Who Holds the Camera?

Filmmaking Justice in the Era of Generative AI

Abstract

This paper investigates the ethical, legal, and creative implications of generative AI in filmmaking, with a focus on how artists—particularly those from historically excluded communities—are navigating the rapid rise of machine-generated content. Using OpenAI’s GPT-4o "Ghibli-style" image controversy as a launch point, the paper traces the broader cultural and legal tensions surrounding generative AI’s use of copyrighted work without consent. Through historical parallels from photography and cinema to early AI storytelling systems, the paper explores how generative AI differs in its ambition to mechanize creativity itself. The authors examine recent industry flashpoints, including the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, alongside new legal precedents and copyright lawsuits challenging data scraping and authorship rights. Drawing on emerging scholarship and official reports, including the January 2025 U.S. Copyright Office statement reaffirming the necessity of human authorship, the paper proposes a framework for accountable fair use and ethical AI implementation in filmmaking. The authors advocate for transparency, licensing reform, cultural authenticity audits, and investment in human-AI collaboration that augments rather than replaces human artistry. The paper concludes that while generative AI may enhance efficiency and idea generation, it cannot replicate the depth of lived experience, emotion, and cultural understanding that human creators bring to film. Ultimately, the question of “Who holds the camera?” remains central to the future of cinematic storytelling in the age of machine generated art.