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In Hollywood and filmmaking, some creators are pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling by embracing AI. One such innovator is Cassius, a filmmaker who transitioned from the high-budget production world of HBO documentaries to self-funded, AI-powered projects on platforms like YouTube. His show, Cassius, is redefining the scripted TV experience by integrating AI tools in every step of production, from pre-visualization to audience engagement. Here’s how Cassius is blending Hollywood storytelling techniques with the power of AI to create an interactive and immersive experience for viewers.
Who is Cassius?
“My background is slightly different from most filmmakers,” says Cassius. “I didn’t grow up making short films or dreaming of Hollywood. I only started focusing on filmmaking around 2015. Since then, I’ve directed three movies, including a feature documentary for HBO called The Unbreakable Tatiana Suarez, a show about a woman fighter’s journey to the top. Working on Hollywood-style productions, I saw the limits of traditional filmmaking methods and how expensive and time-consuming it can be.”
As AI technology advanced, Cassius saw an opportunity to apply it to a new kind of storytelling that wasn’t bound by Hollywood’s constraints. “The tools we have now, like Viggle, allow us to bring scenes to life in ways that would have been out of reach on a DIY budget just a few years ago.”
How did you come to develop the show, Cassius?
“Cassius is a scripted series set in Miami, focusing on dating and hustling culture,” Cassius explains. “It’s a DIY project, self-financed at less than 1% of a typical Hollywood budget. My goal was to create something that could compete with traditional TV but at a fraction of the time and cost. There’s a huge opportunity to innovate here, especially with AI tools.”
Cassius envisions his show as an evolving project where AI is integrated into each episode differently. “In the first episode, we used Luma AI to create a neural radiance field (nERF), and in later episodes, we’ve visualized scenes like acid trips using AI. The idea is to keep pushing forward, bringing Hollywood-level innovation to a YouTube audience.”
How did you start using Viggle?
“We launched the first two episodes of Cassius in May, and by the third episode, our audience helped shape the storyline by choosing themes and giving feedback,” Cassius says. “For this episode, which involved an acid trip scene, I wanted to try a new AI tool, so I reached out to the AI community on X and connected with Ike Wagh, an expert in GenAI VFX. Ike joined the team as our AI artist and producer, and we used Viggle to transform live-action footage into cartoon-like characters for the scene.”
The AI-powered scene premiered in a rented movie theater and was simultaneously streamed on YouTube, receiving enthusiastic responses from both audiences. “It was the perfect proof of concept, showing how AI could create Hollywood-level effects without the Hollywood budget.”
What does your workflow look like with Viggle?
Cassius shared the step-by-step process he and his team followed for producing an episode:
- Shoot and Edit: The team starts with traditional shooting and editing.
- Create Driving Clips: They generate driving clips for animation using the edited footage.
- Generate Art References with Midjourney: Art reference images are created on Midjourney to develop a visual style, which can be time-consuming due to character prompts.
- Apply Style with Viggle: They use Viggle to apply the chosen style to each character and scene.
- Upscale with Topaz: Finally, they enhance the footage quality with Topaz.
“Viggle has been incredibly helpful in maintaining visual consistency across scenes, which is often challenging in low-budget productions. With Viggle, we can do what Hollywood usually requires extensive CGI for—but at a fraction of the cost.”
What are your thoughts on AI in Hollywood filmmaking?
“AI is an incredible suite of tools that makes storytelling more accessible than ever,” says Cassius. “Having worked on traditional Hollywood projects with big names like Hulu and HBO, I’ve seen how slow and costly the process can be. Hollywood productions can take years and millions of dollars, and you might not even know if there’s a product-market fit until it’s released. That’s why I apply first principles thinking to my projects.”
With AI, Cassius can create quickly, iterate based on feedback, and refine his work over time. “Hollywood-style scripted storytelling is a unique skill set, but the main challenge isn’t technical—it’s the reluctance to embrace new tools. AI makes it possible to integrate effects cost-effectively, breaking down barriers to entry.”
What’s your view on the future of AI in Hollywood and beyond?
“I’m extremely bullish on AI,” Cassius states. “CGI has been around for decades, but generative AI makes these tools accessible to everyone, not just Hollywood VFX teams. I understand people's concerns about job security, but in my experience, AI hasn’t replaced anyone. Instead, it’s opened up creative possibilities and allowed me to tell stories that wouldn’t have been feasible.”
Cassius sees AI as a tool that enhances creativity rather than detracts from it. “The right approach is to ask, ‘How can I use AI to become better at what I do?’ My goal is to create some of the world’s most innovative, beloved shows, and AI is helping me make that possible. Whether using GPT for research or Viggle for visual effects, AI allows me to produce content faster, cheaper, and with greater creative control.”
Through Cassius, Cassius is blending Hollywood storytelling techniques with AI-driven innovation, creating a unique intersection of DIY filmmaking and professional production quality. By embracing tools like Viggle, he’s pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved on a budget and showing that Hollywood-style quality doesn’t have to come with a Hollywood price tag. As the world of AI continues to evolve, creators like Cassius are setting the stage for a future where technology democratizes filmmaking, making it more accessible, interactive, and transformative than ever before.
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