June 26, 2024
The Last Screenwriter was due to debut recently at London's Prince Charles Cinema. But just a few days prior to the planned event, the showing was suddenly cancelled. BY: K Dass.
UK - The Prince Charles Cinema in London
recently became a flashpoint in the impassioned debate about the impact of AI
on the film industry. The cinema had planned to host the world premiere of The
Last Screenwriter, a film entirely written using artificial intelligence
(AI). However, the screening was abruptly cancelled after receiving customer
feedback expressing “strong concern” about “the use of AI in place of a
writer.”
Swiss
filmmaker Peter Luisi, the director of The Last Screenwriter, expressed
shock at the cancellation. His intention had been to spark a conversation about
AI’s influence on filmmaking. Luisi believes that the cinema shouldn’t have
been scared off by a few upset individuals, emphasizing that discussions about
AI are essential. He pointed out that heightened passions surround AI at the
moment, as evidenced by the online reactions.
The film’s
script, generated entirely by ChatGPT, is knowingly self-aware about AI. It
revolves around a celebrated screenwriter who realises that AI not only matches
but surpasses his skills. Luisi’s goal is to showcase what is possible with AI
and contribute to the ongoing industry discussion about its potential impact.
While some
praised the cinema’s integrity for taking a stance on industry issues, others
lamented the missed opportunity for a valuable discussion. Regardless, The
Last Screenwriter remains an experimental milestone—the first known
feature-length script generated by ChatGPT to be filmed.
As the film
industry grapples with AI’s role, the cancelled premiere serves as a stark
reminder that technology continues to reshape creative processes and provoke
passionate reactions.