Latest news with #E.T.theExtra-Terrestrial
Mint
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
A.I. director Steven Spielberg opposed to using AI in front of the camera
Spielberg open to AI for budgeting, planning tasks The director's films have yet to use AI technology 'I don't want AI making creative decisions,' director says LOS ANGELES, June 27 (Reuters) - When Steven Spielberg directed the film "A.I. Artificial Intelligence," the technology was the stuff of science fiction -- a device to tell a story about the ethics of creating sentient machines. Now, AI is a concrete reality in Hollywood - one where Spielberg said he has drawn a line in the sand. "I don't want AI making any creative decisions that I can't make myself," said Spielberg, in an interview with Reuters. "And I don't want to use AI as a non-human collaborator, in trying to work out my creative thinking." Spielberg spoke on Thursday after a ceremony dedicating the Steven Spielberg Theater on the Universal Studios lot. The event acknowledged the director's decades-long relationship with the studio, which released such films as "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." The acclaimed director joked that his career at Universal began in 1967, when he took a tour of the lot as a high school student. He said he hid in the bathroom during a break, and waited for the tour to move on without him, "then I had the entire lot to myself that day." "Our hope and dream is that it's not just the place that is founded on his extraordinary legacy," said Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios. "But it is the place of future hopes and dreams of filmmakers and storytellers who are going to take this company into the next 100 years and the 100 years after that, people who come with a hope and a dream, people who have been inspired by Steven." Spielberg's 2001 modest box office hit "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" was a meditation on love, loss and what it means to be human through the eyes of a discarded humanoid robot. In the Pinocchio-like journey set in a futuristic dystopia, David, the android boy, yearns to be human, searching for love, in a world of machines and artificial intelligence. The film hit screens when AI was still in its nascent stages and predated the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT by 21 years. SPIELBERG AGAINST AI MAKING CREATIVE DECISIONS "It wasn't about artificial intelligence as much as it was about sentient existence, and can you love a sentient entity? Can a mother love a robot child?" said Spielberg. "It was not really where AI is taking us today. Eventually, there will be a convergence between AI and robotics." Spielberg said AI can be a great tool "if used responsibly and morally" to help find a cure for cancer and other diseases. "I just draw a line -- and it's not a line of cement, it's just a little bit of line in the sand -- which gives me some wiggle room to say (that) I have the option to revise this thinking in the future," he said. "But right now, I don't want AI making any creative decisions." He said he has seen, first-hand, how technology can replace human talent while working on the 1993 film, "Jurassic Park." Spielberg initially planned to use renowned stop-motion clay animation artist Phil Tippett to create the dinosaurs roaming the island theme park. Visual effects artist Dennis Muren proposed an alternative method, using Industrial Light & Magic's computer-generated imagery to create realistic dinosaurs. The director is an executive producer in "Jurassic World: Rebirth" which reaches theaters on July 2. "That kind of made certain careers somewhat extinct," said Spielberg. "So, I'm very sensitive to things that AI may do to take work away from people." Spielberg said he has yet to use AI on any of his films so far, though he is open to possible applications of it behind-the-scenes, in functions like budgeting or planning. "I don't want to use it in front of the camera right now," Spielberg said. "Not quite yet." (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski; Editing by Kenneth Li, William Maclean) Comcast Corp
San Francisco Chronicle
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Disney, Pixar's ‘Elio' channels '80s nostalgia and science in new adventure
Elio, the cheeky moppet at the center of Pixar's latest animated confection, could have been inspired by any child of the 1980s. Astronomer Carl Sagan is his muse, and as he peers at the stars through his telescope he dreams of faraway places and wonders if we are alone in the universe. We are not. At least not in ' Elio,' in which a grieving, lonely boy improbably becomes Earth's representative in a galactic dispute. The movie's '80s vibe extends beyond references to Sagan, the planetary scientist whose PBS limited series 'Cosmos' became a phenomenon, back when the national public broadcaster was fully funded and not a target in the culture wars. In fact, 'Elio' would fit perfectly on the Blockbuster shelf (if the video rental chain was still around) next to other '80s kid-powered movies such as 'The Goonies,' 'Explorers' and of course 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.' The title of the animated film itself is a nod to that era, with screenwriters Julia Cho, Mark Hammer and Mike Jones naming Elio afterElliott, the boy played by Henry Thomas in Steven Spielberg's classic. When the movie opens, Elio (voiced with depth and sensitivity by Yonas Kibreab) is mourning the recent deaths of his parents. He is taken in by his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña), who is in the U.S. Air Force Space Command tracking junk debris in space. But Olga finds Elio to be a handful, and the boy feels lost and alone. His imagination is sparked by a planetarium show about the Voyager space probe, with narration by Sagan, and begins to long to be abducted by aliens. He spends hours on the beach drawing messages in the sand that he hopes the aliens will see. One evening while on the base with his aunt, Elio overhears one of the technicians say he thinks he has intercepted an alien transmission. The boy sneaks into the command center and contacts the aliens, and soon he is transported across the galaxy to a place called the Communiverse that seems like a Mad magazine parody of ' Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.' Elio is mistaken as the leader of Earth, and tries to mediate a dispute between the war-like Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett) and the population of the Communiverse while simultaneously striking up a friendship with the lord's son Glordon (Remy Edgerly). Directed by the Oscar-winning Domee Shi (' Turning Red '), Alameda native Madeline Sharafian and Adrian Molina (' Coco '), the visually appealing 'Elio' moves confidently and delicately handles themes of isolation, grief, family strife and friendship. And Sagan provides the coda, so it's not just the children in the audience who are transported to another time and place, but the adults as well.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
History Today: When South Africa made history by hosting 2010 Fifa World Cup
South Africa entered history books on June 11, 2010, when it became the first African nation to host the Fifa World Cup. On this day in 1982, Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial premiered in theatres across the United States; the movie went on to break records and become a classic read more Performers hold up flags of the 2010 World Cup teams during the opening ceremony before the first match between South Africa and Mexico in Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. File image/Reuters History was scripted on June 11, 2010, when South Africa became the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup. This historic event marked a turning point not just for South Africa, but for the entire African continent, symbolising progress, unity and global recognition. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of the most iconic movies that went on to become a classic, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released on this day in 1982. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie changed the way cinema was perceived forever. Also on this day, the University of Alabama enrolled its first two African American students, Vivian Malone and James Hood, thus ending a long-standing policy of racial segregation. Here is all that took place on this day across the world. South Africa becomes first African nation to host the Fifa World Cup Do you remember grooving to the beats of 'Waka Waka' in your living room in 2010? This song was released for the Fifa World Cup in 2010 when South Africa created history by becoming the first African nation to host it. So on June 11, 2010, the world watched as the event officially kicked off with a colourful opening ceremony at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. The announcement had come in May 2004 when Fifa President Sepp Blatter declared South Africa the host of the 2010 World Cup, beating bids from Egypt and Morocco. Under the powerful motto 'Ke Nako' ('It's Time'), the World Cup became more than just a football tournament. It served as a vibrant celebration of Africa's diverse cultures , profound history, and enduring resilience. Fans of Mexico and South Africa cheer while awaiting the start of the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg June 11, 2010. File image/Reuters To host this monumental event, South Africa poured significant investment into infrastructure, enhancing airports and roads, and constructing state-of-the-art stadiums in nine different cities. A distinct symbol of the tournament's African flavour was the vuvuzela, a plastic horn passionately sounded by fans throughout the matches. On the global stage, the tournament was a resounding success, captivating enormous television audiences and drawing hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world. The climax arrived on July 11, 2010, at Soccer City where Spain secured their inaugural World Cup title with a one-zero victory over the Netherlands in the final. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This day is also remembered for giving the world the iconic 'Waka Waka' song, the official song of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Performed by Colombian singer Shakira at the event's opening ceremony, it featured the South African band Freshlyground and went on to become a global phenomenon and a defining soundtrack. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial released in US One of the most defining movies that changed the course of cinema was released on this day in 1982. Directed by Steven Spielberg, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial blended science fiction with heartfelt storytelling, capturing the imaginations and emotions of audiences around the world. The narrative unfolds as a tender alien finds himself stranded on Earth, leading to an extraordinary bond with a young boy named Elliott, portrayed by Henry Thomas. Alongside his siblings, Elliott embarks on a mission to help E.T. evade pursuing government agents and facilitate his journey back to his home planet. The film resonated globally due to its powerful exploration of themes such as childhood wonder, profound empathy and the innate human longing for connection. An image from the movie show E.T. and Elliot travel across the moon on a bicycle. Screengrab/Youtube Spielberg's direction, coupled with John Williams' emotionally resonant score, elevated the film to more than just a sci-fi adventure. Scenes like the one where Elliott and E.T. soar across the moon on a bicycle have been etched as the lasting symbols of movie magic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It became the highest-grossing film of all time until Spielberg's Jurassic Park surpassed it in 1993. It received nine Academy Award nominations, winning four, including Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects. Beyond awards, E.T. changed the way audiences saw science fiction, moving the genre from cold, distant futures to the warmth of suburban homes and human emotion. The University of Alabama enrols first Black students June 11, 1963, was the day when the University of Alabama registered its first black students for classes, ending decades of segregation. Vivian Malone and James Hood were the first African American students to be enrolled at the university after federalised Alabama National Guard troops forced Alabama Governor George Wallace to halt his blockade. George Wallace, who was one of the most controversial politicians in US history, had promised segregation during his inaugural address as the governor of Alabama in 1963. In his speech, he said 'Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!' And so when African American students attempted to desegregate the University of Alabama in June 1963, Wallace stood defiantly at the entrance of Foster Auditorium at the university's Tuscaloosa campus to physically block the students from entering, a confrontation now remembered as the 'Stand in the Schoolhouse Door.' In response, President John F Kennedy federalised the Alabama National Guard. General Henry V Graham then ordered Wallace to step aside, which he eventually did, allowing Malone and Hood to register for classes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This event not only forced the University of Alabama to open its doors to Black students but also sent a powerful message across the country, the federal government would uphold civil rights laws, even against determined state resistance. This Day, That Year On this day in 2002, the reality competition TV series American Idol debuted. Capping a dramatic recovery from a near-fatal automobile accident, American golfer Ben Hogan won the US Open on this day in 1950. American aviator Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by US President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. On this day in 1898, the Guangxu emperor of China issued his first reform decree initiating the Hundred Days of Reform.
LeMonde
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- LeMonde
'Lilo & Stitch': Disney's pleasant surprise
LE MONDE'S VERDICT – WORTH SEEING Just a few months ago, Disney left audiences with a sour taste in their mouths: After numerous controversies and a wave of widely followed boycotts, Snow White, released in theaters in March, proved to be the biggest financial failure in the company's history and one of the most trying live-action Disney films to watch. Released without controversy or excessive hype, Lilo & Stitch – the live-action adaptation of the 2002 animated film – may well be the first step toward reconciling with the public. Heavily inspired by E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Steven Spielberg, 1982), the film recounts the daily life of Lilo, a rambunctious 6-year-old orphan raised by her older sister, who is herself closely monitored by social services threatening to take away her custody. At the moment when Lilo must be on her best behavior, she adopts Stitch, a strange pet as hyperactive as she is. What she does not know is that Stitch is an extraterrestrial creature being pursued by his creators, who want to bring him back to their spaceship. The film's relative success rests on a simple point: Lilo & Stitch is not a fairy tale, but a story rooted in a real place: a small Hawaiian island where real people live, with everyday routines, customs and struggles that drive the plot. In other words, for once, live actors actually seem to be interacting with more than just green screens. Far from being – as is often the case – the main attraction, special effects are kept to a minimum here, used mainly to bring Stitch, the living plush toy (and a dream merchandising product), and the fantasy creatures at the edge of the story to life.
New York Post
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘E.T.' star Dee Wallace reveals she ‘argued' with Steven Spielberg over toning down bedroom scene
'E.T.' nearly wasn't so family friendly. Dee Wallace appeared on Steve Kmetko's 'Still Here Hollywood' podcast last week and recalled how she clashed with director Steven Spielberg over a bedroom scene involving her character, Mary, in the 1982 film. 'The only time Steven and I parted ways creatively was there's a whole B story in 'E.T.' about E.T. having a love affair with Mary, a love crush on Mary,' the 76-year-old actress explained. 12 Dee Wallace and Steven Spielberg attend the 40th anniversary screening of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' at the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival. Getty Images for TCM 'And there's little bits of it left in there,' she continued. 'There was a scene where he came in to put Reese's Pieces down on my bedside table as I'm asleep. Well, Mr. Spielberg wanted the sheet a little lower than I was comfortable with.' Wallace said that she 'argued my point that this was a family film.' 12 Dee Wallace on the 'Still Here Hollywood' podcast. Still Here Hollywood Podcast w/ Steve Kmetko/YouTube 12 Dee Wallace and Steve Kmetko. Still Here Hollywood Podcast w/ Steve Kmetko/YouTube 12 Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace in 'E.T.' ©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection 'I could understand the parents smoking pot in 'Poltergeist.' But this film was very pure to me. And it was about love,' Wallace shared, adding that producer Kathleen Kennedy and writer Melissa Mathison got involved and sided with Wallace over Spielberg, 78. 'So we compromised and pulled the sheet up almost to my shoulder blades, which I was okay with,' Wallace said. 12 Dee Wallace at the 20th anniversary of 'E.T.' in Los Angeles in 2002. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 12 Steven Spielberg filming a movie in Montville, New Jersey in Feb. 2025. GC Images 'That's pretty high,' joked Kmetko, 72, to which Wallace replied, 'Not to a girl from Kansas who knew her grandmother was gonna be watching.' 'You can take the girl out of Kansas, you can't take Kansas out of the girl,' she added with a laugh. 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' was Spielberg's seventh directorial feature film in his career. 12 Steven Spielberg at the 2023 Oscars. John Locher/Invision/AP The film, which follows a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth, also stars Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton and Drew Barrymore. On the podcast, Wallace remembered knowing 'E.T.' would be a hit the first time she watched it in theaters. 'I could tell just from the way the audience responded,' she said. 'That film reaches into your soul, into your heart. It surpasses some block that we have and wakes us up.' 12 Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace in 'E.T.' ©Universal/courtesy Everett / Everett Collection 12 Robert MacNaughton, Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote in 2002. Courtesy Everett Collection 12 Peter Coyote, Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace in 'E.T.' Courtesy Everett Collection Wallace also said that at the time she foresaw Barrymore, 50, would have a big career eventually. 'We knew from day one she was gonna be a producer and director,' she explained. 'I'm sitting in a high director's chair, first day on set, and she comes up to me and she goes, 'Dee, I'm going to sit in your lap now.' And I said, 'Okay, Drew, come on up.' I mean, she just knew what she wanted, that one.' 12 Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas on the set of 'E.T.' in 1982. Courtesy Everett Collection Earlier this year, Spielberg discussed the film with Barrymore at a TCM Classic Film Festival event and revealed he went through a 'real hard-fought' battle to stop a sequel from being made. 12 Steven Spielberg attends the AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony in April 2025. WireImage 'I just did not want to make a sequel. I flirted with it for a little bit — just a little bit to see if I [could] think of a story — and the only thing I could think about was a book that was written by somebody that wrote the book for it called 'The Green Planet,' which was all going to take place at E.T.'s home,' he explained, per THR. 'We were all going to be able to go to E.T.'s home and see how E.T. lived,' Spielberg added. 'But it was better as a novel than I think it would have been as a film.'
