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Martin Scorsese’s promotion of AI company called a ‘betrayal’ by directors union
The guild says the AI tool would replace work done by its artists and designers, as Scorsese’s adviser role draws criticism.
On Tuesday, the Art Directors Guild condemned Martin Scorsese's partnership with AI startup Black Forest Labs, calling his endorsement a "betrayal of the collaborative nature of cinema."
Scorsese recently joined Black Forest Labs as an advisor, promoting their FLUX software for pre-visualization; the union argues the technology relies on copyrighted works and threatens members' jobs creating storyboards and designs.
Defending the move, Scorsese stated the tool helps him communicate his vision to his creative team more efficiently, emphasizing it provides "less wear and tear on the crew" during pre-production.
On June 3, director Boots Riley speculated the 83-year-old filmmaker pursued the partnership for financial reasons, though Scorsese framed it as pushing creative boundaries.
Union membership declined from 3,492 in 2022 to 2,966 in 2025, and the ADG continues viewing generative AI as a significant threat to professional artists and designers.