It feels like everything’s in flux right now—commerce, work, innovation, even the ground under our feet. Nothing is stable, and maybe that’s the point. We’re not in an era of certainty. We’re in an era of boldness.

The age of gatekeeping is over. AI isn’t the end of creativity—it’s a remix of what we thought creativity was. As a 27-year-old filmmaker and Creative Innovation Officer, I’ve watched tools evolve from sidekick to full-on collaborator. But let’s be clear: the real magic still starts with human taste, trust, and vision.

Bastion DeNine reflects on Texas’ $1.5B film investment, the creative takeover beyond Hollywood gatekeepers, and the urgent need for trust, collaboration, and global storytelling. A call for Texas creators to build culture, not chase trends—using AI, taste, and community as tools for revolution.