“AI Was Just the Doorway” — Jagger Waters on Storytelling, Music Videos, and the MetaMorph Award

Heartbreaker has won the Music Video Category.

What was the original creative spark behind your film, and why did you choose to tell this story using AI?

Jagger Waters: "Heartbreaker" is a music video I created for a very cool musician named Hyland Church. Listening to what he wanted the video to feel like and learning how to balance that with my own creative vision brought the spark to life. That's the client-artist relationship part of this process that remains unchanged. Also, the budget for a live action music video with the same shots would have cost him well over $80K out of pocket (on the low end) and I believe independent artists deserve to have awesome visual work that doesn't push them into bankruptcy like that.

How did working with AI change your role as a filmmaker, artist or storyteller during the process?

Jagger Waters: I originally adopted AI because I'm a writer, and I spent years in a cycle of TV and film development where projects would constantly fall apart or lose funding. AI lets me bring my stories to life, showcase what my taste and perspective is. I've also learned infinitely more about video production because I leaned into AI. I've learned how to edit, adjust color, sound design/sound mix, and I've learned about the creator economy. AI was just the doorway, and it introduced me to so many other facets of filmmaking that I hadn't explored before. Now I can create any kind of video I want, on my own terms.

Where did you feel most in control of the work, and where did the technology surprise you?

Jagger Waters: I feel most in control of the work when I'm editing. You can shoot real footage or generate it all day long, but in the end, the process of curating and choosing the final shots and cutting them precisely where it's most effective is the real "directing".

What part of the film feels most personal to you?

Jagger Waters: "Heartbreaker" is sensual, it's grungy and very traditional in the party-hard-rock-and-roll sense. I tried to keep the female perspective alive, especially in the representation of the bodies on screen. All kinds of women love rock & roll. I wanted to show that!

What does being part of MetaMorph 2026 mean to you at this moment in the evolution of AI storytelling?

Jagger Waters: The community aspect of participating in MetaMorph was a game changer. I saw familiar faces in the finalist list, and new ones I hadn't met before. Visibility and recognition matters right now, and the esteemed group of judges really made it legitimate and worthwhile. Excited to see what's next for MetaMorph!