As generative artificial intelligence continues to make strides in the entertainment industry, Hollywood is evaluating the potential of incorporating this technology into the filmmaking process. OpenAI’s Sora, unveiled in February, has particularly captured the town’s interest with its capability to create hyperrealistic clips in response to a brief text prompt. Recently, the Sam Altman-led firm released a series of videos from beta testers providing feedback to enhance the technology. The Hollywood Reporter had the opportunity to speak with some of these Sora testers to gain insights into its capabilities and limitations.

Shy Kids, a Toronto-based production company, comprised of Walter Woodman, Sidney Leeder, and Patrick Cederberg, who have previously collaborated on projects with HBO, Disney, and Netflix, including feature films such as Blackberry, Therapy Dogs, and Nerve, had access to Sora. With this tool, the trio created ‘Air Head,’ a surreal short film depicting a man with a balloon for a head.

Woodman views Sora as an additional tool in his creative arsenal, akin to Adobe After Effects or Premiere. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the role of storytellers, cautioning against undervaluing the essence of a story. While acknowledging the undeniable potential of Sora, Cederberg finds the prospect of bringing a vision to life more efficiently and circumventing industry barriers particularly exciting. Leeder highlights the potential of AI to democratize the film industry.

However, the widespread adoption of AI tools in filmmaking hinges on the resolution of novel legal issues raised by the technology. Concerns about potential court rulings affecting the deployment of AI in the industry remain a significant consideration.