In my first blog post, I refreshed my knowledge about the difference between a treatment and a script and how these are powerful and necessary tools for directors. Now, I want to dive deeper into how AI can enhance this process and other pre-production tasks, making workflows more efficient while preserving creative intent.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative industries has sparked both excitement and concern. While some worry that AI might interfere with artistic decision-making, others recognize its potential to streamline production and help directors shape their vision faster and more effectively. In video production, AI can be a valuable tool in the treatment and scripting process, assisting directors without altering their original ideas. It can help by optimizing workflows, improving collaboration, and simplifying pre-production planning.
AI’s Role in the Treatment Process
As we already know, a treatment is the director’s first opportunity to present their vision to clients, producers, and creative teams and AI can assist in multiple ways:
1. Generating Mood Boards and Visual References
AI-powered platforms like Runway ML and MidJourney can generate images that align with the director’s vision. AI can suggest visual references that match the tone, color scheme, and aesthetics of the project, saving directors time searching for reference materials manually. However, some directors prefer tools like Frame Set or Shotdeck, which provide libraries of real film frames rather than AI-generated images, ensuring a more authentic and cinematic look.
2. Enhancing Concept Development
AI tools like ChatGPT can help structure a director’s ideas into a clear and engaging treatment. While the creative idea remains intact, AI can refine phrasing, eliminate redundancies, and improve overall flow. AI-driven insights can also suggest areas that may need more detail, making the treatment more cohesive and professional.
3. Speeding Up Formatting and Organization
Many directors, myself included, struggle with translating creative thoughts into structured documents. AI text generators can format treatments according to industry standards, ensuring consistency and clarity. They also assist with grammar, readability, and tone, reducing the time spent on revisions. But AI can do more than just refine phrasing—it can also help producers streamline the pre-production process. One of the most exciting areas where AI is making an impact is storyboarding.
Storyboarding with AI
During my research, I came across Previs Pro, an AI tool that allows directors to create rough animated sequences to visualize camera movements and scene pacing before production begins. Instead of manually sketching or hiring a storyboard artist, directors can input their script, and AI generates rough animatics that help visualize the flow of a scene.
Other tools like Boords and Storyboard That use text-to-sketch technology, enabling directors to generate quick storyboards without modeling 3D environments. This is a major advantage, as it allows for rapid iteration, making it faster to refine visual storytelling before production.
AI as a Collaborative Tool, Not a Replacement
The key to integrating AI into the treatment process is to use it as a collaborator rather than a replacement for human creativity. AI does not generate original artistic vision—it enhances workflows, eliminates repetitive tasks, and refines ideas that already exist. Directors remain the ultimate decision-makers, ensuring that the final product aligns with their creative intent.
Conclusion
AI is transforming the way directors approach the treatment and scripting phases of commercial video production. From generating visual references and formatting treatments to refining dialogue, automating shot lists, and assisting in pre-production logistics, AI offers practical tools that support—but do not override—the director’s creative vision. By leveraging AI effectively, directors can focus more on storytelling and artistic expression while benefiting from a more efficient and optimized pre-production process.
References
- Field, S. (2005). Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. Dell Publishing.
- Trottier, D. (2014). The Screenwriter’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script. Silman-James Press.
- Rabiger, M. & Hurbis-Cherrier, M. (2020). Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics (6th ed.). Routledge.
- Katz, S. D. (2019). Film Directing Shot by Shot: Visualizing from Concept to Screen. Michael Wiese Productions.
- McKee, R. (1997). Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting. HarperCollins.
- Runway ML. (2023). AI-Powered Creative Tools. Retrieved from https://runwayml.com
- Final Draft. (2023). AI Story Mapping in Screenwriting. Retrieved from https://www.finaldraft.com
- Boords. (2023). Storyboard Software for Filmmakers. Retrieved from https://boords.com
CHATGPT 4.0 was used as grammar and spellchecking-tool
