Guillermo del Toro shared an emphatic message about artificial intelligence in filmmaking while accepting the Vanguard Award compliment “Fuck AI” for Frankenstein at the Gotham Awards on Monday night.
Accompanied by stars Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac, de Toro opened his acceptance speech by paying homage to Mary Shelley’s timeless horror story. Director del Toro said that when he first picked up the book at the age of 11, he knew he would one day turn it into a movie.
“At that time, seeing her work and seeing Boris Karloff for the first time made me realize that I didn’t belong in the world that my parents did and that I didn’t belong in the world that people expected me to live in,” De Toro said. “That my home was in a faraway land inhabited only by monsters and misfits. They have been my relatives ever since.”
“So, at the age of 61, it has truly been one of the greatest privileges of my life to be able to return to this story with extraordinary artists like Oscar and Jacob. In them I have found another family,” he continued.
After brief remarks from Elordi and Isaac, del Toro returned to the stage, praising the artisans who hand-crafted the world of “Frankenstein” and criticizing Hollywood’s AI.
Director Del Toro added, “I would like to say to the rest of the extraordinary cast and crew that the artistry of all of them shines through in every frame of this film, intentionally made by and for humans.” “Designers, builders, make-up, wardrobe teams, cinematographers, composers, editors, this tribute belongs to them all. I want to express my gratitude and say: Damn AI.”
Del Toro’s Frankenstein premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August and received a rousing 13-minute standing ovation. The film premiered on Netflix on October 17th. Come Oscar time, “Frankenstein” is expected to be up for nine awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Elordi, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Production Design.
