Martin Scorsese has revealed he used generative AI tools from Black Forest Labs for storyboarding on a new film, and he’s also backing and advising the AI start-up. In his comments and a video shared by the company, the focus is on using the technology to comm
Martin Scorsese isn’t just looking at artificial intelligence from a distance. He’s using it—at least in one specific corner of the filmmaking process.
In a video and a statement shared with The New York Times. the director of “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull” said he used generative AI tools through an AI start-up called Black Forest Labs. He’s not only involved as a customer, either. Scorsese is also serving as a backer and an advisor to the venture.
The Times reported that Scorsese used the tools during preproduction for a new film, though it did not specify which project. The same report said he joined Black Forest Labs as an advisor as long as a year ago.
Scorsese’s reasoning is rooted in craft, not hype. “I’m interested in the intersection of technology and storytelling. and seeing how that can push the bounds of creativity to create deeper and richer experiences for audiences. ” he told the Times. “Remember. cinema is a young medium. only around 125 years old. so we have to be open to how it can evolve.”.
To anyone bracing for a full-on AI overhaul. Scorsese’s own framing—and the way Black Forest Labs describes what happened—lands differently. His statement to the Times stresses that the extent of his use was almost exclusively to help create storyboards so he can better visualize ideas for his crew. In the video shared by Black Forest Labs, Scorsese is not shown prompting the tool himself. Instead, he dictates ideas, and someone else writes out a few prompts.
“For 70 years, I’ve been creating my own storyboards. There’s always been this problem of how do you communicate what you see in your head to your cast and crew. There are some things you have to see and feel. … Now with this tool. I can share what I’m visualizing more clearly and efficiently to my creative team — the production designer. art designer. and cinematographer.”.
He added: “I recently tested this out on a scene, and the ability to visualize and immediately share the storyboard was creatively freeing. During the preproduction process, time costs money, and this allowed us to move faster without sacrificing quality or craft.”
Which film was the test for?. The details are still unclear. But the timeline points toward a strong possibility: the upcoming “What Happens at Night. ” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence. which recently wrapped production. The snowy first look released by Apple back in March was described as having a cursory resemblance to the snowy. period. Eastern European setting that the AI prompt manages to generate—again. specifically for storyboard use. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment for clarity.
Black Forest Labs itself is young. Founded in 2024 by Robin Rombach—formerly of Stability AI—it has additional backing tied to broader Hollywood curiosity about the tech. The Times notes that Stability AI has support of James Cameron as a board member.
Scorsese’s connection, according to The Times, was fostered by his talent manager Rick Yorn. Yorn is also an investor in Black Forest via his BroadLight Capital, and he helped bring Scorsese into the orbit of the company.
For Rombach, Scorsese’s involvement is the kind of endorsement that’s hard to dismiss. “I am super excited about the fact that someone like Martin Scorsese — one of the greatest. most impressive filmmakers to exist — is using our technology and curious about exploring it. ” Rombach. the chief executive of Black Forest Labs. told the Times. “It’s such a great proof point that this works.”.
And while creators worldwide continue to argue about where AI belongs in art, Scorsese’s message keeps returning to the same practical promise: getting an image out of his head and into his production process—clearer, faster, and shared with the people who make the film real.
Martin Scorsese Black Forest Labs generative AI storyboarding The New York Times Leonardo DiCaprio Jennifer Lawrence What Happens at Night Taxi Driver Raging Bull Robin Rombach Rick Yorn BroadLight Capital Stability AI James Cameron Apple