People Inside the Truesdell Brothers' Human-First Approach to AI Filmmaking
09/07/2025
Stept Studios Production Company
Los Angeles, USA
Will and Tim Truesdell, the directing duo known for emotionally charged and visually inventive work, recently shared insights on their approach to integrating AI in filmmaking. For them, AI is not a shortcut but a precise tool to support their vision, not replace it.
Human Intent Drives Creative Output
The Truesdell Brothers emphasize that AI must always be guided by human creativity. “AI can be a powerful tool that lets us dream bigger and take bolder creative swings,” they say, “but it should never make most of the creative decisions.” Filmmaking remains a unique storytelling medium because of human intention, and they firmly keep control over the process.
AI as a Creative Multiplier
They compare AI to a style transfer or render engine. By inputting performance, style, and camera movement, AI helps translate creative ideas into visual results faster. This is especially valuable in the final phases of VFX, which are often costly and time-consuming. Using AI with precision allows them to reach 100% completion more efficiently, without sacrificing quality.
Case Study: Allen Iverson x AI Face Realism
- Concept: Create a high-impact spec spot where Allen Iverson crosses up a robot using his legendary crossover, set in a cinematic world.
- Challenge: The spot was fully CGI, without access to Iverson himself, and the team had to overcome the uncanny valley effect.
- Solution: They built a photoreal metahuman of Iverson and animated his signature move using AI. While body and clothing animation felt right, the face remained uncanny. To fix this, they trained a deepfake model on 100 images of Iverson, mapping a lifelike face onto the CG character. The result blended performance, animation, and emotion into a believable spot.
The Homework Phase Is a Superpower
Preproduction is key for the brothers. Using Unreal Engine and AI previs tools, they create versions of their spots before the shoot. “We usually come to set with an edit already done,” they explain. This approach leaves room to pivot on set while starting from a solid base. It’s reshaped their role from just visual storytellers to creative strategists. Learning these technical tools makes them better at crafting stories.
Case Study: Oakley x AI Previs
- Concept: Combine a brutalist, futuristic sci-fi world with Oakley’s motorsports legacy and the flow state of motocross in one dynamic film.
- Challenge: Achieve all this in a single shoot day.
- Solution: To reduce uncertainty, the brothers created 3D versions of virtual and real sets using AI. This powered a full animatic/previs that acted as a rough cut before filming. It guided the shot list, schedule, and how the actor interacted with virtual environments. Post-production challenges were resolved during preproduction. The final campaign hit every creative and technical target, on time and budget.
Ethics, Ownership, and Intent
The Truesdell Brothers are conscious of AI's ethical concerns. They stand against filmmaking that replaces people without consent or fair compensation. “AI must support the story, not tell it,” they stress. A promising approach they’re exploring is partnering with artists who own their IP to train custom AI models. This enriches the work while respecting ethical boundaries.
Human First. Always.
Looking ahead, the brothers see AI as a tool that expands and redefines the director’s role. AI is part of a larger toolkit, but heart, vision, and collaboration remain the foundation. “We’re not here to let the computer make decisions. We use it to make our decisions go further.”
For creatives interested in how AI can be integrated thoughtfully into filmmaking and other creative fields, exploring courses on latest AI tools and techniques can offer practical knowledge and skills.
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