Two of this year’s most-nominated films at the Academy Awards, The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez, have sparked debate over their use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Emilia Pérez, a musical about a transgender Mexican cartel leader, led all films with 13 nominations, while The Brutalist, a drama about a Hungarian-Jewish architect who survives the Holocaust, secured 10 nods, including Best Picture.
Both films have come under fire for using AI-enhanced voice technology. The Brutalist faced additional criticism for employing AI-generated visuals in its final sequence. The controversy has fueled ongoing discussions in Hollywood about the role of AI in creative industries.
Among the key nominations for The Brutalist are Best Actor for Adrien Brody and Best Supporting Actress for Felicity Jones. Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón received a nomination for Best Actress. Both films were also recognized for Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
AI’s role in the film industry has been a contentious issue in recent years. While technology has long been used for dubbing, visual effects, and post-production processes, concerns about AI’s ability to replicate and replace human artistry became central to the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes. Industry unions have since reached agreements to regulate AI’s use, but unresolved questions remain about how freely studios can train AI on preexisting content.
The controversy gained traction after The Brutalist director Brady Corbet and editor David Jancso acknowledged using AI tool Respeecher to refine Brody’s and Jones’ Hungarian-language dialogue. Jancso explained that AI was necessary to perfect certain pronunciations and that the process was no different from traditional dialogue enhancement techniques.
Similarly, Emilia Pérez drew scrutiny when reports resurfaced about the film’s re-recording mixer, Cyril Holtz, using AI to blend Gascón’s voice with that of singer Camille for certain musical segments. Holtz explained that some vocal registers were no longer accessible to Gascón following her transition, necessitating the use of AI-assisted voice synthesis.
Supporters of both films argue that AI-assisted techniques have precedent in Hollywood. Bohemian Rhapsody blended Rami Malek’s voice with that of singer Marc Martel, while The Irishman used AI to digitally de-age its actors.
As AI technology continues to evolve, the debate over its place in filmmaking is unlikely to fade. While the Academy Awards celebrate artistic excellence, they also serve as a battleground for discussions on protecting creators’ rights in the digital age.
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