Lost generation: the AI threat to Britain’s next great directors

Commercials once launched careers from Ridley Scott to Guy Ritchie, now automated production is cutting costs – and the chance to learn by doing When Ridley Scott was awarded the UK’s highest accolade for a glittering career directing films from Alien and Blade Runner to Gladiator and The Martian , he reminded those attending the Bafta event eight years ago that making commercials had been his “film school” .

The advertising industry has long been a breeding ground for British film and TV talent who have gone on to make the jump to…