Jerusalem – While the debate over the implications of artificial intelligence on the content industry continues to grow more complex, a first-of-its-kind course opened in Jerusalem, intended to train screenwriters in advanced use of AI tools. The course is held at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School in Jerusalem, which was ranked by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the 15 best film schools in the world outside the United States, and it is part of the screenwriting program.
The course aims to equip students with practical skills in using AI tools to realize their creative vision within a rapidly changing industry environment. It is taught by content creator and screenwriter Omri Marcus. “We live in stormy times. The storm is approaching, and we need to prepare for it. The storm doesn’t care whether we are wearing a coat or not. But even if we try to escape reality, the storm will arrive, and we will get wet,” says Marcus.
Marcus emphasizes that the core principle remains unchanged: “In the end, it’s still a transaction of attention in exchange for a good story. The romantic image of the tortured writer doesn’t have to change, but the goal of the course is to teach how to use the capabilities of AI as a tool that makes us better. How it can become an efficient assistant that saves us research time, a skilled editor who sheds light on structural weaknesses, a sounding board for ideas, and countless other possibilities we discover every day.”
Marcus also highlights the broader shift in the storytelling field: “We are witnessing a transition from storyteller to storyshower. In the end, the screenplay is a tool — words meant to convey a vision from the writer’s mind to the producer and director. Used correctly, today a screenwriter can enhance their story with images, video, and sound without relying on additional entities. Even writers who aren’t technological can become a one-stop shop for creating video.”
Marcus adds: “It is by no means obvious that Sam Spiegel recognized early on that filmmakers of tomorrow must be given the most advanced tools so they can remain relevant.”