Filmmaking is becoming interesting with the increasing reach of Artificial Intelligence. Yet, according to Dune director Denis Villeneuve, it will never be able to compete with the organic creative process of filmmaking. In conversation with fellow director Joe Wright, Villeneuve talked at length about the use of AI in creative projects.
He said, “The thing I love most about cinema is the collective act of creativity, where you try to create poetry…after all it is cinema, it is a story.” The director further said that if in the future, he would use computers to create stories, it could be interesting, but would “completely miss the collective act of creativity, which is so beautifully human.”
French Canadian director earned praise for his work in the Dune films. During the conversation, he also gave insight into his creative process, specifically his idea that inspired the design of the giant sand worms. The director said, “We were really obsessed with the idea of trying to make this animal look as realistic as possible.” He said his educational background in biology really helped with the idea.
He and production designer Patrice Vermette studied various animal species to analyze how the worm’s skin could withstand the harsh desert environment. Besides being a huge spectacle, the Dune franchise also has its intimate moments. “‘Part Two’ is a love story, and the entire film is structured around that love story,” Villeneuve explained.
They focused on the relationship between Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and Chani (Zendaya) and found ways to enhance the scene to make their relationship better. However, he admitted that not all days of filming were good. He said, “There’s always at least one day when I’m a lousy director, where it feels like you’re a tuneless instrument.”
Despite the initial feeling of guilt/shame, the director highlighted the importance of reshooting scenes if necessary. In April, it was confirmed by the studio that the third sequel in the Dune franchise is based on Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah, set 12 years after the events of the first novel.
