How To Get Hired As An AI Artist
In this article, we’re talking to director Victor Moreno about working as an AI Artist.
Companies all over the world are starting to hire “AI Artists.”
But what does that mean? Talented creator and former Curious Refuge student Victor Moreno gives us some insight on his best practices and personal experience using AI storytelling tools.
How To Get Hired As An AI Artist
Storyteller Victor Moreno works as an AI Artist at Swedish film production company UNCUT, and is currently developing a new short film that blends traditional cinematography with AI filmmaking.
How did you first learn about Curious Refuge, and which course did you take?
I first discovered Curious Refuge through their YouTube videos. What began as casual interest deepened when I found their comprehensive AI-driven creative courses. I enrolled in the AI Advertising course with Caleb Ward and Dave Clark.
I also attended AI Filmmaking workshops with Stacy Kelly, and took the Comfy UI course with Mauricio Tonon.
Joining about a year ago proved perfect timing given the dramatic evolution of AI since then. Beyond technical skills, the most valuable takeaway was the fundamental shift in my mindset, embracing AI as a creative partner that enhances both my process and results.
Can you describe your background? What kind of creative work were you doing in the past? Who did you want to become when you were younger?
My career kind of evolved naturally from graphic design and art direction into video and film. I've worked both agency-side and in-house, plus freelance projects that took me in different directions for brands like Stüssy, Volvo, Sony Music, Derek Lam Eyewear, Fondazione Prada, and Moderna Museet.
One project I'm particularly proud of was composing a score inspired by a poetry chapbook, which I produced at EMS Elektronmusikstudion in Sweden. It ended up becoming this cool collaboration with Wolfgang Tillmans, who contributed one of his images for the cover artwork.
I also work as a cultural journalist, which has let me interview and photograph people I really admire - filmmakers, musicians, artists. I compiled some of these into my first photography book, 'Portraits of People I Admire,' and I'm working on a second one now. I think this varied background is why AI feels like such a natural fit for me.
Having experience across different creative areas means I can see how to integrate AI at various stages of the process. For filmmaking especially, AI opens up possibilities that weren't feasible before due to time and budget constraints - now stories can take visual form much more directly.
How has your relationship with creativity changed since you started embracing AI?
I’ve evolved into an orchestrator, directing AI across ideation, writing, storyboarding, and other creative processes.
The most transformative aspect has been the ability to visualize concepts with precision, without the traditional time and resource demands. It allows for rapid prototyping, on-brand content generation, and risk-free testing before full production. This process not only enhances my creative development but also dramatically improves how I communicate ideas to teams, clients, and collaborators – turning abstract concepts into clear, tangible visual references.
If you could grab coffee with the version of yourself from before taking the course, what kind of conversation would you have? What would you tell your past self about what you've learned?
If I could have coffee with my pre-course self, I'd reassure them that their intuition was spot-on. When I shared plans to take an AI course, some were skeptical, arguing anything AI-related would quickly become outdated. I'd tell my past self: 'it's about building a foundation and developing a mindset that will serve you regardless of how technology evolves.' I'm very happy I pursued this education.
Beyond technical skills, Curious Refuge provided something more valuable: a framework for integrating AI into creative work. Their ongoing support for alumni has been crucial in helping me stay current in this fast-moving industry. I'd explain how AI would transform my workflow: 'the time saved on repetitive tasks will be reinvested in exploring creative alternatives you never would have had bandwidth to consider before.' And as I hoped, the course has opened new opportunities as creative studios, marketing teams and film production companies shift their business models.
Congratulations on landing your new gig working at UNCUT in Stockholm. What does a typical day look like being an "AI Artist" for the company?
Many thanks. I’m excited to be joining the talented team at UNCUT as I continue my journey as an AI Artist.
Founded in 2023 by the former creators of ACNE, UNCUT has quickly grown to a team of around 40 people. It’s a creative tech company that helps global brands move beyond outdated production models. With a proprietary AI ecosystem, UNCUT is making content creation simpler, smarter, and more cost-efficient. It’s a truly pioneering company that’s redefining how creativity and production intersect, staying ahead of traditional studios by reimagining what’s possible. What sets UNCUT apart is not just the ability to deliver content ready for seamless integration into clients’ workflows, but also its commitment to re-educating the market on the potential of AI-powered creativity. We help brands position themselves as innovative and forward-thinking by embracing new approaches.
In this role, no two days look the same, which is part of the excitement. We operate a suite of AI tools, work closely with clients, and collaborate with UNCUT’s roster of film directors to weave AI-generated elements into film and motion content.
I’m a strong believer in hybrid approaches — where traditional and AI-driven methods coexist — even as I remain aware of the complexities involved in crafting brand-consistent work with today’s cutting-edge tools.
How do you personally find a balance between your unique voice while using AI tools?
Working for clients is all about honoring the brief and meeting quality standards while discovering the added value that AI brings. As a film director, storytelling remains paramount; it doesn't matter how visually impressive something is if the story fails to engage your audience. For each project, I pursue a visual aesthetic that enhances the narrative. I channel my favorite artists: Stanley Kubrick, James Turrell, Vangelis, Sylvia Plath, you name it, they’re all sources of inspiration.
My unique voice emerges from the intersection of cultural knowledge and technical skills, just like in traditional photography, filmmaking, or writing.
The AI tools may change, but the fundamental creative principles remain. My experiences, perspectives, and creative instincts guide the technology, not the other way around.
Where do you think AI is going, for creatives? Are there more changes you could see happening to the creative industries?
I think AI's future lies in its logical integration, boosting parts of our creative processes while combining existing software and workflows. As AI becomes standardized, the "AI" prefix will fade, honoring creative work rather than the technology behind it. The tools will operate behind the scenes, connecting possibilities that weren't available before.
With experience on both agency and client sides, I see a shift away from large teams with highly specialized roles as it used to be. Instead, we're moving toward individuals with expertise across multiple disciplines, with AI enhancing their capabilities beyond traditional technical limitations. Teams will still be necessary, but the capabilities of each person will expand, and creative industries will restructure their processes around these new dynamics.
Can you tell us about or show us a project you're currently working on? How are you using AI in the process?
I'm finalizing my second short film, a hybrid production for the Swedish non-profit Suicide Zero, focused on youth suicide prevention. The story follows a young Swedish woman in Japan who experiences trauma and mental health challenges before returning to Sweden. After a year of isolation in the northern woods, she faces a life-or-death moment when her snowmobile crashes through the ice.
AI has been instrumental throughout the production, from developing the film treatment and storyboard to post-production. I’ve been fortunate to receive support from AI companies, including Runway, which provided unlimited access to their tools, and the New York-based Cuebric, which is making virtual production more accessible. I’m using AI-generated backdrops projected on 4K backlit screens with parallax depth of field, enabling camera movement – storytelling techniques typically unaffordable at this scale. The film stars Swedish actress Hanna Röckner, and for certain scenes, I created a dataset incorporating AI-generated imagery of her. The music is composed by me and Isabelle Engman, who also scored a recent documentary about Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. We’re also using AI-based tools for sound mastering.
How did taking the Curious Refuge course change your workflow?
Taking the course with Caleb Ward, Dave Clark, Stacy Kelly and Mauricio Tonon was a complete eye-opener. Stacy’s experience working with directors like Christopher Nolan and Jim Sheridan, and Dave founding Promise – the first AI-only film production studio in LA – was truly inspiring. I remember Dave’s first class, where he spoke about his Adidas spec ad going viral. That motivated me to create a Nike spec ad on YouTube, which reached over 2K views in its first week.
I learned different tools that I quickly integrated in my everyday workflows, from GPT customizations to more advanced ComfyUI tools. Curious Refuge’s generous access to a ComfyUI course with professor Mauricio Tonon was the perfect next natural step and, I believe, instrumental in helping me land my role as an AI Artist at UNCUT, due the company’s highly technical profile.
What are 3 of your favorite AI tools right now?
Apart from Comfy, I’ve been using Higgsfield, Runway, and Cuebric.
Both Runway and Cuebric supported my short film project, which I truly appreciate. Higgsfield has been especially useful for applying dynamic camera movements, though it comes at a cost.
I’m also excited about Comfy’s new API integration between popular models and FLUX – the possibility of mixing the tactility and style of for instance Veo2 with the control of Comfy. I'm also looking forward to exploring LoRAs for video generation next.
Thank you so much, Victor!
To learn more about Victor’s work, check out his YouTube and Vimeo channels.
His work spans brand films and narrative filmmaking, combining traditional techniques with AI, and has been featured in Runway’s Top 50 Global Talent Network.