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AI, Netflix Key Topics for Venice Head Alberto Barbera at THR Roma Roundtable
The 2024 Venice Film Festival proved to be an excellent occasion for a deep dive into pressing entertainment industry issues. During the event, discussions with various luminaries, including the festival’s artistic director Alberto Barbera, Eagle Pictures owner Tarak Ben Ammar, and Lucky Red founder Andrea Occhipinti, covered key topics like the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the dominance of Netflix, and the potential for an extended crisis in Hollywood.
Alberto Barbera noted, “It is quite clear that AI will change the rules of film production. It is an extremely innovative tool, and it could greatly improve how we write, shoot, and post-produce films. However, there are significant concerns. Screenwriters and actors are worried about being replaced by AI, and their concerns are valid.”
Tarak Ben Ammar emphasized that the unique creativity of writers and directors can’t be easily replaced by AI. “I am not convinced that AI will replace the genius of writers or directors. It could be a tool in some areas, but I don’t believe European governments will authorize a halt to dubbing. If you stop dubbing in Italy, France, or Germany, you put thousands out of work. Most Italian actors work in dubbing, not in films. This will spark a European industry discussion about what’s beneficial and what’s not. In America, unions will protect their members, including actors, producers, directors, and technicians.”
Andrea Occhipinti stressed the importance of updating regulations for the age of AI to address these challenges.
Netflix has won. Game over.
Addressing the heated debate of streamers versus traditional studios, Ben Ammar declared, “Netflix has won. Game over. Apple is selling phones and iPads. Amazon is selling food. Netflix controls the world of streaming. They have won.”
Barbera echoed this sentiment, noting, “Since the streamers were making some of the most interesting films, we should welcome them to Venice. There is no need to build a wall between streamers and studios. Netflix and Amazon have produced some of the biggest films that Hollywood wasn’t able to.”
An extended crisis in the industry?
During the roundtable, the panel was queried about the ongoing industry consolidation, layoffs, and the rush to discard unprofitable assets at major studios. How long will this period of upheaval and consolidation last, and what is its effect on filmmaking?
Ben Ammar stated that much would depend on geopolitical factors such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the state of the global economy, and interest rates. “All these companies are publicly traded. I believe there are simply too many films being made now, which results in many bad films.”
Barbera noted that the Venice festival received two thousand submissions this year.
Ben Ammar further predicted a prolonged crisis for three main reasons: the cost of money, people’s reluctance to spend, and the diluted taste of audiences due to an overload of poor-quality movies. He and Occhipinti emphasized that despite these challenges, talent and content remain critical drivers in the industry.
Censorship
On the issue of censorship, Barbera expressed concern over the lack of artistic freedom in several countries. “More and more this is a real and growing problem in places like China, India, Turkey, and Argentina. I was accused of not having enough films from Latin America or Asia, but the problem is there are no films—they are not allowed to express themselves freely in these countries.”
Occhipinti concurred, stating, “This unfortunate trend is happening in more and more countries. Governments should not decide what gets produced.”
When asked for advice for Italian producers and directors, Ben Ammar shared insights from his experiences with legends like Roberto Rossellini and Franco Zeffirelli. “Scripts are fundamental. If it’s not on the page, it’s not on the screen. Writers don’t have to be directors, and directors don’t have to be writers.”
Queer: The Long Version
Barbera concluded the roundtable with high praise for Luca Guadagnino’s new film Queer, starring Daniel Craig. “Queer is the best film made by Guadagnino so far. I saw three different versions—the first was three hours and twenty minutes, the next cut was two and a half hours, and the final version stood at two hours and fifteen minutes. I loved the long version the best.”
Source: THR Roma
