The 20-year-old filmmaker behind the hit horror movie Backrooms has made his position on artificial intelligence very clear. Kane Parsons does not want AI anywhere near his creative work. In a recent interview with The Australian, the young director explained why he would rather see generative AI disappear entirely from Hollywood.
Kane Parsons Calls Generative AI a Sign of Cultural and Economic Rot
Kane Parsons did not hold back when sharing his thoughts about AI in filmmaking. He placed himself firmly with those who oppose the technology’s growing presence in creative industries.
“If I could snap my fingers and make generative AI disappear forever, I probably would,” Parsons said.
He added that using AI tools brings him no joy as a creator.
“Creatively, I get no enjoyment from using those tools. It defeats the purpose entirely for me.”
The director acknowledged that AI might eventually help with some repetitive visual effects work. But he believes the current situation is too complicated to discuss objectively. He pointed to what he called “genuinely harmful consequences” that are already happening as AI becomes more common.
Parsons went further in his criticism. He described the flood of AI-generated images that people now see everywhere in public spaces.
“We already live in a world where you walk outside and there are billboards and signs that are obvious AI slop,” he said. “That’s become part of our visual reality.”
He then delivered his strongest statement about the technology.
“To me, generative AI feels less like innovation than a symptom of a broader cultural and economic rot.”
The Young Filmmaker Wants to Explore AI as a Story Topic, Not a Tool
While Kane Parsons rejects using AI to make art, he is not avoiding the subject entirely. The director shared that he wants to explore AI themes in future film projects, but in a different way.
“What interests me more is interrogating it artistically,” Parsons explained.
He made a clear distinction between using AI as a tool and examining it as a subject.
“I’m interested in using that iconography in art – not using AI to make the art itself, but examining what it represents. I definitely want to explore it further in future projects.”
Kane Parsons built his career without relying on advanced technology. His movie Backrooms, which A24 released, used massive physical sets and practical effects. The production even hired an extremely tall person to play one of the creatures instead of creating it entirely with computer graphics. Parsons learned his craft using Blender, a free CGI program, on what he described as “a fairly crummy laptop” in middle school.
Martin Scorsese Takes the Opposite Side by Embracing AI
Kane Parsons’ comments come at a time when opinions on AI are deeply divided across Hollywood. One of the most famous directors in film history is moving in the complete opposite direction.
Martin Scorsese, the 83-year-old director of Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and The Wolf of Wall Street, recently joined AI company Black Forest Labs as an adviser. The company makes the FLUX image generation program. Scorsese said he wants to “push the bounds of creativity to create deeper and richer experiences for audiences.”
The legendary director explained that he has always struggled with a specific problem in filmmaking.
“For 70 years, I’ve been creating my own storyboards,” Scorsese said in a statement on the company’s website. “There’s always been this problem of how do you communicate what you see in your head to your cast and crew. There are some things you have to see and feel.”
He compared using AI to his past adoption of new technology.
“I utilized 3D with ‘Hugo’ and de-aging technology for ‘The Irishman.’ Now, with this tool, I can share what I’m visualizing more clearly and efficiently to my creative team – the production designer, art designer, and cinematographer – for them to build on to enrich cinematic intelligence.”
Scorsese tested the tool on a scene and called the experience “creatively freeing.” He noted that time costs money during pre-production, and AI allowed his team to move faster “without sacrificing quality or craft.”
Scorsese Faces Backlash From Industry Artists
The news of Scorsese’s partnership with an AI company did not sit well with many people in the film industry. Several artists expressed anger and disappointment on social media.
Karla Ortiz, who worked on the art departments of Avengers: Endgame, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange, wrote on X that Scorsese “throws every single storyboard artist he’s ever worked with under the bus, as he demolishes their livelihoods with models that are likely trained on those storyboard artist’s same works.” She called the move “just so disgusting.”
Samuel Deats, an animation director, also shared his frustration.
“It takes literally seconds for me to storyboard a shot, there is absolutely no reason to need AI built on the stolen work of millions of artists to storyboard your vision, have some damn pride and respect your peers.”
Also Read:
The Debate Over AI in Hollywood Continues to Divide
The contrast between Parsons and Scorsese shows just how split the film industry is on artificial intelligence. Parsons represents a younger generation of filmmakers who value hands-on creation and see AI as a threat to the craft. Scorsese, despite being a cinema traditionalist in many ways, views AI as a natural next step in technology, similar to 3D and de-aging effects.
Backrooms reached the top of the US box office after its release. The psychological horror thriller stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell. The movie is an expansion of Parsons’ series of short films that he created and posted online as a teenager.
Parsons continues to work on finishing touches for Backrooms from the editing bay, using the same hands-on methods he has always trusted. Meanwhile, Scorsese is preparing to use AI tools on upcoming projects through his role at Black Forest Labs.
The conversation about AI’s place in Hollywood shows no signs of slowing down. As more directors choose sides, audiences will watch to see how this debate shapes the movies they see in theaters and on streaming platforms.
Also Read: Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan’s Sundance Winner ‘Josephine’ Gets India Release Deal
For the latest entertainment news and updates from Hollywood, stay connected to VvipTimes.
