IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit Using AI in Documentary Filmmaking with Stephanie Jenkins, APA Founder
23 snips
Sep 25, 2025 
In this engaging conversation, Stephanie Jenkins, an archive producer and co-founder of the Archival Producers Alliance, dives into the critical intersection of AI and documentary filmmaking. She highlights the importance of ethical practices and transparency in using generative AI, recounting real-world examples that showcase its potential pitfalls. They discuss the difference between assistive and generative AI, the need for clear labeling, and the evolving guidelines for filmmakers. Additionally, Jenkins stresses the risks of AI replacing archival licensing, emphasizing the balance between creativity and historical accuracy.
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Rising Archive Costs Fuel AI Pressure
- Archive licensing costs have risen dramatically and consolidation makes access uneven between indie filmmakers and studios.
- That price pressure increases incentive to use AI, threatening archival jobs and the integrity of primary sources.
Generated Angelina Jolie Photo Sparked Action
- Archival producers discovered a director had generated a historical image that matched Angelina Jolie, raising alarms about authenticity.
- That prompted the APA to write an open letter and then develop ethics guidelines with IDA support.
Always Disclose Generative AI Use
- If you use generative AI in nonfiction, disclose it clearly to audiences and colleagues so the record stays accurate.
- Frame use around whether it bears witness to human experience and what synthetic models cannot replicate.
