“They don’t do anything”: Charlie Kaufman, Who Inspired Scarlett Johansson’s $48M Oscar Nominated AI Film, Gives Scathing Statement on WGA Strike
Charlie Kaufman, a screenwriter and director known for the offbeat and darkly humorous movies, recently spoke about the Writers Guild of America (WGA). In the interview, he shared his perspective on current concerns surrounding Hollywood writers, AI, and the industry’s ongoing challenges. He put on some t-shirts like Writers Guild on Strike and SAG-AFTRA Strong, expressing his support for the strike.
Charlie Kaufman’s Support Towards His Fellow Writers
Kaufman has won various awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, for his contributions to the entertainment industry. Be it Being John Malkovich or the romance sci-fi films including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Her, he has always delivered. He was honored at the Sarajevo Film Festival with the Heart of Sarajevo award. In times of need, even when he couldn’t join the picket line, he supported his fellow writers struggling with the dilemma of creativity versus commerce.
Kaufman also addressed AI’s profound impact on the creative process. He labeled it as the end of creativity for human beings. In parallel with Frank or Francis, the unproduced screenplay wherein the robotic head creates the appealing screenplay, he tried to emphasize the unsettling reality, which is about the potential of AI to shape the future of society, just like the script’s character.
As a writer, Kaufman criticized disparity amidst compensation within the industry. He pointed out the huge difference between the earnings of the writers and the executives.
He said, “It’s disgusting because they don’t do anything. No, they do damage is what they do,” adding, “And if everything is about the bottom line for them and saving money, then there’s nothing left to the art form.’
Charlie Kaufman’s Her Connects with Today’s Increased Use of Artificial Intelligence
As the writer of Her starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson as the voice of his AI, Kaufman included the themes of human emotions mixed with AI. It followed the life of Theodore Twombly, the lonely writer who fell in love with Samantha, the computer operating system with the advanced AI. The film interpreted the commentary about the relationship between tech and humans and the role of creativity and art within the digital age.
Read More: 3 Movies of Scarlett Johansson That Might Be Better Than Avengers: Endgame
The statement made by Kaufman on the WGA strike can be seen as a continuity of the theme as he argued that the writers are getting marginalized by the entertainment industry and they need to fight for their own rights.
From movies to the support of his fellow writers, the Her writer has never backed out. He has always tried to emphasize how human-to-human connection will always remain beyond AI capabilities’ reach. It reflects upon the broader discourse which surrounds the role of tech within creativity.
Notably, with AI continuing to take over, industry professionals and creatives are grappling to maintain a fine line between human artistry preservation and innovation.
Source: Variety
