by FilmInk Staff
Award-winning director Clayton Jacobson partners with Prompt Pictures to produce Australia’s first generative AI horror feature film, SKARN.
Award-winning Australian director Clayton Jacobson (Kenny, Brothers’ Nest) has partnered with innovative production company Prompt Pictures (Oddball Producer Stephen Kearney and producer/sales executive Ross Howden) to create SKARN, a ground-breaking AI-enhanced horror film showcasing the transformative creative potential of generative AI filmmaking.
SKARN follows Milo, a brilliant but isolated teenager who activates a revolutionary but ultimately horrific artificial intelligence. The project demonstrates how generative AI can amplify human creativity while preserving the narrative integrity defining Jacobson’s internationally acclaimed work.
“Prompt Pictures is about supercharging human creativity,” clarifies producer Stephen Kearney, “Generative AI unlocks entirely new affordable creative possibilities we’ve never had before.”
THE NEXT EVOLUTION IN FILMMAKING
Building on the legacy of CGI and virtual production, AI represents the next major leap in visual storytelling. As Avatar director James Cameron noted when joining Stability AI’s board in 2024: “The intersection of generative AI and CGI image creation is the next wave. The convergence of these two totally different engines of creation will unlock new ways for artists to tell stories in ways we could have never imagined.”
Director Clayton Jacobson adds “I’m excited to explore how AI can offer myself and collaborators more creative freedom to iterate throughout the entire storytelling process. So much of the traditional filmmaking process is about being told “No”. We are constantly forced to compromise our vision due to budgets, weather, schedules and many external restraints beyond our control. Generative AI is a paradigm shift in this regard, that will benefit film-makers and audiences alike and I can’t get out of bed fast enough to play.”
POST-PRODUCTION WITH SANDBOX
Prompt Pictures will partner with leading post house Sandbox to complete the SKARN production delivery to all platforms. “AI is an exciting new tool for storytellers,” says Grady Habib, Managing Director from Sandbox, “We’re thrilled to help deliver one of the first feature-length films where visual elements are predominantly created through AI by integrating traditional techniques to preserve cinematic depth.”
COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL AI
The project establishes new ethical standards for Australian AI filmmaking:
• Transparency in all AI usage
• Protection of creative rights
• Full human oversight of final outputs
Producers are currently completing financing with official production commencing January 2026.
ABOUT PROMPT PICTURES
Founded early 2025 by producers Stephen Kearney and Ross Howden, Prompt Pictures pioneers ethical AI-powered filmmaking in Australia, focused on profitable long form storytelling integrating cutting-edge technology with human creativity. Using proprietary systems and their extensive industry experience in development, production and sales, Prompt Pictures works with upcoming and established creators embracing new workflows to enhance traditional and generative AI production workflows.
ABOUT CLAYTON JACOBSON
Award-winning director/writer/producer Clayton Jacobson has always been an early adopter of new technologies, he was one of the first to use non-linear editing tools, championed Canon’s release of digital DSLR and created Australia’s first full end to end virtual production studio DREAMSCREEN AUSTRALIA. Clayton’s innovative approach and storytelling excellence have established him as a respected voice in Australian cinema.
ABOUT SANDBOX
Sandbox is a leading post-production house working at the intersection of traditional filmmaking and AI-driven visual storytelling.
