Can AI Put Viewers in the Director’s Chair?
What if you could step inside your favourite movie, replace the lead actor and experience the story firsthand? While this may sound like a child’s dream, can it actually become a reality? “I think it’s definitely possible,” said director and actor MG Srinivas in an exclusive interaction with AIM. With the evolution of virtual reality (VR) games, interactive experiences have advanced significantly. Srinivas recalls an early encounter with this technology: “I remember experiencing something similar about seven years ago at a tech exhibition. I watched a 15-minute virtual reality short film where the narrative changed based on the viewer’s choices.” He explained that if the viewer turned right, the story followed one path; if they turned left, it took another. Yet, despite the divergence, both routes led to the same ultimate conclusion—a love story. “This was six or seven years ago, and technology has evolved since. Cinema is moving beyond passive storytelling. In the near future, we might see experiences beyond 3D, 4D, or 5D—perhaps an entirely interactive medium where viewers influence the film in real time,” he predicted. Such innovations come with their own challenges, but the potential is immense. Democratising Filmmaking Through Technology For Srinivas, filmmaking should be accessible to everyone. Many aspire to be filmmakers, but until recently, breaking into the industry required traditional apprenticeships and insider connections. However, technology has changed the game. “The film industry, especially screenwriting and direction, used to be a closed space. If you go back 20 years, it was all about whom you knew. But when I started filmmaking, I learned everything online. I never assisted any director. Everything I know, I learned from Google, YouTube, and filmmaking tutorials. It was all about learning, experimenting, failing, and improving,” he shared. Today, technology has made knowledge widely accessible. Anyone with passion and dedication can learn filmmaking through online resources. The barriers have been lowered, but success still depends on perseverance and creativity. The Kannada film industry, like its counterparts across India, is increasingly embracing technology. While some filmmakers are quick to experiment with emerging tools, others take longer to adapt. “But things are changing. For example, music director Arjun Janya, making his directorial debut with 45, has teamed up with the renowned Toronto-based VFX Studio company MARZ for his project. “Major international VFX companies, like MPC, which has worked on Hollywood films, are now contributing to Kannada cinema. The industry is steadily incorporating technology. The key is to create greater awareness about how these tools can enhance filmmaking,” he said. Does a Film’s Success Depend on Content or Technology? No filmmaker can predict a movie’s success. History has shown that even exceptional films can fail at the box office, while average ones become blockbusters. Critical acclaim and commercial performance don’t always align, making film success an unpredictable equation. “The only thing we control is our dedication to making a great film. Strong content is essential, but once the movie is released, numerous factors come into play—distribution, audience reception, competition, timing, and even external elements like the weather. At that point, so much is beyond a filmmaker’s control,” Srinivas said. Audience behaviour has also shifted. Gone are the days when moviegoers would rush to theatres for every interesting release. With the rise of OTT platforms, their choices are more calculated. “Watching films is like eating food—when you’re hungry, you eat eagerly. But if you’ve already had two plates of chitranna (lemon rice), even the best biryani from a five-star hotel won’t tempt you. Similarly, if someone has already watched two or three films in a month, they might skip even a great movie, thinking, ‘I’ll watch it on OTT later’,” the actor explained. There’s also the challenge of reduced attention spans. Social media has conditioned people to consume content in bite-sized chunks. Keeping an audience engaged for three hours in a theatre is harder than ever. Yet, great storytelling transcends these barriers. “If a film is engaging and well-executed, people will watch it, no matter the length. We’ve seen three-hour-long movies like Animal and 3 Idiots keep audiences hooked because they were entertaining. But if a film fails to engage, people will walk out or switch it off within 15 minutes,” he explained. The Role of AI in the Future of Filmmaking As AI advances, it is gradually making its way into the film industry. While no one has yet created a full-length feature film using AI alone, experiments with short films are already underway. One such example is The Frost, lauded as the world’s first AI-generated film. This 12-minute film employs DALL-E 2, an image-generating AI, to bring its script to life, complemented by D-ID’s animation of static visuals. “Everything starts small. I began my career making short films, and AI-generated content could follow a similar path. We can start by creating one- or two-minute AI-generated films and then gradually extend to 10-15 minutes. It may take time, but it is definitely possible,” Srinivas concluded. As technology continues to evolve, so too will the art of storytelling. The future of cinema may be more immersive, interactive, and unpredictable than ever before.
“I think that’s definitely possible,” says director and actor MG Srinivas.
History has shown that even exceptional films can fail at the box office, while average ones become blockbusters.
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Vidyashree is enthusiastic about investigative journalism. Now trying to explore how AI solves for all.