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Director George Lucas isn't too concerned with what audiences think.As one of the pioneers of computer-generated imagery, Lucas says he's heard the same complaints his whole career, and he's applying that experience to artificial intelligence too.'That's progress, it's the future.'Galaxy brainLucas' core thesis is on what makes a movie a movie, and in his opinion, it isn't the technology surrounding the production that makes the story; it's the idea itself.The 82-year-old cited many iconic directors and even those on film foundations as some of the biggest supporters and detractors of his beliefs, and in a recent interview, he focused on the latter."I'll never do digital," Lucas' peers tell him, because "Lawrence of Arabia" was shot with film. "And I say, 'No, it's cinema. It's the moving image. That's what it is. It's not a technology, it's an idea.'"Lucas advanced digital graphics significantly with his company Industrial Light & Magic, which he founded all the way back in 1975. Today, Lucas sees the argument against AI as similar to those he faced for using the latest and greatest technologies in his career."Artificial intelligence means it’s much easier for us to make movies," Lucas told A Rabbit's Foot. "It's very much like sitting here saying, 'Well, I believe the horse and the buggy is really where it's at. These cars, they break down, they need gas, there's all kinds of problems with them and pretty soon they'll be making them into tanks, and then they'll be killing people. It’s terrible.'"Lucas, fairly black-pilled, added, "There's nothing you can do about it.""That's progress, it's the future."RELATED: White House rips into 'left lunatic' Mark Hamill for posting image of Trump in grave Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS/VCG/Getty Images Jedi mind trickLucas described AI as something that shouldn't be used as a scapegoat either. Rather, the creator is still responsible for whatever he puts out."The whole idea is you're a human being, you're responsible for what you say and what you do, and if you're doing something that's illegal, you should be punished for that. Whatever you do, you should be recognized. It's just like real life."In that same vein, Lucas assured readers that audiences don't know what they want to see in film.Lucas cited Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg as sources and friends he trusts with constructive criticism. Potential viewers, not so much."I don't like focus groups," Lucas said. "The audience doesn't know what they want to see."RELATED: What are the odds? America's birthday is full of incredible coincidences Screen Archives/Getty Images Jar Jar defenderHowever, much of the disdain seemingly comes from the reaction from studios who, when they hear the audience doesn't like a character, "take the wrong message.""They let the audience actually make the movie," the director explained. "Of course, now they go crazy with that. Now, it's all about what the fans think. That isn't how you make the movie. You make a movie by finding someone that knows how to make movies, that has a story to tell and is passionate about it."Lucas juxtaposed this with criticism about "Star Wars," which he said has seen significant blowback time and time again over the introduction of children's' characters."Oh, that's terrible. Jar Jar Binks is terrible!" Lucas said, mocking his critics. "Everyone said the same thing about R2-D2 and C-3PO. At the beginning, there was a huge push for me to get rid of C-3PO, and then in the third one, people said the same thing about Ewoks.""We want to see an adult movie!" Lucas recalled being told. While the downfall of the post-Lucas "Star Wars" films may be from not ignoring similar audience demands, in response to whether or not he is bothered by his later films not connecting with adults, he simply said, "Well, it's a kids' movie.""It's always been a kids' movie."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Director Christopher Nolan defended his cinematic choices for "The Odyssey" in a recent interview, which interestingly included a focus on historical accuracy.Nolan's remarks come as he has faced a landslide of criticism in the lead-up to the film's release, particularly for the way he has chosen to cast the ancient Greek story.'I just want to make it feel very fresh for modern audiences.'Digging inMost notably, Nolan cast Mexican-born Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o to play Greek princess Helen of Troy. This was in addition to tapping transgender actress Elliot Page to play Greek warrior Sinon, despite Page having a lengthy movie career as Ellen Page, including in Nolan's 2010 hit "Inception."Nevertheless, Nolan did not address his casting choices in a recent interview, and while he did praise some of his actors, he made a peculiar argument for why historical accuracy is important."We went back to what's in the archaeology. What does that tell us? And what gaps does that leave?" Nolan rhetorically asked Channel 4."What do we know about Homer's time? How were things portrayed in the earliest possible portrayals of that? And looking at how do you create a consistent and accessible world around that that feels vital and and credible."RELATED: Elliot Page, Travis Scott, and ancient Greece: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ is unrealistic — but should anyone care? Greek to meWhile Nolan argued for historical accuracy in architecture, he made a different argument when asked about the "very modern" language used in the film. Nolan said the use of old English in similar depictions is only due to cultural bias."You look at the ancient world — people tend to view it in weird ways; there's a lot of cultural prejudice," Nolan argued. "They're sort of elevating it because it's old, you know, whatever it is. When you go to the poem, what you find is something that's really earthy and grounded and accessible."Still, the 55-year-old said he wanted an updated take on the film and to avoid any illogical assumptions some audiences may have."I just want to center it on that and make it feel very fresh for modern audiences and do away with some of those assumptions that aren't based on anything logical. They're just, as I say, cultural prejudices or things over time," Nolan added.RELATED: Christopher Nolan’s shocking woke sellout: Weaponizing Homer’s Western classic AGAINST the West Los Angeles, 2010. Kevin Winter/Getty Images Horsing aroundThe director's use of the dreaded term "modern audiences" set off many in the comments section, who see it as a signal that the movie will be overtly progressive in tone.Viewers called the term "a huge red flag" and a reason to be "immediately out.""'Modern audience' lol no thanks," another viewer wrote, while a recent remark asked, "Is this modern audience with you in the room, right now?"As for Nolan's pick for Sinon, the character is typically viewed as a soldier who helped deceive Trojans into accepting the Trojan Horse inside their walls. According to GreekMythology.com, Sinon's "lies, courage, and careful acting" made him one of the most "important figures in the story of the Trojan Horse."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell is a proud trailer park-raised Republican who, "through the grace of God" and a deepening relationship with Christ, beat a crippling crack cocaine addiction, then went on to enjoy massive personal success and found a recovery network.Lindell has in recent years paid an enormous price personally and professionally for his claims both that President Donald Trump won the 2020 election and that the election was rigged, even becoming a target of the Biden FBI.'This race looks all but over.'Trump, evidently impressed with his steadfast defender, said in December after Lindell filed to run for governor of Minnesota that the 65-year-old businessman "deserves to be governor of Minnesota.""That man suffered. What he did, what he went through because he knew the election was rigged. And he did it. I mean, he just did it as a citizen," Trump said. "These people went after him, they went after his company. They did that with me, too, but at least I knew what I was getting into. He was just a guy that said, 'Jeez, this election was so crooked; it was so rigged.' He fought like hell."On Wednesday — just months after the Minnesota Republican Party endorsed Army veteran and former health care executive Kendall Qualls for governor — Trump formally endorsed Lindell, stating that "if given the chance, Mike will be SPECTACULAR!"In addition to characterizing the "Pillow Man" as "one of America's greatest and most hard working Patriots," Trump said that Lindell "truly loves Minnesota, as do I, and wants to bring it back from oblivion and embarrassment. He can do it! Nobody has sacrificed more than Mike Lindell in fighting for our country, especially when it comes to Election Integrity. He truly deserves everything he gets — He will MAKE MINNESOTA GREAT AGAIN!"RELATED: Former Miss North Dakota pleads guilty to day care fraud in Minnesota MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Minnesota GOP did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.In a survey of over 1,000 likely primary voters in late June, Big Data Poll found that Lindell led his closest competitor, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, by 6 points — 27% to 21%.Qualls trailed far behind in third place with just 10% in the poll."Mike Lindell continues to lead among the core demographics that make up the primary coalition that nominated President Trump in the North Star State, to include the working class voters by income and education levels who were stalwart supporters of the president," Big Data Poll director Rich Baris said in a statement. "In giving Lindell the lead both before and after the convention, Republican primary voters are sending a clear message.""With the president's endorsement, this race looks all but over," Baris added.Following Trump's endorsement of Lindell, Qualls said that he will continue to support the president but that "this race won't be won by national endorsements.""It will be decided by Minnesota Republicans — the same Republicans who supported President Trump in all three of his campaigns — and who time and time again have lined up behind our campaign as the only candidate endorsed by the Minnesota Republican Party," Qualls added.Lindell has vowed, among other things, tosupport state cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;oppose sanctuary policies and protect resources for citizens;eliminate the in-person retail sales tax plan in order to reduce families' tax burden immediately as well as spur job growth;"put real brakes on runaway property tax hikes" in part by limiting yearly increases and shifting some of the education burden to the state;"encourage policies that make it easier to marry, raise children, and care for aging parents";crack down on welfare fraud; andexpand school choice and bolster parental rights.The Minnesota GOP primary will take place on Aug. 11.Democratic primary voters, who will also go to the polls next month, have several radicals to choose from, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is running on an anti-ICE platform, and Thomas Evenstad, a convicted rapist.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The internet has done an admirable job hobbling the corporate left-wing media’s ability to control the population through a single narrative. But that blessing comes with regrettable costs.The speed of information and the incentive to push hot takes onto social media mean that when a public figure dies, there is an immediate race to decide which competing narrative will define his legacy.Was Graham a true convert to MAGA and its values? Unlikely. But politics is not a contest over who believes harder.When Lindsey Graham died suddenly of heart failure over the weekend, conspiracy theories about foreign assassination plots immediately began to circulate online. Many leftists openly celebrated his death, and the reactionary impulse of conservatives drove others to recast Graham as a stalwart crusader for MAGA.The truth is more complicated. But in the eternal battle for narrative supremacy, there is little time for reflection, even in response to death.No one is above criticism. But in a healthy society, some space exists between a public figure’s passing and attacks on his legacy.That standard now seems quaint, perhaps naive. It is also better for the soul of the nation.Unfortunately, wishing to live in that kind of society does not make it real. The information war is relentless. Abstaining from the fight only means someone else defines the truth.The news cycle does not observe a respectable period of mourning. The battle begins the moment the headline drops.Wild conspiracy theories now seem obligatory whenever a prominent figure dies, and Graham was no exception. The senator toured a Ukrainian weapons factory the day before his death, and several figures speculated that he had really been killed in an attack on that facility or poisoned by the Russians.Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin suggested on social media that Graham had likely been killed by Israel, despite Graham’s long record of advocacy for that country.This is not to denigrate conspiracy theories in general. One thing we learned after COVID is that such theories can often prove correct. But the narratives around Graham’s death were bizarre.Graham was a 71-year-old man with a family history of fatal heart conditions who did not take care of himself. His death is sad, but its cause was hardly mysterious.RELATED: Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to serve out the rest of his term in the Senate Grant Baldwin/Getty ImagesProgressives reacted exactly as expected. There was gloating, celebration, mockery, and even speculation about who should come next.Graham’s death was nowhere near as visceral or violent as Charlie Kirk’s assassination, but the left’s response carried unnerving echoes. It was a brutal reminder of a lesson conservatives have worked hard not to learn since Kirk’s murder.Even the average Democrat is emotionally unhinged.Your progressive neighbor may not be willing to commit violence personally against you over politics. But many are happy to cheer those who do and dance on your grave once you are gone.The reaction on the right was strange in a different way. Some conservatives rushed to construct a hagiography, transforming Graham into a MAGA saint, a lion who died fighting for the cause.That impulse may have been an understandable response to the left’s disgusting vitriol. It was not wise.Graham served in the Senate for 31 years. He supported every disastrous war during his tenure, including the war in Ukraine that Donald Trump ran on ending and the war in Iran now costing the administration dearly.Graham pushed for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. He backed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton during military operations in Syria and Libya.He pushed to send hundreds of billions of dollars to foreign governments while inflation was driving up the cost of living for ordinary Americans. After Graham’s death, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that when he told the senator Israel should pay for its own defense, Graham insisted that American taxpayers should foot the bill.On immigration, the core issue of the MAGA coalition, Graham was even worse.He was part of the Gang of Eight and pushed for amnesty alongside men like Marco Rubio. In 2006, Graham teamed up with John McCain to pursue a similar pathway to citizenship. His attempts to secure amnesty for illegal aliens were so common that he earned the nickname “Grahamnesty.”Lindsey Graham was, in almost every way imaginable, the essence of the Washington swamp Trump promised to drain.He was also a savvy political operator.Graham initially fought Trump tooth and nail. Like many Republicans, he slowly changed his rhetoric. Despite still pushing horrible foreign policy and endless war, the senator became a reliable vote for Trump on many domestic issues. His work advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the SAVE Act deserves note.Was Graham a true convert to MAGA and its values? Unlikely. But politics is not a contest over who believes harder.It would have been unwise to trust Graham. Many Republicans have discovered new respect for Trump to get what they want, only to betray him the moment he stops prioritizing their issues.RELATED: Conservatives are blowing the easiest political win in America Blaze Media IllustrationBut Graham delivered votes and support at key moments. That made him politically useful in scenarios that cannot be ignored.Graham spent most of his career as an institutional neoconservative advancing policies that were disastrous for the country. He eventually corrected course on amnesty and delivered some key votes for the Trump administration. Yet his monomaniacal obsession with war made him one of the central proponents of a foreign policy quagmire threatening to derail the MAGA agenda.Does his opportunistic support for Trump in the final years of his life make him a true MAGA patriot? No.Does he deserve the hatred poured on him by the left after his death? Also no.That is not mercy for a political enemy. It is moral clarity. Refusing to lie about a man’s record does not require joining the mob that cheers his death.Those are entirely separate moral sins.In the rush to define the narrative, the complicated nature of Graham’s legacy disappears.The internet has made immediate judgment mandatory and thoughtful reflection almost impossible. It turns public figures into mascots, villains, saints, and demons before the body is cold.In the end, the internet makes fictional characters of us all.