Netflix has reportedly used an artificial intelligence-generated Christopher Nolan voice in a video touting the film division’s accomplishments for the year. Not only is it a controversial use of AI voice generation, it also seems to be a troll aimed at the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer director, from new Netflix film division chief Dan Lin.
As reported by Puck (via Fiction Horizon), Lin recently took over for former Netflix film division head Scott Stuber. While Stuber was into landing big names and was uber talent-friendly, Lin seems to be the opposite, as Arthur S. Poe wrote in Fiction Horizon: “His goal is clear: cut costs.” The struggle between artistic and monetary pursuits is a Hollywood tale as old as time.
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The recent fracas with the Christopher Nolan AI voice possibly stems from Nolan’s well-documented aversion to working with Netflix. Nolan has criticized the streaming behemoth for simultaneously releasing films in theaters and on streaming. The Inception director believes simultaneous releases undermine the impact of a film meant to be seen on the big screen.
“I have been a longtime proponent of film – particularly the Imax film format – as a storytelling medium,” Nolan stated on the subject of theatrical releases. “The immersive quality of the image is second to none, drawing the audience into the action in the most intense way possible.”
In a 2017 interview with Indiewire, Nolan took aim specifically at Netlfix for what he sees as the streaming giant’s attempt to shutter movie theaters.
“I think the investment that Netflix is putting into interesting filmmakers and interesting projects would be more admirable if it weren’t being used as some kind of bizarre leverage against shutting down theaters. It’s so pointless. I don’t really get it.”
Nolan would later apologize for his comments, but stood by the belief behind them.
“I should have been more polite,” Nolan told Variety. “I said what I believe, but I was undiplomatic in the way I expressed it. I wasn’t giving any context to the frankly revolutionary nature of what Netflix has done. It’s extraordinary. They need appropriate respect for that, which I have.”
Netflix’s new film chief David Lin apparently doesn’t buy it. Netflix has confirmed that they used the Nolan AI voice but offered no further comments. However, the Nolan/Neflix beef isn’t the only one David Lin has waded into.
Netflix Wants To Cut Costs at All Costs
While greenlighting films such as the new Kathryn Bigelow-directed White House thriller starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, along with Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie, Lin has also found himself in hot water with production companies and Hollywood creators. Adam Sandler and Tyler Perry have been reported to have issues with Lin’s budgetary control.
Production heads like David Ellison of Skydance and Legendary’s Mary Parent have been frustrated by Lin’s tight fist. The latter has taken issue with Lin pinching the budget for the third film in the Enola Holmes series. Lin’s approach of curtailing funds rather than offering incentives like theatrical releases or big budgets seems to be rubbing the industry the wrong way.
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