would, however, draw the line at replacing human writing because then we will effectively delete the warmth of lived experience from films. As more and more young people get drawn to AI driven filmmaking, I would also advise them to also read books on cinema, watch classic films from around the world and observe life with an untutored eye. Organic inspiration comes from life and AI can only mimic it, not replace it.

In the future, we may increasingly see personalised content, interactive storytelling, hyper-immersive experiences and dynamic content including e-sports and gaming. Events like Coachella that blend live energy with streaming and online engagement for virtual viewers will also become normative.

We are also seeing OTT dominance over the entertainment space and the emergence of hybrid monetisation models. While OTT platforms have fundamentally changed how stories are financed and consumed, theatrical releases will continue to be popular. Cinema has a certain cadence that has stood the test of time and it can be refined and augmented but if we tamper with its emotional resonance, we will be the worse for it. Originality must remain the bedrock of art and creativity. An excessive dependence on AI can trap us into an infinite loop of derivation. The right balance between technology and creativity will help cinema to be both relevant and timeless.

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