“No one with deep knowledge of this industry would think that AI could start casting films,” veteran casting director Lucinda Syson concluded this morning during a panel discussion at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece.
Syson, whose credits include ensemble titles like September 5 And The diplomatas well as blockbusters like Wonder Woman And Batman Beginswas joined on stage by fellow international casting directors Tanja Grunwald (Another round), Yngvill Kolset-Håga (Sentimental value), and David Zitzlsperger, founder of the German software company Denkungsart GmbH.
The panel was dominated by discussion of the use of AI in the industry today and how it could influence the way films are made in the future. On this subject, Syson explained that the role of a casting director requires a lot of administrative work, such as going through artist information and updating files, which technology could ultimately make more efficient in the future.
“This kind of help is really helpful,” she said. “Technology could really help us organize our archives and that sort of thing. It could make our lives a lot easier. It’s amazing how technology has been able to take actors from all over the world over the years. We even have readings on Zoom now. It’s phenomenal.”
Syson, however, added that she begins to find AI troubling when it is presented as an actor suggestion tool.
“Maybe it’s sometimes useful for quick reference, but the thing about casting, as everyone is trying to express here, is that it’s a very creative process behind the scenes,” she said. “It’s very practical. It’s about your relationship with the director or showrunner and the story. It’s a much deeper process than AI just making some suggestions.”
Zitzlsperger, whose Denkungsart provides film commissions and large production companies with software to digitize significant parts of the production process, agreed with Syson and said that “the biggest mistake” those in the industry are currently making is to even entertain the idea that AI technology could replace their jobs.
“AI does not need to be able to replace, distract or hinder what is happening in our industry,” he said. “To give an example, when you look at the casting director’s process, a producer could very easily think that this is a replaceable role. But it doesn’t take into account the amount of knowledge that a casting director has, which is not quantifiable and which is behind every decision.”
Zitzlsperger added: “So for us, as a technology company, we create software, and we think there will be a huge change, and we believe in that as well, but we don’t think technology should replace.”
Elsewhere, the panel was asked about European and American film academies joining BAFTA in adding competitive casting categories to their awards ceremonies. The European Cinema Academy added this category in May. The Academy Awards have confirmed the category in 2024. The casting category is the first new category added to the Academy Awards since the Best Animated Feature Film category in 2001.
“Many of us did a lot of hard work, slowly moving this project forward so that we could be recognized as a vital part of the filmmaking process,” Syson said. “It’s been a slow process, but we’re really happy that there’s recognition now.”
Thessaloniki runs until November 9.
