Bennett Miller, the Academy Award-nominated director behind Capote, Moneyball, and Foxcatcher, has always pushed the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. In this exclusive interview, he delves into the intersection of art, technology, and artificial intelligence, drawing fascinating parallels between the creative process in filmmaking and the advancements in AI-driven image generation, such as OpenAI’s DALL·E.

Bennett Miller’s Cinematic Vision

Miller has built a reputation for directing films that combine meticulous research, immersive storytelling, and profound character studies. His films have been critically acclaimed, earning multiple Academy Award nominations and redefining how true stories can be adapted for the screen. Throughout his career, he has explored the complexities of human ambition, deception, and the structures that shape creative expression.

The Intersection of AI and Filmmaking

One of the central topics in this interview is Miller’s perspective on the growing role of AI in creative fields. He reflects on how AI tools like DALL·E, which generate images from text descriptions, mirror aspects of the filmmaking process. Much like a director guiding a film crew, AI responds to prompts and iterates on ideas, leading to unexpected and sometimes profound results.

Miller discusses how AI is shifting the landscape of artistic creation, raising questions about authorship, originality, and the role of the human artist in an age where machines can produce visually compelling works.

The Evolution of Creativity in the Digital Age

Despite concerns over automation and the role of AI in art, Miller sees these technological advances as a continuation of artistic evolution. He compares it to historical shifts in art and cinema—just as photography transformed painting and digital technology reshaped filmmaking, AI presents both challenges and new possibilities.

He emphasizes that AI should be seen as a tool for artists rather than a replacement, allowing for new forms of storytelling and artistic experimentation.

A Philosophical Perspective on AI and Human Creativity

Throughout the conversation, Miller takes a thoughtful, almost philosophical approach to AI and its implications for cinema, art, and the human imagination. He highlights the need for artists to engage with these tools, understanding their potential while also questioning their limitations.

As AI-generated imagery becomes more sophisticated, Miller suggests that the role of the artist remains essential, even in an age of machine-generated content.

The Future of AI and Art

Bennett Miller’s insights provide a compelling glimpse into the future of art and technology. While AI continues to evolve, the human capacity for storytelling, interpretation, and emotional depth remains irreplaceable.

As filmmakers and artists navigate this new landscape, Miller’s perspective serves as a reflection on what it means to be creative in an era of technological transformation.

Rajendra Roy is the Chief Curator of Film at the MoMa, he worked on exhibitions such as Wim Wenders, Tim Burton, Bruce LaBruce, Mike Nichols, and was a jury member or in the selection committee of numerous festivals such as Sundance, SXSW and the Berlin film festival.
The Museum of Modern Art’s Department of Film has one of the strongest international collections of motion pictures in the world, totaling more than 30,000 films between the permanent and study collections. (Films by artists like Fernand Léger, Man Ray, Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol.)

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MoMA’s Department of Film comprehensive
streaming list to indulge any cinephile’s needs :
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/296

MoMA Department of Film on Youtube :
https://bit.ly/3gEg1Z9 

Rajendra’s tips on how to keep discovering while at home:
https://aframe.oscars.org/features/a-dispatch-from-the-covid-19-epicenter 

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https://www.instagram.com/askartgoeson/

Recorded on May 5th 2020