Guillermo del Toro Dedicates ‘Poor Things’ too Human Artists, Declares “Fck AI”
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Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro delivered a passionate speech at a recent event celebrating his latest film, *Poor Things, dedicating the movie to the human artists who brought it to life and issuing a strong rebuke of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. The speech, reported by multiple sources, underscored del Toro’s lifelong connection to the story and his commitment to the power of human creativity.
A Lifelong Connection to Poor Things
Del Toro revealed he first encountered Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at the age of 11, a formative experience that profoundly shaped his life and artistic vision. Fifty years later, that early inspiration culminated in the creation of Poor Things, based on alasdair Gray’s novel. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/08/guillermo-del-toro-poor-things-venice-film-festival
He explained how Shelley’s work, coupled with his initial exposure to Boris Karloff’s iconic portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster, helped him understand his own sense of otherness. “I understood… through her work and the first glimpse of Boris Karloff, that I did not belong in the world the way my parents, the way the world, expected me to fit. That my place was in a far away land inhabited onyl by monsters and misfits. Thay have been my kin ever since.”
Celebrating Human collaboration
Del Toro’s speech was a powerful testament to the collaborative spirit of filmmaking and the importance of human artistry. He specifically praised the contributions of Oscar and Jacob, likely referring to Oscar Hernandez and Jacob Ward, key artists involved in the film’s production design. He described working with them as “truly one of the greatest privileges of my life,” and emphasized that they, and the entire team, “don’t play archetypes. They dramatize the human condition and longing for a connection in a world that misunderstands them.”
He further highlighted the film’s exploration of pain and the urgent need for empathy, stating, “a world where pain only begets pain, which is, sadly, so urgent now, until someone decides to stop it.”
A Direct challenge to AI in Film
In a especially striking moment, del Toro concluded his remarks with a defiant message: “It belongs to all of them, and I would like to extend our gratitude and say, Fck AI.” This statement reflects a growing concern within the creative industries about the potential displacement of human artists by artificial intelligence. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/film/film-news/guillermo-del-toro-poor-things-ai-1235753419/ Del Toro’s words are a clear endorsement of the unique value and irreplaceable role of human creativity in the art of filmmaking. He emphasized that “all of them shines on every single frame of this film that was willfully made by humans, for humans.”
Key Takeaways:
* Guillermo del Toro’s *Poor Things is a deeply personal project rooted in his childhood fascination with Frankenstein.
* The film celebrates the power of human connection and empathy in a world often marked by misunderstanding and pain.
* Del Toro issued a strong condemnation of AI’s role in filmmaking, advocating for the continued importance of human artistry.
Del Toro’s passionate defense of human creativity serves as a powerful reminder of the artistic and emotional core of filmmaking,and a challenge to the industry to prioritize and protect the contributions of human artists in the age of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.