Film veterans put success in focus at Beijing festival

Evolution in technology

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, its potential to impact and transform the film industry became a major discussion topic at the festival.

Director Jia believes that AI will soon bring sweeping changes to human thought, lifestyles, and possibly, entire civilizations.

"The film industry was born out of technological evolution," he says. "Few insiders are immune to the changes AI is bringing. However, the content generated by AI relies on existing data, such as photos or videos found online. Even so-called 'new' images are merely rearranged elements of what's already available, which means AI-generated content often lacks true creativity and innovation."

Nevertheless, Jia maintains an open attitude: "AI technology is still evolving; it's unformed and immature. Instead of rejecting or overhyping it, we should explore its potential and learn how to make the best use of it in everyday life and filmmaking."

For most seasoned professionals in the industry, AI has introduced conveniences that could potentially redefine the rules of filmmaking.

Describing AI's research capability as a "super library", Yu Baimei, an established scriptwriter-director known for the sports film Ping Pong: The Triumph, explains how it greatly reduces the time needed during the initial scriptwriting phase, especially when gathering archival materials.

"You can think of AI as a superhuman entity that holds nearly all of humanity's accumulated knowledge, spanning literature, mathematics, law, and more. Right now, it serves as an excellent assistant but within five to 10 years, it could evolve into something far beyond just a tool," says Yu.

Zhang Ke, a veteran scriptwriter known for blockbusters like The Volunteers franchise, believes young writers should approach AI with caution. He advises them to verify historical and military information using multiple sources rather than relying solely on AI.

"If a young person's goal is to become one of the best scriptwriters in China, it's better not to rely on AI. Instead, read, travel to different places, spend time dreaming, or even go through inner struggles," he suggests.

Sharing that he recently focused on reviewing some great works, Zhang says that the most compelling lines are born from raw, irrational emotions that flow directly from the creator's heart. "That's something AI can never create," he adds.