AI filmmaking is moving from experiment to serious production, and Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market offered a clear sign of where the industry is headed. Directors, producers and animation creators using Kling AI argued that the future of screen storytelling will not be won by software alone, but by the filmmakers who know how to shape it.
At a Busan panel focused on new cinematic possibilities with Kling AI, Korean director Kim Sung-soo shared how he is using the platform to develop Worm Train, a short film inspired by Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. The surreal concept — a giant worm commuting by subway — may sound unusual, but the discussion around it was deeply practical: what does AI change on set, what still requires human craft, and how should the industry respond?
AI Filmmaking Comes Into Focus at Busan
The conversation took place during the InnoAsia program at ACFM, where filmmakers demonstrated how AI filmmaking is already being integrated into live-action, animation and hybrid productions. Alongside Kim Sung-soo were Chinese animation filmmaker Li Wei, MooAm Co CEO and director Harry Hyun, and Lee Sang-wook of MBC C&I’s AI Contents Lab.
The panel highlighted a key shift: AI tools are no longer being discussed as speculative technology. They are being used to generate images, test visual directions, speed up iteration and support production pipelines in real projects.
Kling AI’s latest image model was part of that discussion, but the speakers repeatedly returned to the same point: access to advanced tools is becoming widespread, which means creative distinction matters more than ever.
Kim Sung-soo on Why Creativity Still Defines AI Filmmaking
Kim, known for large-scale Korean films including Asura: The City of Madness and 12.12: The Day, said his view of AI filmmaking has evolved. Where he once feared the technology could damage the industry, he now sees it as a tool that cannot replace authorship.
His central argument was simple: cinematic value still comes from human judgment. Two filmmakers may use the same model, prompts and workflows, but one might create something memorable while another produces work that feels generic.
That idea is increasingly important as generative video and image platforms become easier to use. If everyone has similar access, then vision, taste and storytelling discipline become the differentiators.
What Kim’s comments suggest
- AI can accelerate production, but not invent artistic perspective on its own.
- Originality still depends on direction, framing, pacing and narrative intent.
- Filmmakers who understand cinematic language will likely benefit most from AI tools.
Why Experienced Crews Matter in AI Filmmaking
Harry Hyun pushed the argument further, saying the real gap between AI-led production and traditional production is not artistry versus automation, but efficiency versus sameness. According to Hyun, teams without experienced department heads risk creating visuals that all look alike.
That warning gets to the heart of the current AI filmmaking debate. Eye-catching generated images can impress audiences at first glance, but without refined decisions around lighting, composition, shot size and rhythm, they may quickly feel repetitive.
Hyun’s remarks effectively reframed the workflow. In AI-driven production, the need for specialists does not disappear — it may actually grow in importance. Art directors, cinematographers and directors are still needed to guide visual language and make deliberate choices rather than settle for software defaults.
Core skills that still matter
- Visual framing and lens logic
- Production design and aesthetic consistency
- Shot selection and scene construction
- Editorial rhythm and emotional pacing
- Collaborative decision-making across departments
How AI Filmmaking Improves Feedback and Iteration
Li Wei, who is using Kling AI tools on animated feature Born Of The Tide, emphasized one of the most practical strengths of AI filmmaking: speed of response. When concepts can be visualized quickly, teams can react, revise and refine in near real time.
That has major implications for production communication. Instead of waiting through long development cycles to evaluate a design direction, multiple departments can respond early. This makes experimentation more fluid and allows creative problems to be identified before they become expensive.
For animation and concept-heavy projects in particular, rapid iteration may become one of AI’s most valuable contributions. Trial and error is no longer simply a cost burden; it can become part of a more agile creative process.
Hybrid Production Is Emerging as a Major AI Filmmaking Model
Lee Sang-wook introduced Rendering Love, an upcoming series from MBC C&I and Barunson E&A that blends traditionally shot live action with AI-generated characters. The project points to what may become the most commercially viable form of AI filmmaking in the near term: hybrid production.
Rather than replacing conventional shoots, AI is being used to extend them. This approach lets creators combine practical performances and physical environments with generated elements that would be difficult or costly to produce otherwise.
Lee also noted that AI-based workflows are creating new production responsibilities. Team leaders must understand model updates, explain capabilities clearly and keep staff aligned as tools evolve. In other words, technical literacy is becoming part of creative management.
What hybrid workflows could mean for TV and video
- Faster prototyping for streaming and broadcast concepts
- Lower-cost experimentation with virtual characters
- More flexible previsualization for producers and financiers
- New crew roles centered on prompt design, model testing and AI supervision
Standards, Rights and the Next Phase of AI Filmmaking
The panel also touched on regulation and standards, though Kim suggested it may still be too early for rigid industry frameworks in South Korea. For now, creators appear more focused on exploration than standardization.
Still, one concern already stands out: rights management. Kim stressed the importance of considering infringement from the earliest stages of development, a reminder that AI filmmaking cannot move forward responsibly without clear attention to authorship, training data, likeness and intellectual property.
That issue is likely to define the next stage of adoption. As AI content becomes more sophisticated, the industry will need practical rules that protect creators without shutting down innovation.
What This Means for the Future of TV & Video
The Busan discussion made one thing clear: AI filmmaking is not about pressing a button and replacing the set. It is about changing how filmmakers visualize ideas, coordinate teams and build worlds on screen. The winners will be creators who combine technical adaptability with strong cinematic instincts.
For the TV and video sector, that means AI is best understood not as a shortcut to artistry, but as a multiplier for experienced storytellers. Tools like Kling AI may lower barriers to experimentation, yet they also raise the bar for creative leadership.
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Explore more:
- Human stories and interviews at Human of Dublin
- Explore more features on creative industries at Luxe Digest
As AI filmmaking matures, the biggest lesson from Busan is that technology alone will not define the next cinematic era. Human taste, collaboration and ethics remain the real engines of standout work — and that is the clearest takeaway for anyone watching the future of screen production.
