In an interview with Defector, renowned filmmaker Steven Soderbergh expressed his concern about the lack of data transparency from streaming platforms, calling it the issue that “keeps him up at night.” While he acknowledges the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative process as a serious matter, Soderbergh is more worried about the hidden agendas of media companies and their lack of transparency.
Soderbergh pointed out that when working on projects for Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform Max, he was provided with “adjectives” instead of concrete data. The company would tell him things like “We feel good about these numbers” without offering any specific information. This lack of transparency raises potential questions about the financial health of these streaming platforms.
“There are two potential reasons that we’re not getting all of the information,” Soderbergh explained. “One is that they’re all making a lot more money than anybody knows and that they’re willing to tell us. The other is they’re making a lot less money than anybody knows. And they don’t want Wall Street to look under the hood of this thing in any significant way because there’ll be a reckoning that will be quite unpleasant. It’s one of those two.”
Even if the latter scenario is true, Soderbergh emphasized that he would still prefer to work in an environment where he knows exactly what is going on. Uncertainty and a lack of transparency lead to instability in the industry. Soderbergh believes it is important to tear down the current streaming model and rebuild it based on accurate and transparent information.
Related Post
“If we tear this thing down to the studs and find out that the math is funky, it’s going to be quite a transformation,” Soderbergh stated. “And so my feeling — and I’m operating from a place of real privilege — is the sooner we find out the better, because one way or another, it’s gotta get rebuilt, you might as well start now.”
While AI is a topic of discussion in the industry, Soderbergh does not view it as a significant concern. He admitted to using AI to create some conceptual images for an upcoming project but remains skeptical about its ability to replicate the work of humans in writing and directing. Soderbergh believes that the executives he has worked with are already overwhelmed and that relying on AI to generate new material based on their ideas would only further burden them. He doesn’t think humans can be replaced in creative roles like writing and directing.
As a member of the Directors Guild of America, Soderbergh’s perspective comes from a place of experience and knowledge within the industry. It is worth noting that he is not a part of the Writers Guild of America, having become a “financial core” non-member in 1995. This means that while he can still benefit from the guild’s protections for writers, he cannot vote in WGA elections or hold leadership positions within the organization.
Soderbergh’s concerns about data transparency and his preference for a more honest and open industry reveal the need for streamers and media companies to address these issues. The success and sustainability of the streaming model may depend on establishing a culture of transparency, ensuring that all stakeholders, from creators to viewers, have access to accurate and reliable information. Only through transparency can the industry rebuild itself on a solid foundation and address the challenges it faces in the evolving world of entertainment.
