Denis Villeneuve recently talked about the current situation in Hollywood, following a host of his colleagues. He shared his thoughts on the state of cinema today in response to a question about the increasing use of AI in the industry.
AI has proved to be a huge deal and was one of the reasons why the WGA went on strike. SAG-AFTRA also joined the protest later, similarly worried about AI use for background performers. Still, while AI may be a threat to the film industry, the director of Dune 2 blamed the studios instead. Villeneuve criticized various practices of film studios and claimed it was a bigger issue than the use of AI.
Denis Villeneuve Accused Film Studios, Not AI, for Cinema’s Downfall
The director of Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve, told Time magazine that “Cinema, since its beginning, has had multiple crises,” but he thinks movie theaters will “prevail and transform.”
He stated that he’s not so worried about AI “than the fact that we behave like algorithms, as filmmakers.” Villeneuve said:
“We’re in a very conservative time; creativity is restricted. Everything’s about Wall Street. What will save cinema is freedom and taking risks. And you feel the audience is excited when they see something they haven’t seen before.”
Talking about his second Dune movie, Villeneuve shared his approach, saying:
“I was trying to be, as a filmmaker, as invisible as possible. I tried my best to keep the poetry of the book, the atmosphere, the colors, the smell, everything that I felt when I read the book. I tried.”
The French-Canadian director thinks it’s important for movies to be fresh and interesting for viewers. He believes creativity and trying new things are crucial to keeping cinema lively.
Even Oppenheimer‘s director Christopher Nolan has something to say about AI, and it seems he’s not too worried about it either.
Christopher Nolan Said AI is powerful, but It’s Just a Tool
In an interview with HugoDécrypte, filmmaker Christopher Nolan shared his reaction to an AI generated movie plot based on his sci-fi films (Inception and Tenet). He wasn’t impressed with it, calling the plot “total nonsense.” The director said:
“Complete, as we say in English, ‘cobblers’. It’s, yeah, total nonsense.”
In another interview with Wired, Nolan said that “AI can still be a very powerful tool,” but he stressed the importance of treating it as just that—a tool. He believes those who use AI must take responsibility for its impact.
According to the British filmmaker, treating AI as an all-powerful entity can be dangerous, as it may relieve people of their responsibilities.
