James Cameron is making a point to assure audiences that no generative AI was used in teh creation of “Avatar: The Fire and Ash.” In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the director clarified he isn’t anti-AI, but wants to emphasize the genuine performances of the actors brought to life through performance capture technology.
“I’m not negative about generative AI,” Cameron stated. “I just wanted to point out we don’t use it on the ‘Avatar’ films. We honour and celebrate actors. We don’t replace actors. That’s going to find its level. I think Hollywood will be self-policing on that. We’ll find our way through that. But we can only find our way through it as artists if we exist.So it’s the existential threat from big AI that worries me more than all that stuff.”
Cameron and the “Avatar” cast have long advocated for recognition of the real performances behind the visual spectacle. Zoe saldaña, who plays neytiri, described performance capture as “the most empowering form of acting” in a recent interview with Beyond noise, highlighting the actors’ complete ownership of their on-screen portrayal.
“Performance capture means that ‘Avatar’ wouldn’t exist if Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington, Stephen Lang, Kate Winslet, myself, and the entire cast didn’t get up and put those dots on our faces,” Saldaña explained. She detailed the extensive physical training – archery, martial arts, free diving, and learning to move like an alien species – that goes into embodying the characters.
Cameron further emphasized Saldaña’s dedication in a 2024 Variety interview, stating the Oscars are overdue in recognizing her work as Neytiri.
James Cameron Explores AI’s Role in VFX, Remains Skeptical of AI-Generated Screenplays
James Cameron, the acclaimed director behind films like Avatar and Terminator, has publicly discussed his views on artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the film industry. In September 2024, he joined the board of directors for Stability AI, the company known for its text-to-image model, Stable Diffusion.https://stability.ai/
Cameron articulated his interest in AI during an appearance on the “Boz to the Future” podcast earlier this year, stating that the future of large-scale filmmaking depends on significantly reducing visual effects (VFX) costs. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2sFYlYj3Mym64HWXtsNxbE He believes AI can definitely help achieve this by perhaps “cutting the cost of [VFX] in half.”
However, Cameron clarified that his vision isn’t about reducing the VFX workforce, but rather about increasing artist efficiency. “That’s not about laying off half the staff…That’s about doubling their speed to completion on a given shot,so your cadence is faster and your throughput cycle is faster,and artists get to move on and do other cool things,” he explained.
Cameron envisions AI’s primary role in Hollywood being within the post-production process, specifically in VFX, rather than in the initial stages of filmmaking and advancement. He expressed skepticism about AI’s ability to replace screenwriters in an interview with CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/i-warned-you-guys-in-1984-terminator-filmmaker-james-cameron-says-of-ai-s-risks-to-humanity-1.6484546
He questioned the capacity of AI to create genuinely moving stories, arguing that AI, as a “disembodied mind” simply reassembling existing human experiences, cannot replicate the emotional depth required for compelling storytelling.”You have to be human to write that,” Cameron stated, adding that he is unaware of anyone seriously considering using AI to write entire screenplays.
Cameron’s latest film,Avatar: Fire and Ash,is scheduled for release on December 19th by Disney and 20th Century Studios.