SLMBR PRTY and NYU Production Lab Partner for Artist-Led Community Panel on AI

On October 24th, SLMBR PRTY and The NYU Production Lab set the stage for an exploratory evening tackling the industry newcomer on everyone’s minds—AI. The evening featured an artist panel with Leilanni Todd, Joy Fennell, and Danel Antebi, discussing case studies and perspectives on AI filmmaking tools. This was followed by an open community forum, moderated by NYU Tandon professor and interdisciplinary artist Carla Gannis.

The evening’s discussion explored how AI could be utilized as a novel medium rather than a replacement for traditional filmmaking and photography. Discussion centered around the creative process and AI as a near-limitless tool that makes visual storytelling more accessible for a broader range of artists. The night highlighted the importance of making AI tools accessible to diverse perspectives and backgrounds, underscored creativity as a necessary foundation for work that cuts through the growing wave of AI-generated content, and emphasized the need for professionals in AI-vulnerable fields to familiarize themselves with these tools, blending their expertise with their seasoned artistic viewpoints.

Founded with the mission to promote access and opportunities to the film industry for women and gender non-conforming people, SLMBR PRTY is closely aligned with The NYU Production Lab’s dedication to supporting the next generation of creatives and launching their careers. As a production company, SLMBR PRTY evolved from its initial incarnation as a filmmakers’ collective. The community-oriented ethos of SLMBR PRTY is a natural partner to The NYU Production Lab as it bolsters student and alumni artists from across the creative disciplines. 

The panel comprised Leilanni Todd, a creative director specializing in advertising, fashion, and new media. Her AI-generated film, “Everyone is Chair,” screened at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. She was joined by Joy Fennell, an Afrofuturist, surrealist, AI strategist, and creative director. Joy fuses fashion, beauty, and technology to create immersive experiences through her studio, The Future in Black. Daniel Antebi rounded out the panel: his short film “Get Me Out” garnered the grand prize at the second annual AI Film Festival, Art Runway, sponsored by the AI video startup Runway. Artist Carla Gannis moderated the panel. Her multilayered narratives engage with our atomized and hyperreal 21st-century conditions, often using experimental methods and various mediums and tools. 

Carly Reicho, SLMBR PRTY’s Director of Film and Community Programs, says of this event, “The goal of SLMBR PRTY's community programming is to provide support, connection, and insights into the various facets of our never-not-changing industry. As we've learned more about the arrival of A.I. in the news and on social media, the need for some in-person discourse has become clear. We hope that attendees left feeling optimistic and with a greater sense of preparedness for the future.”