The Rise of AI in Filmmaking: A Look at "The Brutalist" and the Oscars’ Response
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking is rapidly evolving, sparking both excitement and controversy within the industry. A recent example is Brady Corbet’s film, "The Brutalist," a sweeping epic that has garnered critical acclaim but also faced backlash due to its use of AI in voice modulation and other aspects of production. This situation, along with similar AI applications in other recent award-season films, has prompted the Academy Awards to consider new regulations regarding transparency in AI usage.
"The Brutalist": A Case Study in AI-Assisted Filmmaking
"The Brutalist" tells the story of László Tóth, a Jewish Hungarian architect who survives the Holocaust and later immigrates to America, where he becomes involved with a powerful businessman. The film’s impressive scale and cinematography have won praise, yet it’s the behind-the-scenes use of AI that has sparked significant debate. The film’s editor revealed that AI was deployed in two key areas: to enhance the actors’ Hungarian accents and to generate certain architectural blueprints.
Specifically, the production employed a Ukrainian software company to refine the actors’ pronunciations, giving them more authentic-sounding Hungarian accents. The AI assistance also facilitated the creation of supplementary visual elements, such as some of the blueprints for buildings featured in the film. The editor argued that this AI usage sped up the production process and helped overcome budget and time constraints, allowing the team to include important details that would have otherwise been impossible to create traditionally.
The editor’s comments highlight a common industry sentiment: AI tools can increase efficiency and affordability, enabling filmmakers to achieve greater visual fidelity and realism. However, this use of AI remains controversial.
The Academy’s Response and the Broader Industry Debate
The controversy surrounding "The Brutalist" and other films utilizing AI isn’t isolated. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is currently in a period of review, exploring the increasing prevalence of AI in filmmaking. Currently, the Academy has an optional disclosure form for AI use in film submissions. However, the governing bodies are carefully evaluating how AI is employed across various filmmaking aspects, aiming to make this disclosure mandatory for future Oscar submissions. This shift suggests a growing awareness of the necessity for transparency and understanding regarding AI’s role in the creation of films. Many in the Academy are already considering how best to address the ethical and artistic questions raised by AI’s integration into movie production.
The debate reflects a wider tension within Hollywood. There’s a growing acknowledgment of AI’s potential to revolutionize filmmaking, offering new creative avenues and streamlining production workflow. Yet, many remain concerned about the implications for artists, jobs, and the authenticity of cinematic experiences.
Some see the use of AI as a positive step forward, enabling filmmakers to achieve effects once considered impossible or prohibitively expensive. The use of AI to create realistic aging effects has already been seen in films like (a past example was) "The Irishman," where deepfake technology helped to de-age the actors.
AI’s Potential and Limitations in Filmmaking
AI technologies, like AI-powered voice modification and image generation tools (like, in a past example, the OpenAI’s Sora technology), are becoming increasingly sophisticated and accessible. These tools provide opportunities for filmmakers to enhance realism, accelerate production, and potentially create entirely new kinds of cinematic experiences. However, ethical considerations and the appropriate use of the technology are important concerns.
One key area of discussion is the potential displacement of human artists and technicians. As AI becomes capable of handling tasks traditionally performed by humans, concerns arise about job security and the future of artistic labor. While AI tools may enhance efficiency, it’s important to ensure they complement, not replace, human creativity and skill.
Moreover, the line between authentic artistic expression and AI-generated content is getting increasingly blurred. This raises questions about authorship, artistic integrity, and the very definition of what constitutes a film’s creative merit. Many are worried about the potential decline in artistic creativity that this lack of control over the creative process might engender.
The Future of AI in Film: Transparency and Ethical Considerations
The Academy’s initiative to mandate AI disclosure is a significant step toward addressing these concerns. Requiring filmmakers to be transparent about their use of AI would allow audiences, critics, and other filmmakers to engage with the technology’s implications and decide for themselves how they feel about its usage. This move is designed to create better engagement, greater accountability within the industry and more informed viewer experiences.
Ultimately, the future of AI in filmmaking hinges on a thoughtful and balanced approach. The technology’s potential for innovation should not overshadow the importance of ensuring ethical implementation, protecting artistic integrity, and preserving the human element at the heart of filmmaking. While AI undoubtedly offers potential to revolutionize the industry, its effective integration will depend on maintaining an open dialogue about its creative and ethical ramifications, as well as providing consumers enough information to assess the film from a fully informed point of view. The balance between technological advancement and artistic integrity will define the future of AI’s role in cinema.