Scripted Production Futures in the Age of AI

The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike made visible a fear now gripping film and television: that AI tools will be imposed on scripted production in ways that clash with the values of the people who make it. This project addresses a gap in knowledge. While AI systems are being developed to assist with scriptwriting, editing, and post-production, little is understood about how those tools might conflict with the creative and ethical principles that practitioners—writers, editors, and post-production specialists—hold important. The researchers will use qualitative and participatory design methods to document those values and feed them directly into the design of future AI systems. If the research succeeds, it could change how AI is built for creative industries. Instead of tools that automate or override human judgment, future systems might be designed to support it—preserving the craft, collaboration, and editorial control that define scripted production. This matters not just for workers, but for the quality and integrity of the films and series audiences watch.