Summary of Key Points
Li Dongshen, a renowned director known for creating top-tier documentaries such as "The Hexi Corridor" and "China," led a team to produce China's first 30-episode series entirely generated by AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content), titled "The Later Journey to the West." Upon its release, the series propelled the production company, Mango Super Media, to a 20% increase in stock price for two consecutive trading days, with its market value soaring by 11.65 billion yuan. In an interview, Li Dongshen made several assertions that could revolutionize the film and television industry: The cost of producing dramas with AI is now only one-tenth of that of traditional dramas of the same quality. In three years, 99% of all film and television content will use AIGC, and the old industry logic based on budgets, star talent, and platform monopolies will become obsolete. Ultimately, the power in the industry will lie with the average audience.
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Detailed Analysis
1. Understanding the Cost Savings
Many people are unclear about how much AI can save on production costs. Let's look at the numbers: This 30-episode, 40-minute series cost only 27 million yuan in total, with each episode costing 900,000 yuan. In contrast, a traditional S-grade mythological drama or 3D animated series would cost at least 200 to 300 million yuan—a difference of ten times. The most significant savings are in action scenes: A three-minute action sequence that would traditionally cost 4 to 5 million yuan in expenses for stunt performers, wirework, and special effects can be generated by AI for just 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, a cost difference of over 100 times.
In the past, over 70% of film and television costs were spent on non-creative aspects, such as waiting for stars' schedules, building sets, renting equipment, hiring hundreds of extras, and rendering each frame. With AI, these unnecessary costs have been significantly reduced. For example, building a celestial palace set no longer requires millions of yuan, and adjusting a shot can be done with just a few mouse clicks. In the new cost structure, only 1/4 to 1/5 of the cost goes to computing power, with the remaining funds allocated to creative personnel.
2. Debunking Misconceptions
There's a common misconception that AI-based drama production means a few people can easily succeed. However, Li Dongshen's AI team consists of over 100 people, doing the work that would previously have been done by 2,000 people. The industry's division of labor has completely changed: Roles that relied on physical labor, such as set designers and prop handlers, have decreased, while new positions have emerged, such as artists who design character designs and worlds, engineers who ensure seamless communication with AI, and quality control specialists who fine-tune the generated images.
Moreover, years of experience in traditional film and television production may now be a disadvantage. For instance, skills gained in CG modeling can be quickly outdated by new AI models. The competition will focus on creativity and judgment rather than experience. Li Dongshen's team encountered a problem where the AI-generated Monkey King's movements were stiff because the design team forgot to add a tail to the character, highlighting the importance of subtle details that AI cannot catch on its own.
3. Power Shift to the Audience
The power in the industry is shifting from platforms to the audience. In the past, studios and stars had the final say. Good ideas without funding or resources were often rejected. With AI, these barriers are broken down. When drama production costs become affordable, content will surge, and audiences will have a vast choice. Audiences will decide what succeeds, and content distribution will be more decentralized. In the future, sharing videos will be as common as sending birthday greetings on social media, and creating custom videos will be easy without professional help.
4. No Need to Panic About Job Losses
Some fear that AI will lead to widespread job losses, but Li Dongshen argues that traditional, real-shot content will become more valuable. He predicts that only 1% of content will be produced without AIGC, and it will remain as a niche, high-end form of entertainment. For example, real-shot documentaries about depression will retain their emotional impact, while AI-generated content may seem fake and expensive. On the other hand, AI makes it cheaper to recreate historical scenes, allowing more creative individuals to contribute to the industry.
5. Unresolved Challenges
AI still faces two major issues: it cannot accurately capture emotions, and the copyright system needs improvement. Currently, AIGC-generated content lacks emotional continuity between episodes. The faces and voices in "The Later Journey to the West" were licensed from real actors, and the production process is traceable. In the future, algorithms will simplify copyright checks, reducing the risk of legal issues.
In summary, while AI is revolutionizing the film and television industry, it does not threaten traditional jobs. Instead, it creates new opportunities and shifts power to the audience. The industry will evolve, with real-shot content becoming more valuable and creative individuals having more opportunities to thrive. The main challenge is to learn how to leverage AI to bring imagination to life effectively.