The Agora Series section of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival called it a wrap on Sunday November 3rd with the masterclass “Real Imagination: Storytelling In the Age of AI”, delivered by the creative consultant for film and television productions, Tatjana Samopjan. Within the framework of the event, Tatjana Samopjan shed light on the connection between the lives we live and the stories we tell, exploring how the vibrancy of our experience and the quality of our perception influence the stories we create. Tatjana Samopjan works as a creative consultant specializing in the development of TV series, films and documentaries, while she is also the co-founder of Fractal Volcano creative retreats.
Initially, Angeliki Vergou, head of the Festival’s Agora, welcomed the audience and Tatjana Samopjan: “Welcome to the Agora Series Masterclass “Real Imagination-Storytelling in the Age of AI”. It is the second day of the Agora Series and we are calling it a wrap with this wonderful masterclass. We have Tatjana Samopjan here with us, and we thank her for being here in Thessaloniki."
Tatjana Samopjan took the floor, expressing her enthusiasm for her presence at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, but also for the opportunity to discuss the topic of Artificial Intelligence in an environment that will be understood: “I'm really excited to be here. Storytelling in the age of Artificial Intelligence. In today's conversation we will take a journey into AI and explore the ways it helps us.”
Tatjana Samopjan recognized that AI is something new and unknown, triggering a variety of reactions, mainly fear. She then compared human creativity to that of Artificial Intelligence, arguing that human creativity is unique because it comes out from life itself: “We are talking about something completely new that scares us a little. It is as if we are in unknown territory. That 'something' is artificial intelligence, which is about machines that can think and create,” Tatjana Samopjan said.
“When we talk about creativity, we believe that only we humans can be truly creative, because we are alive. But do we always live a truly creative life? Maybe we're just following a routine. My point is that we need to think more deeply about what it means to be alive and creative, both for ourselves and for machines. However, let me remind you of something. Oscar Wilde, many years ago, said: ‘To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that's all.’ How alive are we really?,” she asked. “As humans, we often do things that are just average. We have to be realistic, we are not always brilliant at everything we do. But now, with technology, we can make those mediocre things look much better, in a way that is faster and more economical. My interest lies in focusing on the capabilities that we could develop in the age of Artificial Intelligence,” she added.
She then focused on language, pointing out that while it helps us understand the world, it can also deflect us from the direct experience of things. “Artists need to maintain their ability to see things with fresh eyes, without limiting them to prejudices or labels. In cinema, internal logic (algebra) is necessary for the structure of the story, but emotion (fire) is what gives life and connects viewers to the story. Television uses addictive techniques to keep viewers stuck on screens, rather than creating thought-provoking and conversational works of art. The information overload we experience every day affects the way we think and live. We are immersed in a world where we constantly consume stories, whether it's movies, books, news or social media. This overconsumption creates a mental overload and distracts us from real life. Now, narratives are becoming more and more distant from reality and focus on superficial impressions. It worries me that this trend makes us less authentic and disconnects us from our real experiences. We must try to be original at a time when AI can so easily create new stories. This authenticity comes from understanding the sources of our stories and seeking deeper meaning in them.”
Tatjana Samopjan continued by stating that it is important to question our own ideas and those of others in order to have a more accurate image of the world: “Many excellent storytellers may have a narrow and limited perception of reality, which, when combined with their ability to persuade, can become dangerous. A prime example of this is Trump, who, while a very good storyteller, has a dangerously narrow view of the world. What we need to do is challenge the perceptions and conclusions of others, especially artists. It is a very important job, as it helps us overcome our personal filters and see the world in a clearer way. It is also extremely important for artists to surround themselves with people who will help them maintain a critical attitude towards themselves and the world.”
She also highlighted the importance of emotions in story development: “Creative development and story development can help people explore their emotions. We need to be able to manage strong emotions without collapsing. The suppression of emotions can prevent us from connecting with our deeper self and reality.” She then went on to urge a more critical attitude towards AI, while underlining the need to maintain human creativity and independence. “If the long-term goal is to strive to create AI that is able to think and feel like a human, the lack of real human experience can limit AI’s capabilities. The creative process, especially in art and writing, benefits from the variety of human experiences that cannot be easily reproduced by machines. Artificial Intelligence is designed to make our lives easier by suggesting things and solutions. However, this can limit our creativity and our ability to think independently. The crucial point is that it treats reality as if it were a language, ignoring the complexities and nuances that exist beyond words. This may lead to a more limited understanding of the world.”
Concluding, Tatjana Samopjan said: “Experiences matter a lot in our lives and help us become better storytellers. I believe that we live too much in our minds and it is necessary to get out of this situation, to live more intensely, to feel more and to accept our experiences. These are the ones that give us material to create richer and more authentic stories. Instead of inventing stories from our minds, we can be inspired by our experiences and create stories that connect to real life. The storytellers of the future should first be explorers and collect experiences. Only then will they be able to become good storytellers,” she concluded.
