David Cronenberg Calls AI 'Digital Photoshop' for Filmmaking

David Cronenberg, the 81-year-old Canadian director behind body horror classics like The Fly and Videodrome, has become one of the most vocal advocates for AI tools in filmmaking. In a new interview published today by Australian film journal The Curb, Cronenberg describes his use of artificial intelligence in post-production as straightforward as using Photoshop. The director's comments arrive at a pivotal moment, as SAG-AFTRA negotiations continue over digital replica protections and AI use in Hollywood.

The 'Photoshop' Philosophy

Speaking at the Marrakech International Film Festival in December 2024, where he received an honorary award, Cronenberg outlined his practical approach to AI in his latest film, The Shrouds. "It's very straightforward stuff. It's almost like using Photoshop, but that's still AI," he told The Curb. He explicitly mentions using the technology to "relight a scene after it's shot" and "fix details on an actor's face" to avoid shooting 10 additional takes for minor imperfections.

The director's approach reflects a craft-based integration rather than a fear-based reaction. He views AI tools as a way to achieve what he calls "biological" perfection in his shots without the traditional labor of repeated takes. This philosophy stands in stark contrast to the widespread anxiety about AI displacing human workers in the film industry.

Technology as Human Extension

Cronenberg's comfort with AI stems from his broader philosophical framework about technology. In an interview with The Face, he described AI as "inevitable" and noted he doesn't fear it at all. His reasoning is grounded in a simple observation: technology is always a human extension. "I have plastic lenses from cataract surgery. I have hearing aids. I'm full of AI already," he explained.

This perspective frames AI not as an alien invasion but as the latest in a long line of tools that augment human capabilities. For Cronenberg, the distinction between "natural" and "artificial" intelligence has always been blurry. His films have explored this theme for decades, from the videotape mutations in Videodrome to the psychological transformation in Crash.

Historical Context and Industry Precedent

Cronenberg grounds his acceptance of AI in the history of cinema itself. He compares the current shift to previous technological transitions that were met with similar skepticism: the move from silent film to talkies, and the shift from film stock to digital. Each transition faced resistance from purists who claimed the new technology would destroy the art form. "People were really worried when sound came in. They thought it was the end of cinema," he noted in his Radio Times interview.

The director argues that AI has been used in the film industry for years, just not labeled as such. In the Radio Times interview, he points out that adjusting frame elements and moving faces digitally has been standard practice for decades. "It's a useful tool in the toolbox," he says, describing AI as an evolution of existing techniques rather than a revolutionary break.

The Cannes Premiere and 'Ferocious' AI

At the Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Shrouds in May 2024, Cronenberg gave one of his first detailed takes on generative AI. While acknowledging the technology is "ferocious and terrifying," he emphasized it is "also incredibly useful." He warned that AI could "transform the act of writing and directing" and suggested the technology might mean "the whole idea of productions and actors could be gone."

This nuanced position distinguishes Cronenberg from both AI boosters who dismiss concerns and skeptics who reject the technology entirely. He sees both the potential and the danger, but argues that resistance is futile. "It's going to happen whether you like it or not," he told The Playlist at Cannes.

Defending AI in 'The Brutalist'

More recently, Cronenberg defended the use of AI in Brady Corbet's The Brutalist, which faced criticism for using AI to alter actors' voices and facial features. In a March 2025 interview with Cinema Express, Cronenberg noted that "messing with actors' voices" and images is a standard part of filmmaking history. The controversy highlighted the double standard in the industry: techniques accepted when done manually become controversial when automated.

For filmmakers looking to explore similar tools, AI FILMS Studio provides access to post-production capabilities that align with Cronenberg's vision. The platform enables directors to refine shots, adjust lighting, and fix minor inconsistencies without requiring additional principal photography.

The Practical Director

What makes Cronenberg's perspective particularly valuable is his status as a working filmmaker rather than a theorist. At 81, he continues to direct feature films and engage with new technology. His comments aren't abstract speculation but reflections from someone actively using these tools in production. The Shrouds, which explores themes of grief and technology through the lens of his late wife's death, represents his most personal work and his most technologically integrated.

The director's willingness to use AI in such an intimate project suggests a deep confidence in the technology as a creative tool. He doesn't see it as a shortcut or a compromise, but as a means to achieve his artistic vision more efficiently. This pragmatic approach may offer a model for other directors navigating the rapid changes in film production technology.

Industry Implications

Cronenberg's embrace of AI comes at a crucial moment for the industry. As guilds negotiate protections for their members and studios explore cost-saving measures, his voice carries weight. He represents neither labor nor management, but the auteur tradition of director as artist. His comfort with AI suggests the technology may find acceptance among filmmakers who value creative control and efficiency.

The technical specifics Cronenberg mentions, relighting scenes and fixing facial details, represent relatively modest applications compared to full synthetic actors or AI generated scripts. This incremental approach may prove more palatable to workers and audiences than the wholesale replacement scenarios that dominate public discourse. As director Christopher Nolan has noted, the conversation about AI in filmmaking requires nuance and specificity rather than broad acceptance or rejection.

The Road Ahead

Cronenberg's "Digital Photoshop" framing may prove influential in how the industry understands and discusses AI tools. By comparing the technology to an already accepted post-production tool, he normalizes its use while acknowledging its power. This rhetorical move sidesteps the apocalyptic framing that often accompanies discussions of AI in creative industries.

Whether his optimistic view proves justified remains to be seen. The technology continues to evolve rapidly, and its long term impact on employment and artistic practice is still uncertain. But Cronenberg's perspective offers a counterpoint to the prevailing anxiety, grounded in decades of experience and a philosophical framework that sees technology as fundamentally human.

For now, The Shrouds stands as a test case for AI integration in prestige filmmaking. If audiences and critics embrace the film without controversy over its post-production techniques, it may signal a path forward for other directors. If not, the debate over AI in cinema will continue to intensify as the technology becomes more capable and more accessible.

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Sources

The Curb: "David Cronenberg Embraces AI in His New Film, The Shrouds" Published: February 4, 2026 https://www.thecurb.com.au/david-cronenberg-interview-the-shrouds/

Radio Times: "David Cronenberg on his most personal film: 'I don't think of my art as being therapeutic'" https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/david-cronenberg-the-shrouds-interview/

The Wrap: "David Cronenberg Says AI Is 'Ferocious and Terrifying' but 'Also Incredibly Useful'" Published: May 2024 https://www.thewrap.com/david-cronenberg-ai-comments-cannes/

The Face: "David Cronenberg: 'AI is inevitable and I don't fear it at all'" https://theface.com/culture/david-cronenberg-ai-interview-charli-xcx-the-shrouds

The Playlist: "Cronenberg Believes AI Could Mean the Idea of Productions and Actors Could Be Gone" Published: May 21, 2024 https://theplaylist.net/david-cronenberg-believes-a-i-in-the-film-industry-could-mean-that-the-whole-idea-of-productions-actors-could-be-gone-20240521/

Cinema Express: "David Cronenberg calls AI use in The Brutalist a part of filmmaking" Published: March 23, 2025 https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/news/2025/Mar/23/david-cronenberg-calls-ai-use-in-the-brutalist-a-part-of-filmmaking