Ep12: The AI Line Filmmakers Won’t Cross - with Craig Giles

What role should AI play in filmmaking - and where should humans stay firmly in the centre?

In this episode of the AI Your Business Podcast, Kim Fernandez sits down with Craig Giles, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Central Coast Studios.

Craig has spent more than 20 years across music, live events, television, screenwriting, and film production. He’s worked on major events, produced albums, created screen projects, and produced the feature film Get Free, a drama designed to raise awareness about human trafficking.

But this isn’t just a conversation about film.

Together, Kim and Craig unpack how AI is already being used inside creative workflows - from script analysis and research to proposals, distribution strategy, and production planning - without replacing the human craft of storytelling.

They also explore the vision behind Central Coast Studios, a proposed film and television studio precinct on the NSW Central Coast that could support major productions, create local jobs, and strengthen Australia’s screen industry.

This is a practical, nuanced conversation about AI, creativity, intellectual property, and what it takes to build something ambitious in a changing industry.

In This Episode We Cover

• Why AI is controversial in the film and television industry
• The difference between using AI to replace creativity and using it to support better workflows
• Why screenwriters need to protect their scripts, ideas, and intellectual property
• How Craig uses AI for script analysis, story structure, audience alignment, and feedback
• Why human judgement still matters in storytelling, coverage, and creative decisions
• How AI can support research, funding proposals, distribution strategy, and business planning
• The vision behind Central Coast Studios and why the Central Coast is a strong location for screen production
• What the proposed studio precinct could mean for jobs, local talent, families, and the Australian film industry
• Why ethical AI adoption still needs clear boundaries, secure tools, and people at the centre

 

About Craig Giles:

Craig Giles is a filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Central Coast Studios.

His career spans more than 20 years across music, television, live events, screenwriting, and film production. He has worked as a camera operator, live event director, label manager, album producer, and filmmaker across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Craig is also the producer of Get Free, a feature film created to raise awareness about human trafficking.

Alongside his wife Amanda and a growing team of advisors, Craig is helping lead the vision for Central Coast Studios - a proposed film and television studio precinct designed to support major productions, create local jobs, and position the NSW Central Coast as a serious destination for Australian and international screen production.

About the Podcast:

The AI Your Business Podcast, hosted by Kim Fernandez, helps established business owners, founders, and service providers understand how to adopt AI in a practical, human-centric way, and be inspired by ways AI is being used to solve real world problems - through real-world case studies, stories, and strategies.

Links Mentioned

Get Free - the film

Central Coast Studios Petition of Support

Largo AI

Suno AI

Craig Giles:

  Websites: https://www.centralcoaststudios.com.au

    https://www.aagilesberg.com.au

LinkedIn

Kim Fernandez

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fernandezz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimfernandez

Website: https://ai-collab.com.au