Hollywood Studios Seek Film Graduates Proficient in AI, Report Says
Courses built on Runway’s AI tools are now taught at NYU and USC, while Google and OpenAI also train filmmakers.
September 26, 2026 - 2:16 pm
Credit: © Markus Mainka via Canva.com
Hollywood studios are increasingly seeking film graduates who already possess expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) video tools, preferring to hire trained professionals rather than training their own staff, according to a Semafor report.
"How do we find people who already know how to use this?" Cristóbal Valenzuela, Runway's CEO, was quoted as saying by Semafor.
Runway, an AI tools provider for video generation and editing, has played a pivotal role in shaping this pipeline. It launched its first university course with NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in December 2024. This course, housed at the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, began in January 2025.
USC's School of Cinematic Arts also offers a graduate AI filmmaking course utilizing Runway’s tools. According to the company, courses incorporating Runway are now taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, MIT, Harvard, and universities across Europe and Latin America.
Google and OpenAI have also established their own programs:
- In September 2025, Google Labs introduced Flow Sessions, providing selected filmmakers with access to its Flow AI filmmaking tool along with mentoring and training.
- OpenAI partnered with Tribeca Studios on a year-long program, funding independent filmmakers to create short films using OpenAI’s tools, with premieres slated for the 2026 Tribeca Festival.
Filmmaker Brad Tangonan, who participated in Flow Sessions, believes AI proficiency will become a standard requirement in the film industry:
"You’re going to have to learn how to use [these tools] if you do want to be in the industry," Tangonan told Semafor.
This shift aligns with growing studio adoption of AI in production. Netflix reported using generative AI in approximately 300 titles this year and has encouraged all staff to develop AI fluency. Google, too, has moved closer to the film industry, investing $75 million in A24 in June and forming a research partnership with the studio and Google DeepMind.