AI Film School Equips Future Hollywood Filmmakers

Curious Refuge, which launched in May 2023, has quickly established itself as a prominent training ground for Hollywood professionals eager to adapt as generative technology transforms production processes. This shift has sparked new career opportunities, even as some industry insiders express concerns about job security in the face of AI advancements.

Credit: Curious Refuge

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding AI, many in Hollywood remain cautious. Critics highlight the emergence of AI-generated figures, such as actress Tilly Norwood, who was condemned by the SAG-AFTRA actors' union for potentially replacing human performers with synthetic alternatives.

Curious Refuge has attracted around 10,000 students globally, with co-founders Caleb and Shelby Ward reporting that 95% of attendees are professionals from the entertainment or advertising sectors seeking to enhance their skills as AI becomes increasingly integrated into Hollywood. Others, like Petra Molnar, have transitioned from different careers, using AI to carve out new paths. Molnar, who previously worked as a dental hygienist in London, discovered her creative side during the COVID-19 pandemic. After enrolling in classes at Curious Refuge, she successfully pivoted to a career in advertising, creating promotional videos that gained significant exposure, including one showcased on the Nasdaq's massive LED screen in Times Square. "AI genuinely changed my life," she remarked.

Founded in 2020, Curious Refuge began offering courses in AI-assisted documentary and narrative filmmaking, as well as advertising, in early 2023. The academy now provides instruction in 11 languages across 170 countries. Other educational institutions, such as the Los Angeles Film School, are also incorporating AI into their curricula, offering online degrees in digital filmmaking. Curious Refuge's classes are pre-recorded and accessible behind a paywall, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Instructors hold weekly office hours to address queries, and the school hosts regular meet-ups, including events at the Cannes Film Festival and in major cities worldwide. The Discord platform has become a virtual hub for the Curious Refuge community, fostering collaboration and discussion.

The academy has also conducted AI training and workshops at various studios, although the founders have refrained from disclosing specific names due to non-disclosure agreements. Caleb Ward, CEO and co-founder, expressed the school's mission: "We love to step in and create a baseline of understanding for the entire studio. Here's what's possible with artificial intelligence. Here are the creative possibilities. Here are just different takeaways that you can get from utilising the technology."

A study commissioned by the Concept Art Association and the Animation Guild predicted that nearly 120,000 jobs in film, television, and animation could be consolidated, replaced, or eliminated due to generative AI by the end of the year. Some industry experts draw parallels between the rise of generative AI and the advent of YouTube, which opened doors for a new generation of storytellers. Chris Jacquemin, head of digital strategy for the WME talent agency, noted, "There will be some job loss and job displacement, but there will also be job creation and a generation of new storytellers that emerge, in part, because financial barriers are being reduced or they simply now have access to make things that were not otherwise even available to them."

Curious Refuge plays a vital role in training filmmakers and storytellers to leverage machine learning tools effectively. The AI entertainment studio Promise, backed by media veteran Peter Chernin's North Road studio and Andreessen Horowitz, acquired Curious Refuge last February. The school serves as a talent pipeline for Promise, which seeks artists, directors, and other creatives skilled in AI production techniques. Jamie Byrne, co-founder and President of Promise, acknowledged the competitive landscape, stating, "We realised that there would be other studios like ours -- but also, many of the traditional studios and distributors and production companies -- would be looking to hire the same talent."

Deepening the AI talent pool is crucial for accelerating Hollywood's adoption of this technology. Yves Bergquist, director of the project on AI and Neuroscience at USC's Entertainment Technology Center, described education as "the single biggest opportunity in AI right now," praising Curious Refuge's course offerings as "first-rate." For visual effects artist Eng, Curious Refuge has already opened new doors. "I immediately jumped into the tools and started getting work immediately," he shared, also teaching an AI filmmaking class at Studio Arts, a trade school in Los Angeles.

• Curious Refuge has attracted 10,000 students globally, primarily from the entertainment industry.

• AI is reshaping Hollywood, creating new career paths while raising concerns about job security.

• The academy offers courses in 11 languages and has become a global hub for AI filmmaking education.

• Industry experts predict significant job displacement due to generative AI, but also new opportunities for storytellers.