Hands-on workshop for filmmakers · San Diego
Direct the Machine
From Still to Clip Without the AI Slop
You know the AI look. Waxy skin, glowing edges, the same pose twelve times. This is an evening on getting past it. Decide what the image has to do, judge what comes back, keep what works, fix one thing at a time.
The night
What happens in the room
One real project, start to finish. You make the calls before I show you mine.
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01
Intent first
Before any image, decide what it has to do and who it's for. That is Intent Engineering. Skip it and you get the slop.
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02
Call it, then reveal
I bring key art from one of my own film projects, round by round. You call each round on a critique card: what works, what's wrong, fix it or reject it, and the one change you'd make. Then I show what I actually decided, and why.
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03
Your turn
Write a one-line brief for your own film idea, generate key art with a free tool, critique it with the same card, and make one change.
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04
From still to clip
The approved image becomes a short video clip. Then we look at where this goes wrong: drift, a small fix that breaks what already worked, and knowing when to stop.
My demo rounds are made ahead of time, so the evening goes to decisions, not loading bars.
Who it's for
Filmmakers who need images that look like their film.
- WhoWriters, directors, editors, composers, anyone who has to make a poster, a pitch image or a teaser.
- ExperienceNone with AI needed.
- You leave withA start on key art for your own film idea, one fix you directed yourself, and the critique card for every image after this one.
From a past workshop
"I found Alex's training course on how to use AI as a tool so beneficial and informative and I actually started moving on my project right there in class."
Your host
Alex Guillen
Composer with a BA from Berklee Online. Thirty years in music and creative work, 3,000-plus live performances. I co-wrote the award-winning short A Cut Above. I teach Human-Led AI for creative work: you keep the judgment, and AI does the parts you choose to hand it.
Questions
- What do I bring?
- A laptop or a phone, signed in to a personal Google account. We'll use Gemini's free image tool. Setup instructions come by email before the night.
- Do I need AI experience?
- No.
- Is there an age limit?
- 18 and up. Gemini's image editing is adults only.
- What if I can't make it?
- Full refund up to 48 hours before the workshop. After that, you can give your seat to a friend.
- Other questions?
- Call or text 619-755-3246.
Fri, Nov 20 · 6:30 pm
Direct the Machine.
Expressive Arts San Diego, 3201 Thorn St. $49.
Register for $49