Developing Stories in the Age of AI

I’ve spent my entire career in Hollywood, and at the core of everything I’ve ever done is a deep love for filmmaking. For me, it always starts with a great script. The script is sacred. No amount of technology can replace the act of writing, and while AI can be a helpful editor or collaborator in shaping ideas, the human imagination is still what gives a story its heart, structure, and meaning. The nuance of emotion, the lived experience, the truth behind a character are things only people can bring to life. Every great film still begins the same way it always has: a writer, sitting down to face the blank page, wrestling with story, character, theme, and structure until it finally clicks.

One of the great challenges in development is how difficult it can be to communicate the full vision of a film or series. In today’s environment, where getting a greenlight is harder than ever, clarity matters. Filmmakers, producers, and partners all need to understand the artist’s vision: what it feels like, what it looks like, and why it’s worth investing in. The more vividly that can be shared, the more likely the project will move forward.

That’s where Generative AI becomes powerful. At Promise, we use these tools to help filmmakers visualize their stories at the earliest stages. Starting from a logline, a character sketch, or a finished script, our team can quickly develop a concept trailer that captures tone, texture, and emotion.  Because iteration happens so quickly, development becomes more dynamic – a creative dialogue between words and images. The story and its visual identity evolve together, informing and elevating each other in ways that simply weren’t possible before.  You can ask sharper questions: Where does the story need to go? What works? What doesn’t? How should the art direction and production design evolve?

What comes back is remarkable. Suddenly, you can see the richness of the characters, the strengths and gaps in the story, and the complexity of the world you’re building. Artists can use this technology to explore their vision and align their creative team.  Just as advancements in editing and VFX tools have served to advance storytelling, I believe AI can do the same if used responsibly.  

The best films and series will always come through collaboration.  At Promise, we’re developing and co-producing projects alongside studios, producers, and filmmakers who share our belief that technology should enhance, not replace, the creative process. What drives us is the love of cinema, the respect for craft, and the belief that story remains at the center of everything we do. While the tools of filmmaking may evolve,  development at its core remains the same: working with talented writers to shape great stories and bring them to audiences around the world.

-- Tyler Mitchell, Head of Development, Promise