‘Taxi Driver’ Writer Thinks AI Can Write Better Movies Than Humans

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Amidst the ongoing argument and turmoil regarding AI in movie making, renowned screenwriter Paul Schrader, known for his work on Martin Scorsese’s films like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, has offered a contentious perspective. The rapid advancement of AI in the past few years has significantly impacted and disrupted various sectors. However, the creative arts might be among the hardest hit, as major film studios are increasingly eager to adopt this technology for quicker, less expensive movie production without human involvement. This has sparked fierce opposition from actors, directors, and writers, with AI being a prominent topic in the joint WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023. However, Schrader’s viewpoint stands apart from the majority.

Recently, Schrader shared on Facebook his impressive encounter with the generative AI platform, ChatGPT. His post, filled with astonishment, started off as “‘I’M AMAZED,’” he wrote. Schrader explained that he requested ChatGPT to brainstorm film ideas based on various director’s styles, and was astounded by the outcomes. “I asked chatgpt for ‘a concept for a Paul Schrader film’, followed by ideas for Paul Thomas Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Harmony Korine, Ingmar Bergman, Rossellini, Lang, Scorsese, Murnau, Capra, Ford, Spielberg, Lynch,” he continued. He was shocked to discover that each idea generated (in mere seconds) was not only good but also original and fully developed.

In my perspective, why should I, as a writer, spend months pondering over an excellent idea when AI can swiftly generate one in mere seconds?

Paul Schrader’s idea of applying generative AI in screenwriting is not controversial for his personal use, but it stirred controversy when he suggested that other writers might follow suit. In a post, he questioned the logic of writers spending months searching for ideas when AI can generate one instantly. However, many film enthusiasts and creatives have strongly opposed the use of AI in movie making. For instance, when A24 released posters for Alex Garland’s Civil War in early 2024, fans swiftly criticized the apparent use of AI and the studio faced heavy backlash. More recently, David Fincher confessed to using AI for the 4k re-release of Se7en, which drew criticism from some viewers.

Fans Fire Back at Paul Schrader Over His AI Comments

It’s not surprising that Paul Schrader’s fans were taken aback when he suggested studios and other writers should adopt AI. One comment reads, “Is everything alright with Paul?” Many others argue the main issue with generative AI: it draws from previously written works, often plagiarizing human authors’ work without crediting them. Another user commented, “For this to occur, there must first exist a Paul Schrader, a Paul Thomas Anderson, a Quentin Tarantino, and so on.” They continued, “ChatGPT can’t provide prompts if these writers didn’t share their work initially.

The use of AI in movie making is likely to remain a much-discussed issue for a long period. With the introduction of software such as ChatGPT, followed by numerous similar tools developed by other companies, has essentially opened a Pandora’s Box within the industry. Unfortunately, it appears that artists and film enthusiasts will need to consistently advocate for the importance of human input in creative fields for the foreseeable future.

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2025-01-20 18:32