The Art Directors Guild issued a statement on social media Tuesday condemning director Martin Scorsese’s recent partnership with AI startup Black Forest Labs. In a statement, the union accused one of Hollywood’s most prominent directors of “turning his back on the human artists who helped create some of the most memorable works of his career.”
“In a recently released video promoting Black Forest Labs’ generative AI product FLUX, Scorsese asks the question, ‘How do you communicate what you see in your head to your cast and crew?’ The solution, he argues, is to use this generative AI program to do work that is the legitimate purview of the artists and designers of Art Directors Guild Local 800, the human artists and designers who have successfully worked with directors to visualize films for decades. ” reads the statement. “Mr. Scorsese’s promotion of generative AI products circumvents the cooperation of Art Directors Guild Local 800’s art directors, graphic artists, illustrators, production designers, set artists, set designers, and other talented union professionals.”
A representative for Scorsese did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.
On June 2, Black Forest Labs announced Mr. Scorsese as a new advisor aimed at “pushing the boundaries of creativity and creating deeper and richer experiences for our viewers.” In his statement posted on the Black Forest website, Scorsese said that film is a “young medium” and filmmakers “must be open to how cinema can evolve.”
Director Scorsese continued, “We used 3D in “Hugo,” and de-aging technology in “The Irishman.” Using this tool, I can more clearly and efficiently share what I’m visualizing with my creative team (production designer, art designer, cinematographer) and leverage it to enhance the intelligence of the film. ”
The Art Directors Guild is not the only voice in Hollywood criticizing Scorsese’s use of AI. On June 3, “I Love Booster” director Boots Riley wrote to X wondering if the “Taxi Driver” director partnered with Black Forest Labs for financial reasons. He also wrote that Scorsese probably “doesn’t care” because he thinks the AI ”will flip anyway.”
Reilly wrote, “My guess is that at 83 years old, he gave his family a lot of money (they throw tens of millions left and right). He wanted a source of income and feels like ‘AI’ is going to flip anyway, so he doesn’t care about that. If not, just do the extra thing. On the other hand, go watch ‘I Love Boosters’ today.”
