Sasha Vybz to creatives: Don't fear AI-use it to make better work, faster
For many filmmakers and content creators, AI feels like a countdown clock. Ugandan videographer Sasha Vybz sees it differently: it's a lever. His take at the Guinness Smooth Creators Lab was simple-AI won't replace taste, story, or culture. It will make starting easier and execution cheaper.
Speaking at Nomad Bar and Grill during a masterclass under Guinness Smooth's "Make It Yours" initiative, he urged filmmakers, photographers, and digital storytellers to treat AI as a creative multiplier. The program brings young Ugandan talent together across fashion, music, art, and content to test new ideas and share what works. "We want to inspire the next generation of creatives to push boundaries and shape the future of Uganda's creative industry," said Denise Paula Nazzinda, Guinness Smooth brand manager.
From fear to advantage
"Most creatives are afraid of AI and what it could mean for creativity," Vybz said. "But this shouldn't scare us." He framed the moment like the arrival of the camera: photographers disrupted portrait artists, yet hand-drawn work became more valuable, not less.
The lesson: tools shift the baseline. Taste, originality, and cultural context still decide who wins.
The demo that lit up the room
Vybz screened a dramatic fight sequence-Brad Pitt versus Tom Cruise-then dropped the twist: "What if I told you this entire scene is AI?" The clip, he explained, was generated with Seedance 2.0 by ByteDance using a short two-line prompt.
That example fueled the core worry. If a prompt can spin up a convincing action scene, do producers still need actors, choreographers, stylists, or full crews? Vybz didn't deny the pressure. He pointed out the upside: more people can start, experiment, and iterate without waiting on budget, permits, or big gear.
Make constraints your cheat code
Permits in Kampala can exceed actual production budgets. That's a dead end for many shoots. With AI, he argued, you can prototype the scene, pre-visualize complex shots, or create establishing visuals-"recreating Kampala's aerial view with a click"-then decide what truly needs to be captured on location.
He reminded the room he shot Sheebah Karungi's "Nakyuka" during lockdown on an iPhone. Movement was restricted. The work still shipped. "You don't need big cameras to start."
Beyond production: pitch smarter
AI also speeds up writing and pitching. Instead of text-only proposals, creatives can build visual pitches that help decision-makers at platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, or Disney+ actually see the concept. What once took teams and rentals can now be roughed out by a small unit in days.
What AI can't fake
Authenticity still leads. Vybz spoke about aerial shots he's captured in Karamoja-textures, light, and feeling that generic models miss. AI can replicate style and structure; it still struggles with lived experience.
"AI can replicate things quickly, but it cannot beat a unique storyline," he said. That's the moat: uncommon perspective, local detail, and emotional truth.
Use it right, or it will use you
He cautioned against misuse. Some Ugandan songs-Azawi's "Masavu," AaronX's "Njalwala," and Uga Boys' "Namulabako"-have been cloned with AI. Many of these uploads fail to monetize as platforms add detection and tighten policies around synthetic content and rights.
The takeaway: don't gamble with your reputation. Get consent, credit source material, and keep your workflow above board.
A practical playbook for creatives
- Prototype first: rough your scene with text-to-video tools, then decide what needs real capture. If you're exploring script-to-scene workflows, see Text-To-Video.
- Keep the core human: your taste, story, casting, and pacing. Let AI handle drafts, boards, style frames, and animatics.
- Work with constraints: phone camera + natural light + one mic + AI post. Small, fast, repeatable beats big, slow, perfect.
- Pitch with visuals: build a 30-60 second mood cut or scene sample to show tone, movement, and stakes.
- Audit rights: if a voice, face, or song isn't yours, get written permission. Label synthetic elements where required.
- Keep a human pass: dialogue, pacing, and micro-emotion need your eye. Do a final cut without the tool's "gloss."
- Build in public: share WIPs, collect feedback, iterate weekly. Volume compounds faster than perfection.
The point of the tool is the point of view
AI lowers the cost of execution. It doesn't give you a voice. The work stands out when it carries specific detail-neighborhood slang, regional music cues, textures from places you've actually walked.
Vybz's stance is clear: AI is here to stay. It won't take jobs; it will change how we work. Those who learn it, then layer on taste and culture, will take the lead.
The Creators Lab night wrapped with energy sets from City Gal, Melvin DJ, and Adele Kiele-fitting for a session about momentum. Start small. Ship often. Let the tool handle the heavy lifting while you handle the meaning.
Your membership also unlocks:
