Martin Scorsese is collaborating with the AI company Black Forest Labs, where he will serve as a consultant in the research lab.
The Oscar winner said in a statement issued Tuesday that he uses the company's FLUX technology to help create storyboards.
"For 70 years, I've been creating my own storyboards. There's always been this problem of how to convey what you see in your mind to your cast and crew. There are some things you need to see and feel. I'm interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling, and I see how this can push the boundaries of creativity to create a deeper and richer audience experience," Scorsese said. "Remember, cinema is a new medium, only 125 years old, so we have to be open to how it can evolve."
He continued, "I used 3D with Hugo and de-aging technology for The Irishman. Now, with this tool, I can share what I envision more clearly and effectively with my creative team — the production designer, art director, and cinematographer — so they can enrich the cinematic intelligence. I recently tested it on a scene, and the ability to visualize and immediately share the storyboard was creatively liberating. In pre-production, time costs money, and this allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship."
In partnership with Black Forest Labs, the company also released a video of Scorsese using the AI platform to assist in the storyboarding process. He said, "If you have a tool like this, you could figure it out much faster, and you could save production time and also reduce wear and tear on the crew."
With his new role as a consultant to Black Forest Labs, Scorsese becomes one of the most prolific Hollywood directors to express support for AI. Avatar director James Cameron joined the board of Stability AI last September, while on the other hand, Guillermo del Toro told The Hollywood Reporter in October, when asked about his thoughts on AI infiltrating creative spaces, "I don't think anyone wants that."
"It would be like spitting on God," del Toro added when asked how he would feel if someone on his team suggested using AI to create something from scratch.
