Authorship in AI Cinema : The Frost through the lens of Walter Benjamin

Abstract: The rapid development of generative AI technology challenges traditional ideas of authorship. This thesis investigates the concept of authorship in AI cinema, an emerging approach to filmmaking where advanced AI technology is used in the film production process. The study is focused on the AI film The Frost (Josh Rubin, 2023). It is a short film that stands apart as one of the first films to heavily utilize generative AI to create visuals for the film. Through the critical lens of Walter Benjamin’s theories of authorship, this study examines the effects of the usage of AI technology on the creative process in the film The Frost. The study analyzes how the usage of generative AI affects authorship in cinema. To address the presence of AI in the art creation process, Walter Benjamin’s theories on authorship from his works The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and The Author as Producer are extended by introducing the concept of “orderer,” a person that prompts the AI system to generate content.