Is AI Coming for Your Job? Shane Hurlbut & Oren Soffer Have Answers
Is AI coming for your job? Is that new 12K camera really going to make your film better?
In our industry, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There’s a “sensory overload” of new gear dropping every six months and a looming anxiety about what Artificial Intelligence means for creatives. It’s easy to get stuck on what Shane Hurlbut, ASC, calls “the rat wheel” — the constant, exhausting chase for the latest and greatest tech.
But what if that’s the wrong way to think about it?
In our new Filmmakers Academy presentation at B&H BILD, The Future of Filmmaking: AI, Innovation & Fundamentals, Shane sits down with Oren Soffer, the acclaimed cinematographer behind The Creator, for a candid discussion that cuts through the noise.
They offer a grounded, practical perspective built on decades of experience. Their biggest takeaway?
Technology is a tool, but the fundamentals are the foundation.
The Fundamentals: Emotion, Story & Craft
Before they ever touched a high-end cinema camera, Shane and Oren had unconventional “sparks.”
For Shane, it wasn’t film school, it was driving a grip truck on the set of Phantasm II and having a single, mind-blowing realization about light that launched his career. For Oren, it was trying to recreate Star Wars with a MiniDV camcorder and no editing system, forcing him to learn the language of shot-reverse-shot in-camera.
Both masters agree: emotion fuels the visuals. Your job is to be a problem-solver, not just a gear collector. In the full lesson, Shane tells an incredible story from the set of Terminator Salvation where a critical light died, and he had to improvise a solution… with a piece of gum.
Innovation vs. Distraction
That doesn’t mean you should ignore new tech. The key is to separate distractions from true, craft-changing innovations. In the presentation, Shane and Oren break down the tools that actually changed how they shoot, like the gimbal and the Easy Rig.
Gimbal Op Jason Robbins | Photo by Luman Kim
They also discuss “process innovation.” How did Shane go from a 295-person department on Terminator Salvation to shooting Act of Valor with a crew of just 10? How did Oren’s crew on The Creator shrink to a handful of people on a boat, walking past a basecamp of 50 trucks?
The Creator
The answers will change how you think about your own productions.
The Truth About AI
Finally, they tackle the “four-letter word” (or as Nick from B&H calls it): AI.
Forget the doomsday scenarios. Shane and Oren reframe AI as the ultimate “efficiency engine.” They provide a practical framework for how AI will be used to expedite tedious tasks, like syncing dailies or generating reports, so you can save money and put more of your budget back on the screen.
They argue that AI will never replace the human element for two key reasons: The Audience Problem (it has no “heart”) and The Creator Problem (we don’t want to make movies that way).
Watch the Full Presentation
This article only scratches the surface. The full 1-hour presentation is an exploration into career philosophy, practical problem-solving, and a clear-eyed look at the future.
When you become a Filmmakers Academy All Access member, you don’t just get to watch the full presentation. You also get access to our comprehensive textbook breakdown, perfect for readers who want to master every concept.
Stop chasing the “rat wheel” and start investing in your craft.
Watch “The Future of Filmmaking: AI, Innovation & Fundamentals” Now
