With the recent release of the Stranger Things documentary leading fans to speculate that the Duffer brothers used ChatGPT to compose Season 5’s script, Martina Radwan, who helmed One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, has come out to clear the air. In a recent interview, the veteran cinematographer clarified viewers’ doubts regarding the use of AI in the making of Stranger Things Season 5, stating that the creators only leveraged ChatGPT as a tool while developing the show’s final installment.
Martina Radwan denies any unethical use of generative AI in Stranger Things’ writers’ room
The German-Syrian cinematographer recently called out netizens’ claims about AI being used in the making of Stranger Things Season 5. She shared that the technology was only utilized to conduct basic research.
“There’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, ‘We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.’ But to me, it’s like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research? How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand,” Martina Radwan noted to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Primetime Emmy winner then questioned the legitimacy of fans’ concerns about the Duffer brothers using ChatGPT while making Stranger Things Season 5. She stated, “First of all, nobody has actually proved that it was open. That’s like having your iPhone next to your computer while you’re writing a story. We just use these tools…while multitasking. So there’s a lot going on all the time, every time. What I find heartbreaking is [that] everybody loves the show, and suddenly we need to pick it apart.”
Notably, a scene of Radwan’s One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 showcased the Duffers with a ChatGPT tab open on their computer. This caused many to theorize that the duo may have used the AI model to compose the final season’s script.
Not if you ask Martina Radwan, however. When asked point-black it there was an “unethical use of generative-AI” in the Season 5 writers’ room, the filmmaker replied, “No, of course not. I witnessed creative exchanges. I witnessed conversation. People think writers’ room means people are sitting there writing. No, it’s a creative exchange. It’s story development.”
One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
