Nicolas Winding Refn isn’t the type of filmmaker attempting to shock and disturb his audiences with every project. Sure, he’s not afraid of putting characters in terrifying situations where there’s plenty of blood and gore, but that doesn’t mean Refn is pushing the limits of decency. That said, apparently, ChatGPT sure thinks that Refn is a bit of a menace.
Speaking to IndieWire, Nicolas Winding Refn talked about the future of writing, particularly when it comes to generative artificial intelligence (AI) and screenwriting. The “Drive” and “Neon Demon” filmmaker explained that he actually dabbled with ChatGPT (the most well-known generative AI platform today) and attempted to use it to help his writing. Unfortunately, the AI wouldn’t help him. Instead, it told him to “seek professional help.”
“If you start asking questions that are controversial or themes that are not acceptable anymore, [ChatGPT] shuts down,” Refn said. “I very quickly ran into the problem that every time I would ask it things, it came back saying ‘I’m not able to comment on that’ or ‘seek professional help’ or ‘call this hotline,’ almost. And I was like, well, maybe that’s the problem. That’s the whole reason why we’re doing it is wrong.”
He added, “So for me, it’s almost like if your work is approved by a chat, that’s a great alert system to rewrite. It was very interesting trying it because I thought I was going to use it creatively, but I really ran into always disagreeing with it. So I just stopped using it, and that was that.”
This isn’t the first time a filmmaker has spoken out about how ChatGPT has failed the screenwriting test. “Black Mirror” creator Charlie Brooker attempted to use AI to help him write a script, but he said the result was terrible. Now, it appears that Refn is saying that for anyone trying to use it for storytelling that is at all pushing the boundaries of decency, then the whole system just “shuts down.” (Figuratively, of course.)
So, what is ChatGPT good for? And can it be used in the future to help screenwriters? Refn definitely believes that AI can be a tool, but in its current iteration, generative AI doesn’t have the capability of mimicking any sort of storytelling that doesn’t appeal to mass audiences.
“Technology has helped and has expanded and given opportunities. So I look more at AI as a tool. But obviously, if you are using it as a substitute because what you create can be so equally multiplied, then that’s a very dangerous factor,” he said. “But it also comes back to why are we creating content, and why is this content so easy to duplicate?”
What Refn is talking about is how ChatGPT could be used to, perhaps, write a script for a sweet, inoffensive rom-com or perhaps some sort of mindless, action-packed film, and unfortunately, those are the projects that dominate a lot of the public discourse today. But ChatGPT and other generative AI platforms aren’t able to really replicate the true auteurs and the people who push the limits of art. At least, not yet.
