Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron, known for pioneering cutting-edge visual effects in films like Avatar, says he is strongly opposed to the use of generative AI in filmmaking—despite being one of the most technologically advanced directors in cinema history.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning ahead of the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron clarified that while performance capture may appear similar to AI-generated imagery, the two are fundamentally different.
“A Celebration of the Actor–Director Moment”
Addressing the misconception that digital filmmaking replaces actors, Cameron said:
“For years, there has been a perception that ‘Oh, they’re doing something strange with computers and they’re replacing actors.’ In reality, when you really delve into what we’re doing, it’s a celebration of the actor-director moment.”
The segment also showed Avatar cast members performing underwater in a massive 250,000-gallon performance capture tank, demonstrating the intense physical work behind the Na’vi characters.
Generative AI? Cameron Calls It ‘Horrifying’
Cameron contrasted performance capture with generative AI, which he believes undermines authentic artistic collaboration.
“Go to the other end of the spectrum, and you’ve got generative AI, where they can make up a character, they can make up an actor, they can make up a performance from scratch with a text prompt.”
He added:
“No, that’s horrifying … That’s exactly what we’re not doing.”
