Q&A with Renard T. Jenkins
From the recent RealmIQ: Sessions podcast
Q&A with Renard T. Jenkins: AI, Hollywood, and the Future of Creative Technology
Curt Doty: I’m thrilled to introduce today’s guest, Renard T. Jenkins. Renard is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs, a firm specializing in ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences for marketing, research, education, and healthcare. He’s a veteran in technology, film, television, and radio, and serves on several corporate boards, including as Vice President of the Hollywood Professional Association. Renard, it’s great to have you here!
Renard T. Jenkins: Thanks for having me, Curt. And just a quick correction—I’m the immediate past president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers and currently serve on the board of Exceptional Minds. But yes, I’m excited to have this conversation.
AI and Hollywood: A Creative’s Perspective
Curt Doty: You’ve had a long journey in technology and entertainment. How did you come to embrace AI, especially given the controversy around it in Hollywood?
Renard T. Jenkins: AI can be controversial, but much of that controversy stems from misunderstandings about what it is and what it can do. I’ve been working with automation and machine learning for decades. I started in post-production at Turner Broadcasting, helping transition from SD to HD and building a digital workflow.
My interest in efficiency led me to study Kaizen—a continuous improvement methodology used by companies like Toyota. That approach helped me design what would later be called a media supply chain. Once I got into automation, I naturally progressed into machine learning, which has been around for decades but is now being labeled as AI. I’ve always been a creative first and a curious engineer second, and AI is just another tool to help get ideas out of my head and into the world.
The Hollywood Mindset on AI
Curt Doty: What’s the current mindset in Hollywood regarding AI? There’s concern over IP, job displacement, and artistic integrity.
Renard T. Jenkins: Hollywood’s relationship with AI is evolving. Last year, I gave a keynote at the TV Academy where I compared AI to a toddler—it needed guidance. Today, we’re at the tween to teenage stage. AI is powerful but still needs oversight.
Studios are realizing that AI isn’t just about replacing jobs; it’s about creating new ones. AI studios like Promise and Staircase are showing the industry that AI can enhance storytelling, not just automate content creation. The biggest changes are happening in animation and VFX, where AI is revolutionizing workflows. However, we must be mindful of its impact on voice actors, as AI-generated voices become more sophisticated.
The key is human integration. AI should be a collaborative tool, not a replacement. The industry is moving toward understanding AI’s role in enhancing rather than erasing creativity.
AI Adoption Among Creatives
Curt Doty: You conducted a survey on AI adoption among creatives. What did you find?
Renard T. Jenkins: We surveyed creatives to see if they were using AI, and the majority were. Interestingly, many writers use AI to structure ideas but not to write scripts. They’re clear that AI is a tool, not a substitute for human creativity.
There’s also an ongoing debate about AI model training. Creatives worry that their inputs are being used to train AI without compensation. That’s a legitimate concern, but as more creatives engage with AI, they’ll have more say in shaping ethical policies.
Creative-Centered AI vs. AI Slop
Curt Doty: I advocate for Creative-Centered AI, where true creatives lead AI innovation. I’m more interested in how an experienced film editor integrates AI than in random AI-generated content. Are you seeing a shift toward higher-quality AI filmmaking?
Renard T. Jenkins: Absolutely. We’ve moved past the AI slop phase. Early AI-generated content was experimental, but now seasoned filmmakers and AI studios are creating compelling stories.
Creatives like Dave Clark (Promise Studios) and Paul Trillo are pioneers in this space. They’re using AI to augment their craft rather than replace it. AI filmmaking isn’t about pressing a button and getting a masterpiece—it’s about blending AI with traditional techniques to create something unique.
The Future of VFX and AI’s Role
Curt Doty: VFX companies like Jellyfish and Technicolor have struggled, but their issues predate AI. What’s the future of VFX?
Renard T. Jenkins: VFX houses have faced financial and operational challenges for years due to underbidding and offshoring. AI isn’t the cause of their downfall, but it could be a path forward.
The future of VFX will be driven by individual artists rather than large conglomerates. AI will empower these artists to create high-quality effects without massive studios behind them. We’re shifting toward a decentralized VFX industry where skilled individuals and small teams leverage AI to compete at a high level.
Hollywood’s Disruption: Can AI Help?
Curt Doty: Hollywood is in crisis, but it’s not AI’s fault. Can AI be part of the solution?
Renard T. Jenkins: Hollywood’s issues stem from a bloated content boom that wasn’t sustainable. COVID, the strikes, and financial restructuring forced studios to reassess their strategies.
AI won’t be a savior, but it can help independent studios thrive. The industry is shifting from big studios dominating production to independent creators driving innovation. AI enables smaller studios to produce high-quality content at a fraction of traditional costs. Major studios will focus more on distribution rather than production, much like what happened in the music industry.
AI-First Studios: Smart Strategy or Race to the Bottom?
Curt Doty: Some studios are branding themselves as AI-first. Is that a smart move or a marketing gimmick?
Renard T. Jenkins: It depends. Studios like Promise and Staircase truly use AI as a foundation, but when traditional studios suddenly claim to be AI-first, it’s often just marketing. Hollywood has a century-old workflow for a reason—it works. Throwing that out for AI would be financially irresponsible.
A better approach is AI integration. Studios should say, We’re incorporating AI into our pipeline to enhance creativity, rather than, We’re replacing everything with AI.
Blockchain, IP, and AI Ethics
Curt Doty: What role does blockchain play in AI and Hollywood’s future?
Renard T. Jenkins: Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize IP tracking and creator compensation. Companies like Eluvio are already using blockchain for content distribution. If integrated properly, blockchain can ensure artists get paid every time their work is used.
AI-generated content raises ownership questions, but blockchain could be part of the solution—allowing creators to track their work and earn royalties in ways traditional systems don’t support.
Curt Doty: Renard, it’s been a fantastic discussion. We’ll have to catch up again soon!
Renard T. Jenkins: Thanks, Curt! Looking forward to it.
To watch Renard’s interview on YouTube, click here. To listen to it on Spotify, click here. Stay tuned for more RealmIQ Sessions, Season 3. Follow us here or on TikTok, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, and don’t forget to subscribe!