AI-made Christmas movie cost $1.5M instead of $80M, director tells Variety
ThomasSimonini · x · 2026-10-13
Director Tom Walsh tells Variety his adaptation of the children's book "Merry the Christmas Witch" would have cost $80 million without AI; the final budget was $1.5 million. He says indie filmmakers are locked out of traditional funding, making AI the way in. The sharer mocks how predictable these interviews have become.
Related event: AI Slashes Christmas Movie Budget from $80M to $1.5M(3 posts)→
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