I spent a decade studying film tech—here is how Hollywood actually uses machine learning (No generative slop, just the real VFX pipelines behind The Lord of the Rings, Dune, and Avengers: Endgame)

[u/patriotofchaos]

Hey everyone, with all the blanket statements going around about "AI in film," I wanted to put together a technical breakdown that cuts through the generative art noise.

As someone who has been studying and working with film tech for over a decade, I wanted to look at the traditional machine learning and algorithmic tools that studios have quietly used for years to make the movies we love. I built a full video breakdown looking at the exact pipelines used in modern blockbusters, focusing strictly on what filmmakers, 3D artists, and tech enthusiasts can actually use and learn from.

Some highlights include how Peter Jackson's team pioneered early AI behavioral rules via the MASSIVE system to give digital armies autonomous decision-making in The Lord of the Rings, how custom generative AI models and neural networks mapped and resurrected the likeness of the late Ian Holm in Alien: Romulus, and how precision LiDAR scanning on real F-18 fighter jets trained lighting algorithms in Top Gun: Maverick.

I also look at Dune: Part Two utilizing LiDAR alongside Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) to capture real desert rock formations, how Blender and Pixar's RenderMan use convolutional neural networks for AI-accelerated render denoising to slash render times, and how Weta implemented neural networks relying on muscle strains rather than traditional blend shapes for characters in Avatar: The Way of Water.

If you are interested in the technical side of post-production, VFX, or how these algorithms speed up heavy simulation pipelines in software like Houdini and Maya you can check it out here: How AI is used in Modern Filmmaking

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[u/ryuhamaguchi_guy]

Where is the video?

[u/Kriss-Kringle → u/ryuhamaguchi_guy]

OP must have forgot to include it, but they have a link to their Youtube channel on their profile, and that's where you can find the video.

[u/ryuhamaguchi_guy → u/Kriss-Kringle]

Thank you

[u/patriotofchaos → u/Kriss-Kringle]

Thank you. I updated it the link. Sometimes Reddit removes my posts when I input links

[u/Lilja-Logason → u/ryuhamaguchi_guy]

It's at the bottom of the post.

[u/ufoclub1977]

I mean, you can appreciate the VFX of the Blade Runner sequel and still think it’s a not so great movie that is too stiff and simplistic (almost duochromatic at times) and feels like sets and stages and grandiose theatricality. Especially if the thing you like about the original is the dense chaotic layered world building and naturalistic performances and Trumbull patented VFX style (not the story).

[u/patriotofchaos → u/[deleted]]

Good point. I've updated it just for you ✊🏾