Renowned director Martin Scorsese has taken on a role as an advisor and partner with Black Forest Labs, a German company specializing in AI technology for creating visual content from written descriptions. Scorsese, famous for films like Taxi Driver (1976) and Goodfellas (1990), revealed that he utilized the company’s AI tools to plan out scenes prior to filming on a new project. This method, known as storyboarding, has been an integral part of his creative process for many years.
The filmmaker shared with The New York Times that the innovative software allowed him to effectively communicate his vision to collaborators, including the director of photography and production designer. This technology not only saved valuable time during the crucial pre-production phase but also maintained the high standard of craftsmanship without cutting corners.
It is important to note that Scorsese’s involvement is focused on preproduction tasks and does not extend to creating final footage, as clarified in the report by The New York Times. Black Forest Labs, established in 2024 by Robin Rombach, confirmed Scorsese’s partnership and advisory role dating back to the previous year. Rombach emphasized that having such a respected filmmaker on board underscored the practicality and potential of their technology.
The film industry’s stance on generative AI has been evolving, with a more receptive attitude emerging. During the industry strikes in 2023, restrictions on AI were a key demand from over 170,000 workers who walked off sets. At that time, many studios viewed AI technology negatively. However, the narrative has shifted, with influential figures discussing ways to integrate AI into filmmaking. Demi Moore advocated for embracing AI at the Cannes Film Festival, while the Tribeca Film Festival, co-founded by Robert De Niro, announced plans to showcase a movie entirely created with AI. Amazon MGM Studios has also introduced various AI-generated children’s programs.
Despite the growing acceptance of AI in the industry, there are dissenting voices. Seth Rogen and Guillermo del Toro criticized the technology at Cannes recently, and the Amazon children’s shows faced backlash, resulting in the withdrawal of one of the contributors. Scorsese chose not to provide an interview for The New York Times article, emphasizing that his involvement is limited to the planning phase of filmmaking.
The collaboration between Scorsese and Black Forest Labs was facilitated through BroadLight Capital, an investment firm co-founded by Scorsese’s manager, Rick Yorn. Michael Ovitz, the former head of a talent agency, is also a supporter of the startup and featured in a short film celebrating the partnership.
