Hey Reader,

Today we talk about AI in filmmaking, an easy way to improve your stories, and a great storytelling video recommendation.

This Week's Frame

Key Takeaway: AI in Filmmaking: Threat or Tool?

It's been more than two years ago that ChatGPT was released and a lot of other AI tools became widely available. I'm pretty sure, at this point everyone has used some AI products.

I think that the filmmaking space benefits from this tremendously. From tools like Gling that help you with edits, to generative AI for video like SORA. There's so much that AI can do for us.

I use AI all the time in my workflows. From idea generation with ChatGPT, and editing with AI, to creating thumbnails, it's everywhere.

Some people might argue that this will eliminate all our creativity from what we do, but I don't think that's true. It's important that we see these tools as tools and not as a replacement for the human factor.

Even though I use ChatGPT for idea generation, I still write my own scripts. It's more like a natural conversation that I have with the AI agent. Usually, I come up with an initial concept and discuss details throughout the entire video creation process with ChatGPT.

This honestly is so helpful because it also gives you a chance to reflect on your own thoughts. And you get obviously direct feedback.

So I think rather than restricting creativity, AI takes on the monotone tasks and gives us more time to focus on the creative work.

Frame it Better

Key Takeaway: One easy way to make better stories. Stop over-explaining.

There’s one mistake I see all the time that instantly weakens a story. And that's over-explaining.

When you try to make sure your audience gets it, you end up spoon-feeding every detail. But great storytelling isn’t about telling people what to think—it’s about making them feel something. They can create their image in their head. So not every detail matters. It's important to be selective.

Think about your favorite movies. They don’t pause to explain emotions. They don't explain details about the location. They show them. A lingering stare says more than a paragraph of dialogue.

Here’s how you can avoid over-explaining in your own stories:

1. Trust your audience. Assume they’re smart enough to connect the dots. Instead of saying, "I was nervous," show it—maybe your hands tremble, your voice wavers, or you hesitate before speaking. Show, rather than tell.
2. Cut the fluff. If a sentence doesn’t add emotion or move the story forward, consider removing it. Less is often more. Go all in and kill your darlings.
3. Use subtext. The most powerful moments happen between the lines. What’s left unsaid is just as important as what’s said.

If you implement this in your stories, you'll be already ahead of most people.

Final Frame

Key Takeaway: Improve your storytelling in 9min.

I recently watched a great video that explains a few simple ways to improve your storytelling. So I figured it would definitely be valuable for you. You can find the video here:

​Give me 9min, and I'll improve your storytelling skills by 176%​

I think it's probably one of the most concise and value-packed videos about storytelling out there. Well worth a watch.

Thank you for reading The Weekly Frame. See you in the next one! Markus Galli

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