How AI is helping James Lee tell the stories he wants to tell

James Lee’s ‘The Yokai Journal’ will unfold as a web series, with new episodes released every two months. (James Lee pic)

PETALING JAYA: Civil wars rage across the land. Centuries-old traditions are crumbling.

Deep within a forest, a mysterious masked swordsman named Ren and his young companion, Akira, find themselves caught in a conflict of their own as ancient spirits and fearsome creatures known as “yokai” emerge from the shadows.

Bringing a story like this to the screen would normally require years of preparation, thousands of ringgit, and a trip to Japan to film on location, hire actors and create convincing visual effects.

But local indie filmmaker James Lee, known for works such as “Legasi: Bomba The Movie” and “KL24: Zombie”, created “The Yokai Journal: Prelude” in days for around RM400 using artificial intelligence.

The short film serves as the opening chapter of an original web series, “The Yokai Journal: The Mask of Tengu”, inspired by Japanese folklore, samurai cinema and supernatural horror.

Yet Lee is quick to point out that AI didn’t make the film on its own. “Most people think AI replaces creativity. For me, it’s a tool, like a magic camera,” he told FMT Lifestyle.

Lee believes AI is opening the door for more independent filmmakers to tell ambitious stories. (Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle)

Long before experimenting with AI-generated videos, the 52-year-old from Ipoh had already been using generative AI as a writing partner.

“Writing has always been about bouncing ideas off other people. AI gives me another perspective that I might not have seen. It doesn’t write the script for me, but it helps me become a better storyteller.”

For “The Yokai Journal: Prelude”, Lee pushed the technology further. Besides generating the visuals, he also used AI to compose the music, while handling the editing, colour grading, sound design and post-production himself .

“I’m not a composer; I simply describe the emotion, timing and mood I want, just as I would when briefing a composer. I was amazed it could create music around that,” he said.

His experience with AI only began two months ago while working on the set of a local television series. An art director showed him how the tech could redesign sets and even generate videos on a smartphone.

“I was very impressed! What excited me wasn’t just the cost, but the possibilities.”

Lee, who has spent more than two decades making films such as ‘The Collector’, continues to explore new ways of telling stories. (James Lee pic)

After several experiments, Lee realised he could create scenes that would have been impossible on an independent filmmaker’s budget.

The project also reflects a shift in the kinds of stories he wants to tell.

“I’ve always wanted to make something that can travel,” he said. “We’ve spent too much time trying to define what local content should be. Sometimes we forget that the most important thing is telling a good story.”

A lifelong fan of Japanese culture, manga and anime, Lee describes “The Yokai Journal” as “the Japanese version of The Witcher” – a fantasy adventure about demon hunters with an original mythology that will unfold over future episodes.

Each instalment will run between five and eight minutes, allowing him to gather audience feedback before moving on to the next chapter.

“If I make a 90-minute feature and people don’t like it, I’ve spent all that time on something that doesn’t work,” he explained.

“With a series, I can learn and improve as I go. If something doesn’t work, I can fix it in episode two or three.”

Using AI, Lee created the first episode of ‘The Yokai Journal’ in mere days for around RM400. (James Lee pic)

Lee hopes to release a new episode every two months, although the writing process will ultimately determine the pace.

More than anything, he believes AI is lowering the barriers for aspiring filmmakers.

“It opens the door to everybody. Not everyone has access to cameras, a crew or a budget. Now people can start making films and learning the craft.

“At the end of the day, audiences will still choose good stories.”

And Lee has no plans to stop with “The Yokai Journal”. He is already developing another AI-assisted series – a steampunk sci-fi adventure set in an alternate Europe – based on a screenplay that had previously failed to secure funding.

“Nobody wanted it before,” he said. “Now I don’t have to wait for someone to say yes. I can just make it.”

Watch ‘The Yokai Journal: Prelude’ here. Follow James Lee on Facebook.