Film Schools Integrate AI into Curricula
Top U.S. film schools are incorporating AI courses to equip students with the skills to use new tools creatively and ethically.
Top film schools in the U.S. are incorporating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into their curricula, reflecting a cautious yet inevitable embrace of the technology. Schools like USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and Loyola Marymount University are introducing courses that blend traditional filmmaking techniques with AI, aiming to equip students with the skills to use these tools creatively and ethically.
USC, for instance, is investing $10 million in an AI institute to foster collaboration across film, journalism, and other disciplines. Meanwhile, Chapman University’s Dodge Film School offered an experimental course titled "AI: Pioneering the Future of Entertainment," which was not a formal elective but an initiative to familiarize students with AI without instilling fear of the new technology.
The approach to teaching AI in film schools is nuanced. Professors emphasize that incorporating AI into education does not equate to endorsing it wholesale. Holly Willis, a professor at USC, articulates this distinction sharply, asserting the importance of guiding students to think critically about the ethical implications of AI, such as data privacy and the origins of digital content.
Film schools are not only teaching the technical use of AI tools but are also exploring how these tools can enhance storytelling. Courses are designed to allow students to experiment with AI in various aspects of filmmaking, from screenwriting and directing to post-production. For example, Loyola Marymount’s upcoming course on screenwriting and producing with AI will encourage students to develop ideas independently of technology and then use AI to refine and expand their projects.
Despite the integration of AI into their programs, some faculty members remain skeptical, cautious of how it might impact the creative process. Concerns about AI leading to plagiarism or diminishing the craft of storytelling are prevalent. Yet, as AI technology becomes more accessible and advanced, the consensus among educators is shifting toward a proactive engagement with the technology, preparing students to navigate a digital future while still valuing the foundational aspects of filmmaking. As Ed Collins, a Chapman professor of an advertising course dedicated to AI storytelling, tells his students, “don’t be naive” about AI.
This trend reflects a broader recognition of AI’s role in the future of storytelling and content creation, but also the acknowledgement that while AI can offer new tools and efficiencies, it cannot replace the human insight, creativity, and critical thinking that are central to filmmaking.