Episode 05: Erik Weaver

AI in Hollywood: Generative filmmaking and the future of storytelling

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In this episode of The Data Movement, host Paul Langston talks with Erik Weaver, principal of AI and Emergent Media at USC's Entertainment Technology Center, about how AI is being integrated into filmmaking and what it could mean for the future of media production.

At the centre of the conversation is The Bends, an experimental short film produced using generative AI workflows. Rather than relying solely on prompts, the project combined traditional filmmaking practices — storyboarding, shot planning and creative review — with AI-powered tools.

For Weaver, AI's greatest potential is expanding what's possible in filmmaking. By helping teams tackle scenes that were once too costly, complex or time-consuming, these tools can extend the creative ambition and human expertise behind great storytelling.

As workflows evolve, they also introduce operational challenges. AI-assisted productions generate more versions of shots, assets and supporting files, increasing the need for storage, metadata management and systems that keep content organised and accessible throughout the production lifecycle. Generative work containing actors can’t be done with public models, and the data must be deleted when production ends, making private infrastructure mission critical.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How filmmakers are creating new workflows centred around generative AI
• How Erik and his collaborators combined AI with conventional methods to produce The Bends, an experimental short film
• Why human expertise is still central to AI-powered production
• How AI-driven production influences requirements for data storage and private infrastructure
• Why metadata, governance and content management are becoming increasingly important in media production
• What digital actor doubles could mean for the future of film and actor licensing
• How creators can prepare for the next wave of AI innovation

For Weaver, his most important principle remains unchanged: technology exists to serve great storytelling.
 

Erik Weaver

Principal of AI and Emergent Media | Entertainment Technology Center — USC