Wim Wenders Talks SAG-AFTRA Strike at Lyon’s Lumiere Festival, Says U.S. Studios’ Obsession With Sequels ‘Kills Imagination and the Idea of Cinema’
variety.comElsa Keslassy International Correspondent While at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon, German film master Wim Wenders said he shares Martin Scorsese’s deep concern over Hollywood’s obsession with sequels, and worries about AI in line with U.S.
actors who are still on strike. “Actors and screenwriters are afraid of becoming obsolete,” said Wenders when addressing the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike during a press conference on Saturday.
The veteran writer-director, who had two films playing at the Cannes Film Festival, “Perfect Days” in competition and “Anselm” in Special Screenings, received the Lumière Award on Friday night during a star-studded ceremony hosted by the festival’s boss Thierry Fremaux, who is also Cannes’ chief. “With AI everything gets done very fast,” said Wenders. “You give three ideas and a few ideas and the next day you have a new script that many studio executives will want to use because that’s what they wanted.
For screenwriters it would be the end.” The filmmaker argued that actors are also “right to fight” because their data aren’t protected. “Data are convenient because they don’t create problems and don’t get sick,” said Wenders, alluding to the unauthorized use of actors’ likenesses.
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