Denis Villeneuve Explains Why Phones Are Banned on His Movie Sets

The acclaimed Dune director Denis emphasizes the importance of focus, creativity, and collective commitment on set, avoiding digital distractions for cinematic excellence.

Washington [US], December 27: Renowned filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, celebrated for his groundbreaking work on Dune and Dune: Part Two, recently opened up about his strict no-phone policy on movie sets, emphasizing the importance of uninterrupted focus and deep creative engagement.

In an interview with Deadline, the three-time Oscar-nominated director explained his reasoning behind banning mobile phones during filming. Villeneuve views cinema as an ‘act of presence’, where every member of the crew must be fully immersed in their roles without digital distractions.

“Cinema is an act of presence. When a painter paints, he has to be absolutely focused on the colour he’s putting on the canvas. It’s the same with the dancer when he performs a gesture,” Villeneuve stated.

He added, “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. When you say cut, you don’t want someone rushing to their phone to check Facebook.”

The director acknowledged the addictive nature of technology, describing smartphones as a modern compulsion. “There’s something addictive about the ability to access any information, any song, any book. It’s compulsive. It’s like a drug,” he said.

Villeneuve further expressed a personal desire to disconnect from screens entirely, likening the experience to “fresh air”, and highlighting his aspiration for a simpler, more focused existence.

The celebrated director has been lauded for his adaptations of Frank Herbert’s iconic sci-fi epic Dune. Both Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) garnered widespread acclaim, accumulating over USD 1.12 billion at the global box office and winning multiple Academy Awards.

Looking ahead, Villeneuve confirmed plans to begin filming the highly anticipated third installment, Dune Messiah, in late 2025 or early 2026. This sequel is set to explore the deeper layers of Arrakis and its intricate characters, continuing the director’s cinematic vision for the Dune universe.

With his meticulous approach and commitment to storytelling, Denis Villeneuve remains one of the most influential directors of our time, reshaping the standards of modern cinema with every project he undertakes.