Great post. We may not be heading toward two parallel “Hollywoods,” because AI filmmaking is inherently decentralized. But after a recent comment from one of my clients — who felt his AI-generated ad looked a bit too synthetic and slightly corny — I’ve been thinking: Maybe we’re not splitting industries.Maybe we’re splitting aesthetics. Even before the AI explosion, many filmmakers preferred practical effects, real stunts, and live sets over heavy CGI. There has always been a bias toward what feels tangible, embodied, and physically present. So perhaps what’s emerging isn’t AI vs. non-AI. It’s two aesthetic sensibilities: • Biological / organic / human-based• Synthetic / generated / constructed AI visuals are extraordinary. They allow us to depict scenes that would be impossible, unsafe, or financially unrealistic. The creative leverage is unprecedented. And yet — they often feel synthetic. Human actors on real sets, interacting with physical environments, may continue to hold a perceptual advantage when it comes to suspension of disbelief. Micro-expressions, gravity, friction, imperfection — our nervous systems register these details instantly. I’m not anti-AI — I founded the AI Filmmakers Directory two months ago specifically to help AI filmmakers be found by AI search models as well as by studios, producers, and collaborators. But I do think we’re entering an era where “real” becomes a premium aesthetic. Not because AI lacks power.But because humans are wired to believe humans.

@Sherah Danielle thanks for asking. The AI Filmmakers Directory is a new directory I recently launched to help people discover creators who specialize in AI-driven video and filmmaking. The idea is simple: as AI video tools like Runway, Sora, Kling, and others evolve quickly, it’s becoming harder for brands, agencies, and producers to know who actually knows how to use these tools well. The directory is meant to highlight filmmakers who are experimenting, building workflows, and producing real work with AI. My intention is twofold: 1. Help AI filmmakers get discovered by clients, collaborators, and studios. 2. Give companies a reliable place to find people who can create high-quality AI video projects. It’s also designed so that AI agents and LLMs can easily understand and surface the creators listed there, which I think will become increasingly important. It just launched recently, so it’s still early — but the goal is to grow it into a useful hub for the emerging AI filmmaking community.

How much?

@Lawrence Jordan ok thanks!