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“I don’t want to use AI to replace artists, I want to use AI to create content,” said Lee Sangwook, Head of the AI Content Lab at MBC C&I, during an AI-focused panel at Filmart in Hong Kong this afternoon.
Sangwook was joined on the panel by Yuhang Cheng, COO at Midjourney China Lab; Fu Binxing, CEO of China Huace Film & TV; Ricky Lau, AI Specialist Lead at Google Hong Kong; and Yunan Zhang, Vice President at MiniMax.
The panel was one of many AI-focused sessions at this year’s Filmart, where the disruptive technology is a major topic. However, the panelists focused less on the challenges AI might pose and more on the benefits it offers to artists.
Yuhang Cheng addressed the audience in Hong Kong, stating that the “fear” surrounding AI stems from the “uncertainty of creation.” She explained that creation is “the total package of emotions of an artist, which cannot be replaced by AI.”
“AI can only visualize the graphics that artists have in their minds. What we want to do is use AI to visualize and allow artists to spend more time thinking, designing, and improving AI’s work,” Yuhang said, adding that advancements in AI technology could usher in a new era of artistic empowerment.
“Tasks that once took weeks can now be completed in hours thanks to AI,” she added.
“Previously, if you had an idea, you needed actors to bring it to life, but now machines can visualize your concept immediately.”
Alongside the AI panels, Filmart is showcasing a variety of AI-generated content this year. Notably, MBC C&I launched Raphael, an entirely AI-generated 80-minute feature film, as part of its market slate. The film was produced using a combination of AI tools, including those from Midjourney and ElevenLabs.
Ricky Lau emphasized to the audience that a hybrid approach to AI tools will underpin future AI-generated productions and encouraged filmmakers to become proficient with a broad range of AI technologies.
“I don’t think only one or two models can handle everything. Many production houses are mixing technologies. Filmmakers will need to learn many different tools,” he said. “There are so many AI tools available today. The most important thing is to unlearn past experiences and adapt to new ways of working.”
When asked about how AI might shape film production in the near future, the panelists expressed optimism.
“In the next three to five years, everything will become more democratic,” Fu Binxing concluded, “so even an elementary student will be able to use AI to create a good piece of work.”
Filmart concludes on March 20.
