Los Angeles, Dec 28 (NationPress) The filming locations of ‘Dune’ were intentionally kept free from social media distractions due to stringent directives from the film’s director Denis Villeneuve.
The 57-year-old filmmaker elaborated on the reasons behind his stance against allowing specific devices on set, as reported by ‘People’ magazine.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he stated, “Cinema is an act of presence. When a painter paints, he has to be absolutely focused on the color he’s putting on the canvas. It’s the same with the dancer when he does a gesture. With a filmmaker, you have to do that with a crew, and everybody has to focus and be entirely in the present, listening to each other, being in relationship with each other.”
He continued, “Therefore, cellphones are prohibited on my set from the very beginning. It’s forbidden. When you call 'cut', you don’t want someone reaching for their phone to check their Facebook.”
Earlier in this discussion, the director also expressed his concerns regarding technology.
He remarked, “I feel that human beings are governed by algorithms at this point. We act like AI circuits. The way we perceive the world has become limited to binary views. We’re becoming disconnected from one another, and society is deteriorating in some ways. It’s alarming.”
According to ‘People’, the director described the constant connectivity as “addictive”.
He added, “It’s compulsive. It’s akin to a drug. I often feel the urge to disconnect myself. It would feel like a breath of fresh air.”
The first part of Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel was released in October 2021, featuring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Oscar Isaac. The sequel premiered in March 2024, introducing stars like Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy in ‘Dune: Part Two’.
