Post by : Badri Ariffin

The BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi recently featured an insightful discussion on the future of filmmaking, led by British actor Jared Harris. During his address on Wednesday at the ADNEC Centre, Harris voiced significant concerns regarding the unregulated use of generative AI, urging creators to prioritize authentic human narratives over algorithm-driven content.

Moderated by Patrick Caligiuri from the National Media Office, the panel titled “Opportunities and Challenges in the Global Picture Business” kicked off by exploring how films and series might evolve in the coming decade.

Harris was candid about the ethical dilemmas posed by AI within the creative sector, stating, “I am ideologically and philosophically opposed to generative AI, because unless you incorporate someone's work into it, it doesn’t generate anything of value. Essentially, it's plagiarism.” He expressed unease over the lack of definitive regulations in the field, calling the current situation “strange, as everyone rushes forward without any ethical guidelines in place.”

Notably, Harris referenced a moving segment from the summit showing individuals sharing tales around a campfire, emphasizing, “At the core, storytelling is what matters. If you have a story, start telling it... that’s the first step to translating it into visuals on a screen.”

The panel also assessed the evolving financial environment for film production, with Oscar-nominated producer Cindy Cowan noting potential avenues for independent filmmakers. “It’s increasingly tough to secure studio financing below $75 million, linked to intellectual properties, yet opportunities for independent productions are unparalleled right now,” she stated.

Jane Turton, CEO of All3Media, spoke on how technology, especially AI and data analytics, is reshaping content creation. “The advent of new hardware and software has drastically altered consumption and production patterns. Technology is now omnipresent,” she elaborated, reflecting on her transition from the “analog era” to today’s data-centric workflows.

This session was part of a larger agenda at the BRIDGE Summit, which boasts over 300 discussions on media, entertainment, and technology, highlighting the increasing friction between creative authenticity and tech advancements in global content production.

#Global News