Is Prompting the Future of Screenwriting? A Writer's Take

I remember the thrill of discovering my first screenwriting book. Little did I know, the future would involve not just writing, but also prompting.

Eldoret, Kenya, wasn't exactly a Sherehe hotspot, but hey, we had options:

• The campus library: Free Wi-Fi meant endless movie marathons (ahem, technically "downloading").
• The shopping center: Makeshift bars and restaurants – the closest thing to a multiplex, except with questionable hygiene and even more questionable ethics.
• Hostel H: Don't even ask. 

The library, despite the sketchy internet connection, was my personal movie haven. Between illegal downloads (don't judge, we were young, desperate and surviving the gruesome boredom in Moi University!), I wandered the aisles, aimlessly browsing. That's where I stumbled upon a dusty screenwriting book. This moment was the beginning of a beautiful – and slightly painful – love affair with the craft.

My first script? Penned in an exercise book (because #struggles) and then transferred to a word document. Formatting was my arch-nemesis, taking longer than the actual writing. Thankfully, I discovered the glorious world of Celtx and Final Draft, which made things about as smooth as a Githurai hawker's lies. 

Fast forward to, like, two days ago. I'm chilling at home after brunch with a friend, feeling zen as a meditating monk, when BAM! It hits me – the future of scriptwriting is all about prompting. 

Let's face it, AI-powered films are about to become the new low-budget kings of storytelling. Production houses are gonna be like "peace out, guys," and switch to these cost-effective flicks. 

So, the old days of vaguely describing a scene with words like "sun-drenched meadow" might be over. We're looking at a new era, and it involves either:

• An app that writes AI film scripts: Basically, a "robot" screenwriter that churns out Oscar-worthy scripts while you nap. (That's if it'll be able to write in Sheng' and other Kenyan languages.)
• A script-to-prompt converter app: This bad boy takes your traditional script and spits out an AI-friendly prompt, like "FADE IN: A lone cowboy rides through a dusty desert, searching for redemption." (Hopefully with slightly more complex prompts, but you get the idea.)

Now, on the bright side, writers who can master the art of prompting are gonna be swimming in job offers. For a while. But here's the catch: we gotta level up our tech skills. From understanding camera angles to storyboarding, these are gonna be essential weapons in our arsenal to survive the AI apocalypse.

I read somewhere that 2024 is all about the trifecta: creativity, tech, and spirituality. The tools are out there, accessible to everyone. The real winners in this creative game will be the ones who can blend their wild imaginations with some tech know-how. And, of course, a healthy dose of spirituality. Because let's be real, this whole AI thing is gonna be one wild ride, and we need to stay grounded to survive it (cue the meditation music).