The director of a biopic on Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Russian spies of attempting to disrupt the production of the film, which is due to be released in the UK in September.
Filmmaker Patryk Vega disclosed to UK’s The Telegraph that he and his team were approached by individuals posing as US political advisors and Ukrainian film executives during the making of the movie titled ‘Putin’. Using artificial intelligence, the film showcases Putin’s from the age of 10 to his eventual death. It also shows Putin in some compromising situations, including one where he is depicted wearing diapers.
According to the British newspaper, Russian authorities displayed a keen interest in the film’s content, with Vega disclosing that he was offered significant sums of money to divulge details about the script. Recounting the encounter with Russian intelligence, Vega said, “They took from LinkedIn whole numbers of mobile phones for my crew."
He explained the tactics employed by the supposed intelligence operatives, saying “They started messaging these people, for example saying things like, ‘I am an assistant to a congressman from South Dakota, I hear you made this film. My boss would like to pay $100,000 for a screening of this movie, and also for a script.'"
The film’s use of AI technology has stirred controversy, particularly with its incorporation of a deepfake facial image of Putin onto the body of an actor. Scenes portraying Putin in compromising situations, such as lying on a hospital floor wearing diapers, have raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the intended message of the production.
The messages’ arrival coincided with the lead-up to the Russian elections in March, leading Vega to surmise that intelligence officials were attempting to gauge the film’s anti-Putin sentiments. Describing the calculated timing of the messages, Vega said, “They would only message between 9am and 5pm Moscow time. It’s obviously some guy with his boss on the side checking every answer before sending it to me."
Stay informed with the Iranian President News Latest Updates..
Comments
0 comment