Two-time Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and fellow actor Dakota Johnson offered a look into their approaches to cinema, their most defining roles and what happens behind the camera at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah. One is known for character-driven, psychologically intense films, rising to global fame with The Pianist, the other built her reputation through relationship-centric, light-hearted and mainstream projects, beginning with Fifty Shades of Grey.

Both shared their thoughts during separate “In Conversation” sessions at the event. When asked about the possible impact of AI on cinema, Brody said, “We are living in a time of great shifts in everything. I grew up on movies that were shot on film — there were no cell phones. I grew up with filmmakers who used in-camera effects and dangerous, physical stunts. There are tools available now that can enhance what we do, but nothing can replace emotion.”He added that even if technology can fabricate reality, the creative process and the beauty of filmmaking must still be cherished. He reminded the audience that evolution, especially in cinema, is inevitable and not necessarily negative. “There is so much content now. Inevitably, we are going through a major shift.”On how he decompresses after embodying intense roles, Brody said, “We have to replenish our energy. We’re not machines. I paint a lot when I have time. I make music, spend time with family, go into the countryside and into nature, and I find ways to decompress.Speaking about The Pianist, he said the team relied heavily on memoirs, testimonies and historical accounts of war. The film, he said, gave audiences a visceral understanding of the horrors of conflict. While grateful for that role, he added that he has explored a wide range of characters since.To young artists, Brody offered simple but sincere advice: “You should explore anything that feels like an opportunity to grow. Any professional experience is the biggest lesson you can have.” At the same time, he emphasised being realistic while pursuing creative passions.

When asked about the impact of winning the Academy Award, he said, “I assumed I had less to prove, that I’m a good actor, and that I can take on interesting work. Since my last film, I haven’t taken on new projects because they didn’t feel interesting.The Brutalist was his most recent project, for which he received his second Academy Award for Best Actor. His first award, in 2002, came from his portrayal of a Polish pianist during World War II in The Pianist.

Brody said that while receiving an Academy Award is a pinnacle for any actor, the craft is a lifelong journey. He said he aspires to be “more of a storyteller than an actor.Johnson, best known for the Fifty Shades series, spoke about her career, her approach to roles, and her move into production.On choosing scripts, she said she is learning more now about what suits her. Some scripts she chose earlier in her career, she noted, “were not right for me,” but she considers that part of the learning process.Producing, she said, is more challenging than acting. “There’s something about acting where I feel I’m in a bubble. But in production, you’re behind the curtain, and it’s really ugly,” she laughed.Discussing her new film Materialists, currently in theatres, Johnson said the story allowed her to explore personal themes. “It’s a love story, and I’m drawn to love stories,” she said.About Cha Cha Real Smooth, she said the project began with its title, with the script developing later. The film, centred on a young mother raising her special-needs child, involved a highly collaborative writing process. Johnson added she enjoys improvisation and noted that she began her career in comedy (Crazy in Alabama), with Cha Cha Real Smooth also leaning into that space.

Asked about memorable moments during filming, she said most of the interesting things happen off-set. “On Peanut Butter Falcon, Zack Gottsagen and I would get pedicures together — and he has the craziest toenails I’ve ever seen in my life,” she joked.On the best director she’s worked with, Johnson named Luca Guadagnino, saying he was the one with whom she felt “most seen” as an actor. The two worked together on Suspiria (2018). Johnson said she took time to learn the film’s choreography, as she is not a trained dancer, and did all the onscreen dancing herself.Speaking about A Bigger Splash (2015), she recalled she had been on a road trip with a band when she got the call for the role. On set, she admitted to feeling slightly overwhelmed, but Tilda Swinton reassured her she “was meant to be there.”Addressing roles that explore motherhood and feminism, Johnson said she is “a human woman, constantly evolving and trying to understand what my identity is — who I am, my feelings about motherhood, my dreams of motherhood. I’ve experienced womanhood my whole life, but I’m constantly learning.”Johnson concluded by saying she is looking forward to creative collaborations in Saudi Arabia.