Black Storytellers Turn AI into a Creative Partner at Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival

Black Storytellers Use AI as a Creative Partner at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival

Artificial intelligence is changing how creatives ideate, execute, and ship work. Tasks that once demanded days-like early logo drafts-now take minutes with the right prompts and a clear brief.

ChatGPT, launched in 2022, has become a go-to companion for brainstorming, research, and first-draft creation. It's also the fastest-growing consumer app in history, according to Reuters.

At the 23rd annual Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival, a panel featuring Will "King Willonius" Hatcher, Lindsay Peoples, Aaliyah Williams, and Mike Muse-moderated by EBONY's Cori Murray-showed how Black creators are using AI to turn ideas into finished work with less friction. "AI is in our lives. It's not writing our stories, but it is helping. And I can see that it is truly a creative partner," said Murray.

How top creatives are using AI day-to-day

Mike Muse uses ChatGPT to scan data, trends, and context so on-air prep takes hours less than before. The key caveat: "It can't do the conversation for me on television. You have to be smart to interpret the data-and you have to check the data you've been given."

Lindsay Peoples leans on AI to synthesize long, complex documents, quickly surfacing what matters. Aaliyah Williams uses it to draft recommendation letters and review scripts-freeing time for life and relationships. "I call my ChatGPT 'Lumie.' I shaped it in my voice and how I write notes to my creative partners," she said.

From idea to screen: lower barriers, bigger bets

Will "King Willonius" Hatcher, the creator behind the viral "BBL Drizzy," credits AI for his Hollywood breakthrough. He began by building AI trailers from his scripts and is now developing a narrative dome experience for planetariums-an idea he says AI made feasible. "It allows you to dream bigger and figure out ways to execute."

Muse emphasized that AI is reducing financial barriers to entry. With the right tools, new storytellers can write scripts and produce content without studio budgets or access. He urged the industry to adapt, partner, and upskill so working professionals aren't left behind.

Practical ways creatives can use AI this week

• Condense research: summarize long reports, legal docs, and transcripts into bullet points and key takeaways.
• Build a writing partner: instruct a custom "voice" to match your tone for notes, treatments, or letters.
• Speed up prep: generate interview frameworks, talking points, and historical context with sources to verify.
• Script and story support: outline beats, character arcs, loglines, and alternative endings to stress-test ideas.
• Pitch faster: draft decks, coverage, and one-pagers, then refine with your own voice and visuals.
• Rough-cut creativity: explore trailer scripts, mood references, and dome or immersive narrative concepts.

Keep your edge: simple guardrails

• Fact-check everything. Treat outputs as a draft, not a source of record.
• Add your context. The insight is yours-AI helps organize and accelerate, not replace your judgment.
• Protect your voice. Use AI to expand options, then rewrite so the final read sounds like you.

A call to Black creators: learn the tools, keep the authorship

The panelists were clear: invest time to learn AI or risk missing the next wave of opportunity. "We have to lean in and start utilizing these tools," said Hatcher, who believes the AI film space will see major innovation heading into 2026.

Use AI to work faster, pitch bolder, and keep full creative control. The craft still wins-these tools just remove the busywork.

Where to build your AI skill stack

If you want structured paths to level up your workflow as a creative, explore curated options by job at Complete AI Training.