Particle.news

Soderbergh Defends Using AI for Surreal Lennon Doc Sequences

He says the tool solves visual problems when used openly under human control.

Overview

  • Soderbergh says the Lennon documentary uses clearly artificial AI images to illustrate stories, not to pass them off as real or bring Lennon back to life.
  • He points to a scene of babies in 1960s clothes as an example of the surreal, non‑photoreal inserts that match what the audio describes.
  • The film draws on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s final interview from December 8, 1980, with AI filling visual gaps where only audio and still photos exist.
  • The documentary is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and is still seeking distribution.
  • He also plans to use AI for ocean battles and period warships in a Spanish–American War movie starring Wagner Moura, saying it can cut costs compared with traditional effects.