EFOC 2025: Hollywood House - A.I. In Action: The Next Era Of Jobs In Film
At the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, the panel A.I. in Action: The Next Era of Jobs in Film gathered filmmakers, tech innovators, and cultural leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence is changing Hollywood from the inside out.
Emmy-nominated director and futurist Noel Braham and creative executive and tech thought leader Shavone Charles led the conversation. They broke down how AI is influencing every part of the film industry—from screenwriting and casting to post-production and marketing—and stressed why Black creatives must lead this shift.
AI as a Creative Collaborator
Rather than seeing AI as a threat, Braham and Charles highlighted its role as a tool for growth, accessibility, and enhancing creativity. Braham said, “The goal is to supplement your creativity,” urging filmmakers to treat AI as a collaborator in storytelling rather than a shortcut.
Charles emphasized the need for digital skills and deeper knowledge of AI, especially for communities that have been historically excluded. “We have to be inside the brain of AI,” she said. “Not just consuming it—but understanding how it works, including the terms and conditions and how these platforms use our data.”
She added, “If Black people put our phones down, these companies wouldn’t know what to do. These companies market us back to us.”
Tools for Black Creatives
Braham and Charles pointed out alternative AI platforms beyond OpenAI and ChatGPT that Black creatives can use to build systems and automations. These tools can streamline workflows and help creatives move faster and further in their work.
The panel served as both an analysis and a call to action: the future of film will be shaped not just by AI algorithms but by the visionaries who understand how to use them effectively. As new roles appear and workflows shift, Black creatives must be empowered to innovate and redefine what’s possible in an AI-driven Hollywood.
Resources to Get Started
- Explore AI courses by job to find training that fits your creative career.
- Discover practical AI tools and workflows at Complete AI Training’s AI Tools page.
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