About
tl;dr: A weekly newsletter documenting the AI revolution in visual storytelling: For better and worse.
Translated as "Cinema from the Machine," our name is a play on Deus Ex Machina: a plot device coined in ancient Greek theater.
CXM aims to follow, document, opine, cry and laugh at the intersection of my beloved craft and this technology whirlwind we're finding ourselves blown around by.
Comprised of a community of artists, filmmakers, branded content creators and creative professionals, the goal is for you to make informed, excellent decisions in your work. Or maybe you're just here for the free lens flares.
Here's what to expect:
- An Interview Series: First, we’re talking to the folks in the trenches. How are content producers using AI? Is it a threat or a superpower? What does their crystal ball say? Eventually, we’ll take those answers straight to the top, interviewing the CMOs, VPs, and Executive Producers who pull the financial levers to see where their heads are at.
- The Real News: Getting past the headlines to understand the "why" behind the "what." I do the deep dives so you get the insights, minus the legwork.
- The Tools: How are legacy giants like Adobe, Canon, and DJI adapting to the AI revolution? I’m consolidating all the tech updates creatives need to know into one accessible place.
- Opinions & Reviews: Honest takes on the current landscape. From analyzing the backlash against Aronofsky's AI-generated film to testing whether that new AI editing software is actually any good, we're covering the good, the bad, and the glitchy.
About Me.
RC Cone is a freelance filmmaker of 15+ years based in Bozeman, Montana. He founded Tributaries Digital Cinema and has told stories for excellent brands such as Patagonia, YETI, DECKED, NBC Olympics and more. He likes long walks with his dog and a shotgun and, somehow, luckily, he's loved by his beautiful wife Jess who likes him even better when he monetizes things.
Help get CXM off the ground and take 50% off an annual subscription. I'm working hard to bring you actionable intelligence at the intersection of AI and visual storytelling. Expires June 1, 2026.
What does Cinema from the Machine even mean?
The definition of Deus Ex Machina according to Wikipedia:
Its function is generally to resolve an otherwise irresolvable plot situation, to surprise the audience, to bring the tale to a happy ending, or act as a comedic device...The device is associated mostly with Greek tragedy, although it also appeared in comedies.
What does this have to do with AI?
With this damn thing at the forefront of every conversation, shareholder portfolio, and daily headline, us working folks find ourselves in the middle. As a filmmaker I've found the topic of AI to be divisive, scary, ridiculously stupid and poignant all at once.
Dario Amodei, who is probably the most safety-focused CEO in the AI industry, has publicly predicted that AI will eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs within one to five years. And many people in the industry think he's being conservative.
This prediction, from a recent article about the power of AI, suggests we're looking for our own kind of conclusion, our own ACT III, a happy ending.
As this technology and the culture it creates evolves, I realized as a storyteller and documentarian that I needed to get to work or be left behind, hence this blog.
I hope that together, we can find our happy ending.
-rc