John M. Cho says AI couldn’t have created one of Wicked’s best moments
if anyone Someone who understands the importance of viral marketing is this Evil: For good Directed by Jon M. Chu.
At WIRED’s big interview event in San Francisco, former YouTuber and Crazy rich Asians The director said that working with actors like Justin Bieber taught him the value of connecting with fans online during the production process. While directing Bieber’s concert film, never say neverBy the end of the decade, Cho said the then-14-year-old star was using Twitter to introduce Cho to fans. Chu told WIRED Senior Culture Editor Manisha Krishnan that after Bieber posted a clip jokingly saying that a director was following him on set, he began watching his online following grow by the tens of thousands almost immediately, which really drives home the power of connecting directly with a fan base.
Cho said that working with Bieber made him realize that “the story is told before you start filming, and after you’ve finished filming, you have to continue that story.” That’s why he believes fans have felt invested in it the villain– and the end of it, Evil: For good-And why the film’s marketing and press tours have relied heavily on the relationships the actors have developed during filming.
Bonds, like the one between stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, stemmed from the intense pressure the crew felt to make something not only great, but also bankable. “We just had each other, so we’re very, very connected,” Chu said.
Photo: Annie Noelker
Photo: Annie Noelker
A native of the Bay Area, Chu said he has always credited the tech world in part for his start in entertainment. In the ’90s, when Cho was still a teenager, tech-savvy patrons at his parents’ Chinese restaurant would give him computers, video cards and software when they heard he was interested in filmmaking, challenging him as he went off to college at the University of Southern California. “I was built by the generosity of this place, and I feel a great responsibility when I return,” Chu said.
The director also said that due to his long relationship with technology, he is somewhat open-minded about the interaction between artificial intelligence and filmmaking. The director is fascinated by the potential of AI to gather and organize information and has been working to learn how to use AI in his process because he wants to understand the potential of AI.
On the other hand, Chu said during construction the villain He felt there was value in having practical sets and the ability to improvise rather than writing every bit of dialogue, camera movement or characterization in advance.
