The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Hollywood Editing Jobs

For over four decades, Thomas R. Moore has made his mark in Hollywood as a picture editor, primarily working on network television shows. His typical workflow is a well-honed process: he dedicates approximately a week and a half to distilling hours of footage into the initial cut of an episode. Following this, he spends an additional two to three weeks refining the edit based on feedback from directors, producers, and network executives. Once an episode reaches its final form, he moves on to another episode’s worth of footage, continuing this cycle alongside two other editors throughout the television season.

This traditional model, which typically compensates picture editors between $125,000 and $200,000 annually, has largely endured the challenges posed by shorter seasons in the streaming era. The flexibility of working on multiple shows within a year has sustained its viability. However, the introduction of artificial intelligence has raised significant concerns for professionals like Mr. Moore, who worry that their roles will soon be diminished.

“If A.I. could assemble a credible first cut of a show, it could potentially eliminate one-third of our workdays,” Mr. Moore noted, pointing to advancements in technology such as the video-making software Sora as indicators of this impending shift. “We risk becoming mere electronic gig workers,” he added, highlighting the threat that automation poses to creative jobs in the industry.

Mr. Moore’s apprehensions are not isolated; in a series of interviews with editors and other industry professionals, nearly all expressed similar concerns about the encroachment of A.I. on their work. These laborers are members of a union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which has the capacity to negotiate protections against the rise of A.I. on their behalf, much like the actors’ and writers’ unions did during the strikes of the previous year.

However, in a surprising turn of events, their union recently ratified a contract that, by a significant margin, paves the way for studios to mandate the use of A.I. technology among employees. This decision has left many in the industry feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future of their craft.