The world premiere of the first feature film whose script was entirely written by artificial intelligence has been cancelled after significant backlash. ‘The Last Screenwriter', a film created and directed by Swiss filmmaker Peter Luisi using OpenAI's ChatGPT, was scheduled to premiere on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at London's Prince Charles Cinema. However, the cinema announced that the screening will no longer go ahead following concerns expressed by patrons about “the use of AI in place of a writer”.
The film, starring Nicholas Pople, tells the story of a celebrated screenwriter named Jack whose world is shaken when he discovers a cutting-edge AI scriptwriting system that not only matches his skill, but surpasses him in its empathy and understanding of human emotions. The entire screenplay, including the plot, characters and dialogue, was generated by ChatGPT after Luisi provided a simple 17-word prompt: “write a plot to a feature length film where a screenwriter realizes he is less good than artificial intelligence in writing“.
In a statement, the Prince Charles Cinema said: “The feedback we received in the last 24 hours once we advertised the film has highlighted the strong concern held by many of our audience on the use of AI in place of a writer which speaks to a wider issue within the industry“. The cinema's decision came after receiving over 200 complaints about the event. All posters and announcements related to the premiere have been taken down.
The cancellation has sparked mixed reactions. Some praised the cinema for its integrity and stance on industry issues, while others accused it of stifling important discussions about AI's impact on the arts. Luisi expressed disappointment, saying “I don't think bowing to these comments is the right way to go. But I respect this.” He noted the film was intended to ignite a debate about how AI is forecast to transform the film industry.
The controversy comes amidst ongoing concerns in the entertainment industry about the increasing use of AI and its potential to displace jobs and devalue human creativity. The recent Hollywood writers' strike included demands for formal protections over the integration of AI tools in the writing process. While an agreement was reached that AI can be used to generate drafts, credit must always be given to the human writer.
‘The Last Screenwriter‘ was part of an experiment by Luisi to see if AI could write an entire feature film and how good it would be if produced professionally. He says the ChatGPT-generated script is “amazingly good” and contains “shadows” of major works related to the film's themes, like the protagonist sharing a name with ‘The Shining' character Jack Torrance.
However, after the premiere cancellation, Luisi says “the film's festival and cinema career died”. A private screening for the cast and crew is still planned in London. Luisi intends to make the film available for free on its website soon, noting he is fortunate production expenses are already covered thanks to funding from the success of his previous film ‘Bon Schuur Ticino'.
The use of AI in filmmaking remains highly controversial. While some see it as an inevitable technological advancement, others fear it will lead to job losses and a decline in artistic merit. Director Charlie Kaufman and actor Brian Cox have criticized the industry's increasing reliance on AI, with Cox calling for resistance against its encroachment on creative expression.
As the first feature film fully scripted by AI, ‘The Last Screenwriter' has unintentionally become a flashpoint in the debate over the technology's role in the arts. Though its premiere was scrapped, the film has undoubtedly succeeded in its goal of sparking a conversation about this complex issue. It remains to be seen how the entertainment industry will navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence in the years to come.
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