📽️ Meet Erich Archer: From Traditional to AI-Powered Films

With nearly two decades in film and television, Erich Archer knows storytelling inside and out. But a year ago, he took a bold step into AI-powered filmmaking. His goal? To understand how generative AI could revolutionize video production and make high-quality content creation more accessible.

As a nonprofit TV station director, Erich initially saw AI as a tool for efficiency. But when platforms like MidJourney and ChatGPT entered the scene, he realized they were more than just productivity boosters—they were creative powerhouses.

Now, Erich isn’t just experimenting—he’s leading the charge.

🎬 Exploring AI Tools for Video Production

AI in media production isn’t just about flashy effects—it’s about streamlining creative workflows.

How AI is transforming video production:
✅ Scripting & Storyboarding: ChatGPT assists with script ideas, scene outlines, and dialogue refinements.
✅ Visual Concepting: MidJourney generates detailed concept art, helping filmmakers visualize scenes before shooting.
✅ Editing & Sound Design: AI tools like ElevenLabs provide realistic voiceovers and sound effects.
✅ Efficiency Gains: Tasks that once took hours—like reviewing interview transcripts—can now be processed in minutes with AI-assisted summarization.

It was very clear early on that these tools were going to change my industry in a big way.

🏆 The First AI-Powered Short Film

One of Erich’s most exciting projects was his AI-powered short film, a documentary-style piece about his great-great-great-grandfather, Rufus.

Armed with just a few photos, historical records, and ChatGPT-generated research, Erich reconstructed Rufus’ life into a compelling narrative. He even built a custom GPT to “interview” Rufus, crafting a script based on AI-generated responses.

The result? A visually striking, Ken Burns-style short film that blended historical accuracy with cutting-edge AI tools.

🎨 Diverse AI Projects and Their Impact

Since his first AI film, Erich has expanded his work, taking on commissioned projects for brands experimenting with AI-driven storytelling.

From cryptocurrency firms seeking futuristic visuals to historical recreations, AI tools have allowed him to create diverse styles that once required massive teams and budgets.

AI’s Biggest Creative Advantage? Versatility.

🔹 Need 1920s noir aesthetics? AI can generate it.
🔹 Want 35,000-year-old cave paintings? Done.
🔹 Crafting a sci-fi fantasy world? AI delivers.

AI isn’t about replacing jobs. It’s about unlocking new ways to think, create, and connect.

⚡ Integrating AI into Creative Workflows

How AI Makes Video Production More Efficient:

• AI-Assisted Editing: Tools like Claude can summarize hours of interviews, identifying the best soundbites.
• AI-Generated B-Roll: Instead of traveling worldwide, filmmakers can generate stock footage on demand.
• Faster Story Development: AI helps translate vague creative briefs into structured, actionable ideas.

However, AI is not perfect. Many tools still produce inconsistent results, requiring human oversight to refine outputs.

There’s a very big difference between the highly cherry-picked outputs you see in promotional pieces and the real outputs you get in-platform when you go to use it.

🛠️ Custom GPTs: A Game Changer for Business Owners

One of Erich’s biggest breakthroughs? Building custom GPTs to streamline workflows.

When faced with confusing creative briefs, Erich built a custom GPT to process and clarify them. The result? A faster, more structured workflow.

Eventually, he realized that instead of one mega-GPT, breaking tasks into small, specialized GPTs was far more effective.

If I just asked 10 different custom GPTs to do one thing each, I’d get a more reliable output each time.

Examples of Custom GPTs for Business:

✅ Internal Knowledge GPTs – Upload company handbooks & policies for instant employee support.
✅ Content Ideation GPTs – Generate brand-specific marketing ideas based on defined parameters.
✅ AI Research Assistants – Automate competitor analysis, industry trends, and keyword research.

And the best part? You don’t need to code to build them.

💡 Advice for Business Owners Exploring AI

🔹 Start Small: Identify repetitive tasks AI can automate—transcriptions, FAQs, research, etc.
🔹 Experiment with Custom GPTs: Upload key documents and create internal AI tools for your team.
🔹 Don’t Trust AI Blindly: Always verify AI-generated content before publishing or acting on it.
🔹 Use AI to Enhance, Not Replace: AI won’t take your job—but someone using AI might.

🎭 The Future of AI and Human Creativity

What will AI-powered storytelling look like 10 years from now? While AI can generate stunning visuals and scripts, the human touch remains irreplaceable.

Why Human Expertise Still Matters:

✅ AI Lacks Context: AI can generate ideas, but only humans understand strategy.
✅ Creativity Requires Emotion: AI doesn’t feel, but great storytelling does.
✅ The Best Ideas Come from Experience: AI can remix existing knowledge, but real innovation comes from people connecting the dots in new ways.

The magic of AI isn’t in the tool—it’s in the human behind it.

🎨 Explore More of Erich’s AI-Powered Work

Curious to see AI storytelling in action? Check out CGA Creative—Erich Archer’s portfolio showcasing his latest AI-driven film projects, creative experiments, and custom GPTs.

Whether you’re interested in AI-powered filmmaking, business automation, or just pushing the boundaries of creativity, CGA Creative is the place to explore what’s possible.

🚀 Visit now and connect with Erich: cgacreative.com