Two quick bits of AI generative video news that concerns me.
As a script writer for hire and UK script consultant, I like to stay busy (often juggling more than one scriptwriting commission at a time) the regular industry (TV and film in the UK and US) is where I make much of my bread butter commissions (often under the radar) but more and more the demand for scripted comedy or drama is coming from everywhere else BUT TV and FILM.
TV in the UK in particular is looking more and more like a graveyard with neither viewers or advertisers to be found, and the bulk of my commissions now comes from indie filmmakers who need help with a film script or a online video project – a lot of these commissions are ultimately set for release online, whether this is Amazon Prime or YouTube (which is now the world biggest broadcaster and dwarfs traditional TV).
A lot of writers are bemoaning the current state of things, but the crisis isn’t the fault of writers, it’s a basic change in audience habits. The audiences have gone online, and often into ‘The Long Tail’ where they find their tastes are better catered for. Scriptwriters, need to follow the audiences, and indeed there are probably more scriptwriter ‘jobs’ now than ever before. There’s more scripted video being shot today, than at any other time in history – and there’s work out there for skilled scriptwriters (it’s just no longer in broadcast TV, which is looking old and clunky).
Personally I specialise in writing drama and comedy, with a narrative – a story. And in story terms and one of the big advances in recent tech is the use of generative AI video – AI video – text to video and image to video – is rapidly changing the face of film and video production the world over.
I recently released the feature length horror movie H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth – the micro-budget horror film has gone down with a storm on YouTube, with 10,000 views in month or less, and lots of enthusiastic comments and fans appearing online to sing the praises of a film which was made with a budget of less than a £1,000 and shot mostly over a handful of days.
The film was made in conjunction with my production company Warehouse Transmedia, and one of the elements of post-production was the use of generative ai video – which was a fast and cheap way to add production value but also assist the best telling of the story (without the need to use expensive CGI).
Launch of new AI FILM STUDIO – GENERATIVE AI VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY
The use of generative AI video for the film, has convinced myself and some partners that Ai video, can be used to tell stories in a cost effective and efficient manner. This has led to myself and Warehouse Transmedia launching our own AI film and video studio – All our work going forward will harness new generative AI technology to make films, series and video content.
We intend to push the limits of new AI video technology as a storytelling tool.
Keep an eye on the Warehouse Transmedia blog for more info – we do have a slate of feature film projects and series projects that will begin production in 2025.
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire and UK script consultant for over 20 years. He’s written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award-winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and has been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer.
As a film director for hire he’s completed four innovate, low budget feature length horror movies including the recently acclaimed: H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth.
His latest feature film SOBER is near completion – a comedy starring Dean Smith (Last Tango in Halifax / Still Open All Hours) and Tom Gibbons (Funny Cow / The Archers) will be released in 2025.
You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb.