Russell Palmer: Empowering Creators – How AI is Shaping the Future of Filmmaking

In this episode of [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, Hamlet Azarian sits down with Russell Palmer, the CEO and Co-Founder of CyberFilm AI. 

Russell’s journey from working at Microsoft and Samsung’s AI division to launching an AI-powered filmmaking tool is an inspiring story of innovation and perseverance. 

CyberFilm AI is designed to help filmmakers create high-quality films on an indie budget, giving storytellers the tools to bring their visions to life efficiently.

What We Discussed with Russell Palmer

• Russell’s Background: Russell Palmer started his career at Microsoft in 2008, focusing on user experience and AI-driven features in Excel. He later joined Viv Labs, where he helped develop Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant, gaining experience in AI product development. 

At JP Morgan, he worked on AI tools for finance but realized his passion was in storytelling. During the pandemic, he explored AI’s potential in screenwriting, leading to the creation of CyberFilm AI, now Saga.

• The Birth of CyberFilm AI (Saga): Saga began as a personal project when Russell built an AI writing assistant to help his filmmaker brother with scriptwriting. After interviewing industry professionals, he confirmed a strong demand for AI-assisted storytelling, not as a replacement but as a creative collaborator. 

Despite initial skepticism during the Hollywood Writers Strike, Russell positioned Saga as a tool to support writers while ensuring they retain full ownership of their work.

• How Saga Works: An AI Co-Writer, Not a Replacement: Saga is designed to assist writers throughout the scriptwriting process without taking over creative control. The platform helps users structure their stories by breaking them down into key components such as plot, characters, and acts. 

Writers can input their ideas, and Saga provides suggestions to refine and expand them. Rather than generating an entire screenplay from scratch, the tool acts as a creative partner, offering guidance when writers get stuck.

• AI Ethics & Copyright Concerns: Russell emphasized that AI should support creators, not exploit them. Saga ensures writers own 100% of their content, unlike some platforms that train on user-generated work. 

The U.S. Copyright Office recently ruled that human authorship is required for copyright protection, reinforcing AI’s role as an assistant rather than a creator. Russell advocates for ethical AI practices and fair compensation for artists whose work contributes to AI training.

AI in Hollywood: Controversy vs. Adoption

AI’s role in Hollywood has sparked intense debate, with some viewing it as a creative aid and others as a threat to traditional filmmaking jobs. 

While the Writers Guild strike amplified concerns about AI replacing human creatives, many in the industry are already using AI behind the scenes. 

From script development to visual effects, AI is quietly shaping the future of film production.

• Industry Backlash: The Hollywood Writers Strike brought AI to the forefront, with concerns about automation replacing human creatives.
• Behind-the-Scenes Adoption: Despite public criticism, many in Hollywood are quietly integrating AI into their workflows for script analysis, pre-production planning, and visual effects.
• Future Use Cases: AI is already being used in de-aging actors, enhancing CGI, and assisting in the writing process, and its role is expected to grow.

The Challenges & Opportunities for Independent Filmmakers

Independent filmmakers often face significant hurdles in bringing their stories to life, from high production costs to limited access to industry connections. 

AI-powered tools like Saga offer new possibilities, helping filmmakers streamline script development, refine their narratives, and compete on a higher level without the backing of major studios.

• High Costs & Barriers: Traditional script development is time-consuming and expensive, making it difficult for indie filmmakers to compete with studios.
• AI as a Leveling Tool: Saga enables filmmakers to refine their scripts faster, reducing costs and making high-quality storytelling more accessible.
• Bridging the Talent Gap: AI-assisted tools can help writers improve their craft, allowing those with great ideas but limited writing experience to develop professional-grade scripts.

What’s Next for AI & Filmmaking?

As AI technology advances, its role in filmmaking is set to grow beyond scriptwriting. 

Emerging tools are making it possible to generate high-quality video, create interactive storytelling experiences, and further assist filmmakers in developing their projects. 

Saga is evolving alongside these innovations, with plans to integrate new AI capabilities to better support creators.

AI in Visual Storytelling: With advancements like OpenAI’s Sora, AI may soon assist in generating high-quality video content, expanding beyond scriptwriting.

Interactive Content & AI-Driven Experiences: AI could be used to create more personalized, adaptive storytelling experiences in gaming and interactive media.

Expanding Saga’s Capabilities: Russell plans to integrate new AI models and expand Saga’s features, making it even more valuable to filmmakers.

Russell’s Advice for Creators

As AI becomes more integrated into the creative process, filmmakers and writers must decide how to engage with these new tools. 

Rather than resisting change, Russell encourages creators to embrace AI as an aid that enhances their work while keeping human creativity at the forefront.

• Adopt AI as a Tool, Not a Threat: Just as CGI revolutionized filmmaking, AI will be an essential part of the creative process.
• Stay Competitive by Experimenting: Writers who learn to work with AI will have a creative advantage in an increasingly tech-driven industry.
• Human Creativity Still Leads: AI can assist, but the best stories will always come from human imagination and emotional depth.

Final Thoughts

Russell Palmer’s journey highlights how AI can be a powerful tool for storytellers, providing structure, guidance, and efficiency without replacing human creativity.

With Saga, he aims to empower writers, helping them bring their ideas to life while maintaining full control of their work.

As AI becomes more integrated into filmmaking, those who adapt and use it responsibly will be well-positioned for success in the industry’s future.

Contacts

To learn more, visit WriteOnSaga.com or just check Russell’s LinkedIn.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, where we explore bold ideas and inspiring stories shaping the future of business.

Key Takeaways

01:22 – Leading through influence, not authority at Microsoft
07:38 – Scaling Bixby with the original Siri team
11:44 – Startup lessons from going 0 to 50+ employees
17:34 – Turning personal passion into a tech startup
20:54 – Validating Saga through on-set customer discovery
22:49 – Staying creator-first during the Hollywood strike
28:26 – Rebranding after investor feedback (from Cyberfilm AI to Saga)
31:00 – Expanding Saga to games and advertising use cases
39:40 – Cutting script development time from 2 years to 10 days
42:00 – Building trust with full user IP ownership
45:58 – Vision for Fair Trade AI and creator compensationTo learn more, visit WriteOnSaga.com.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the [A] Growth Ventures Podcast, where we explore bold ideas and inspiring stories shaping the future of business.