At the recent U.S. premiere of “Wildwood” during AFI Fest, director Travis Knight shared his insights on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in Hollywood. Expressing his reservations, Knight stated, “I’m not embracing it at all,” emphasizing the importance of human artistry in film production.
Technology as a Tool, Not a Replacement
Knight, who leads Laika’s pioneering stop-motion animation efforts, observed, “I see technology as a tool. A pencil is technology, a paintbrush is technology, a 3D printer is a computer is technology.” He believes that technology can enhance the creative voice of artists but becomes problematic when it replaces them. “Technology is not useful when it takes the place of the artist, and that’s the concern with generative AI,” he noted. “It’s an amazing piece of technology, but the concern is that when it supplants the artist, then we have an issue because the computer cannot speak about humanity at all. It doesn’t know what it feels like.”
A Labor of Love: The Journey of “Wildwood”
“Wildwood” is a stop-motion fantasy that tells the story of a young girl named Prue (played by Peyton Elizabeth Lee) who embarks on an adventure in a forbidden forest to save her kidnapped baby brother from a group of crows. The film, a labor of love for Knight, took an astonishing 16 years to complete. Reflecting on this long journey, he remarked, “Sixteen years is a long time… It’s a big fantasy story. It’s a beautiful extravaganza. It’s an epic, but that’s not something that sustains you for 16 years.”
The Heart of the Film
At its core, Knight believes the film resonates on a deeper emotional level. “It has to be something that means something to you… underneath it all, it is something that is really heartfelt, it’s beautiful, it’s emotional and that’s the thing I hope audiences take away from this,” he said.
The Value of Human Touch
When asked whether AI could have expedited the film’s lengthy process, Knight expressed doubt, conveying frustration with the notion. “Look, that’s the world we live in, and the technology seems like it’s only pushing us in one direction, which is everything is going to be simpler. Everything is going to be automated; everything is going to be easier.” He contended that there is intrinsic value in the “human touch,” saying, “There is something beautiful about humanity. And that’s one thing that stop motion represents. Stop-motion represents humanity at its finest—creativity, emotion, care, devotion, time.”
“That’s something that AI could never do because a computer has never felt anything,” Knight continued. “It’s never felt loss or love or pain, and that’s something that people can feel, and that’s something you feel in something that was made by people.”
Star-Studded Cast and Insights
The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Jacob Tremblay, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Carey Mulligan, Maya Erskine, Mahershala Ali, Awkwafina, Amandla Stenberg, and Tantoo Cardinal. Bassett shared her experience recording during the COVID pandemic, stating, “I wanted to get out of the house, get creative again. It was just right on time.”
As audiences anticipate the release of “Wildwood,” they can take a glimpse behind the scenes at its premiere, filled with excitement and passion for this long-awaited project.
