Summary of Key Points
The Hollywood industry is facing a "dual squeeze": on one hand, the number of filming days has been cut in half over the past four years, and employment has decreased by nearly 30%, leading to a continuous shrinkage of the industry; on the other hand, experienced screenwriters, directors, and other creatives are taking 12 to 200 dollars per hour to teach AI how to write scripts and schedule productions, even training systems that could potentially replace them. This represents a paradoxical choice under the pressure of survival—some feel guilty about "burying their careers," some are resigned to the idea that "as long as you have money, that's enough," while others see new opportunities in AI as a tool. For all professionals facing the threat of AI replacement, the question of how to effectively utilize AI becomes an unavoidable challenge.
How Severe is the Decline in the Hollywood Industry?
The situation in Hollywood is indeed dire, as the data makes it clear:
- Halved filming days: The number of days spent filming movies and TV shows in Los Angeles has decreased by 48% between 2021 and 2025, with the pandemic,编剧 strikes, and reduced investment from streaming services being the main reasons.
- Nearly 30% fewer jobs: The number of employed individuals in the film and television industry across the United States has dropped from 450,000 in 2022 to 326,000 in 2026, a reduction of 28%.
- Producers' experiences are even worse: Renowned screenwriter Fuller states that the volume of work has decreased by 35%, and even signed screenwriters for BBC and Paramount are forced to take odd jobs to make ends meet—this is more telling than the numbers, indicating that there is truly a lack of work in the industry.
Meanwhile, AI is on the rise: Netflix used AI in 300 of its projects this year, and renowned director Ron Howard has also started using it. Consulting firms predict that 10 to 15% of jobs in the U.S. could be eliminated by AI, with more than half of the remaining jobs changing significantly—Hollywood is just one example of this trend.
Why Do Professionals Teach AI to Take Their Jobs?
With fewer jobs available, a new gig market has emerged: teaching AI to perform creative tasks.
- Who is doing it? It's the industry's veterans—award-winning screenwriters, directors, and producers who understand the industry best.
- What do they do? They teach AI to write scripts, schedule productions (such as calculating lighting, coordinating actors, handling child safety issues), create proposal PPTs, and even help AI identify speakers with different accents from noisy videos—these are all core tasks that require creative judgment.
- How much do they earn? Wages range from 12 to 200 dollars per hour, with more advanced tasks (like teaching AI production management) commanding higher rates (up to 85 dollars per hour).
- Why do they do it? There's no work, and they need to make a living. Fuller mentions feeling financially strained, and anonymous screenwriters have had to rely on these gigs after strikes, as regular work hasn't returned. Survival is more urgent than maintaining professional dignity.
Emotions Range from Guilt to Resignation to Acceptance
The reaction to AI taking jobs varies greatly:
- The Guilt Group: Fuller frankly says, "We're teaching it to take our jobs," knowing full well that they are creating a competitor.
- The Resignation Group: A documentary director believes that AI is inevitable and that resistance is futile, feeling as if they are "using a shovel to bury their own careers."
- The Acceptance Group: An anonymous female screenwriter has moved from doubt to acceptance, saying, "Money in the bank is more important than principles."
- The Optimists: Some see the limitations of AI, noting that it can't create complex dramas like "The War of Succession," and believe that true artists won't be replaced; those who will be eliminated are those who "never should have been in this industry in the first place."
The Shifting Attitudes
Teaching AI to take jobs is not easy for anyone, and attitudes range from guilt to resignation to acceptance:
- The Guilt Group: Some feel guilty, recognizing that they are training the very tools that will replace them.
- The Resignation Group: Some see AI as an inevitable reality and feel like they are helping to accelerate their own career's end.
- The Acceptance Group: Others, like the anonymous female screenwriter, prioritize financial stability over professional pride.
- The Optimists: Some recognize the limitations of AI and believe that true creativity won't be replaced; those who are eliminated are those who are not suited for the industry in the first place.
The Dual Nature of AI: A Tool for Destruction or Creation?
While some see AI as a threat, others see it as an opportunity:
- The Dark Side: The more AI is used, the more it can replace jobs, creating a cycle of "fewer jobs → more AI training → more powerful AI → even fewer jobs."
- The Bright Side: AI can be a tool for innovation. For example, young director Zach London used AI to create a science fiction short film that received millions of views and was even screened in theaters—something impossible with traditional funding methods. Jodie from the University of Southern California says, "The same tool that can bury a career can also uncover new possibilities." The key is whether you use it to replace yourself or to guide AI in its work.
Implications for the Domestic Industry
Similar AI-related gigs (such as script evaluation and voice annotation) exist in China's film, animation, and content industries, and professionals there face similar challenges. This report offers two important lessons:
1. Shift from Teaching AI to Using AI: Instead of just teaching AI to do your current tasks, learn how to use it to do things you couldn't do before—transform from being replaced by AI to using it to guide its development.
2. Policy Support is Needed: The rapid decline of industries makes it difficult for individuals to adapt on their own; policies (such as training and subsidies) are necessary to support transformation and prevent professionals from competing in a fragmented gig market.
In the end, AI is not a monster but a mirror that reveals what needs to be changed: it eliminates repetitive tasks, leaving behind those who are truly creative and know how to use tools. The question for everyone is not whether AI will replace them, but whether they can use AI more effectively than it will.