Renowned director Denis Villeneuve, who is well-known for his critically acclaimed Dune adaptations, has given an explanation for why he forbids cell phones on his sets, highlighting the need of complete presence and concentration throughout the creative process.

According to Deadline, the three-time Oscar nominee recently discussed his views on the use of technology in filmmaking and said that cell phones are “absolutely forbidden” on his sets.

According to him, this choice is based on his conviction that filmmaking is a “act of presence,” and that technological distractions impair the intense concentration needed for the actors and crew to work together effectively.

“The act of cinema is presence. A painter must be completely concentrated on the color he is applying to the canvas while painting. When the dancer makes a motion, it’s the same,” Villeneuve said in an interview, according to Deadline.

He said, “As a filmmaker, you have to work with a crew, and everybody has to focus and be entirely in the present, listening to each other and building relationships.”

From the start, this method has been an essential component of Villeneuve’s directing process.

The director of Dune emphasized that cell phones are a major hindrance to this crucial concentration.

He said, “When you say cut, you don’t want someone rushing to their phone to check Facebook,” emphasizing the need of keeping everyone focused on the present.

Villeneuve acknowledged the addictive aspect of technology as he considered his own connection with it.

The capacity to access any information, music, or book has an addictive quality. It’s obsessive. It’s similar to a narcotic,” he said.

Despite acknowledging these temptations, the filmmaker said that he hoped to completely unplug from screens, comparing the experience to “fresh air” and expressing his desire for a more straightforward, concentrated life.

Villeneuve has solidified his legacy in film history with his triumphant adaptations of Frank Herbert’s Dune in 2021 and Dune: Part Two earlier this year.

The critically acclaimed movies earned many Academy Awards and apparently made a total of USD 1.12 billion at the box office worldwide.

Villeneuve has said that the third installment of the Dune series, which is based on Herbert’s Dune Messiah, will start production in late 2025 or early 2026.

After the popularity of Dune: Part Two and the newly released prequel series Dune: Prophecy, Deadline claims that this movie would go further into the vast continent of Arrakis and its nuanced characters.