Director Martin Scorsese has sparked backlash from film industry professionals after announcing investments in a generative AI company and using the technology to develop storyboards for his film projects.
The New York Times reported that Scorsese joined German-based text-to-image AI venture Black Forest Labs as a partner and adviser in 2025.
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Scorsese said the technology helps solve communication challenges between a director and production crew during early filmmaking phases.
“For 70 years, I’ve been creating my own storyboards.
There’s always been this problem of how do you communicate what you see in your head to your cast and crew,” Scorsese said.
“Now with this tool, I can share what I’m visualising more clearly and efficiently to my creative team.”
The director clarified that generative AI tools are used strictly during preparatory phases, not for creating final on-screen imagery.
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“I recently tested this out on a scene, and the ability to visualise and immediately share the storyboard was creatively freeing,” he said.
Storyboard and concept artists publicly criticized the decision, arguing AI adoption devalues human creators.
“He throws every single storyboard artist he’s ever worked with under the bus… To use his legacy and power for this is just so disgusting,” said concept artist Karla Ortiz.
Animation professionals also expressed disapproval over ethical implications of using generative models trained on existing artwork.
“There is absolutely no reason to need AI built on the stolen work of millions of artists to storyboard your vision,” said director Samuel Deats.
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Scorsese joins other Hollywood figures utilizing AI, including Steven Soderbergh in his documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview and Gareth Edwards during Jurassic World Rebirth production.
