AI Scandal Rocks ‘The Brutalist’ at Oscars: Producer Defends Use as Best Picture Chances Tumble!

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The film producer DJ Gugenheim, known for “The Brutalist“, graced the red carpet prior to this year’s Oscars. As anticipated, he was questioned about the role of AI in his critically acclaimed movie. Regarding rumors that AI was employed to refine and enhance the Hungarian accents of the film’s actors, Gugenheim clarified:

(Gugenheim’s statement)
In response to speculation that AI was utilized to refine and improve the Hungarian accents of the actors in his movie, Gugenheim stated:

We rely on the actors, the creative team, and the talent to produce a film. If employments aren’t jeopardized and we can create the best possible product, then using tools becomes appropriate. However, I believe the concern with artificial intelligence arises when it results in job loss. It’s encouraging that the Academy is questioning AI usage. In my opinion, AI should never be used at the expense of jobs; absolutely not.

Earlier, director Brady Corbet reacted to the disclosure made by his editor that they employed an AI, which might negatively impact the movie’s chances in awards contests. The three-hour and 35-minute long film, “The Brutalist,” is a grand epic featuring Adrien Brody as László Tóth, a Hungarian-born Jewish architect who survived the Holocaust and moved to the United States. Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2024, “The Brutalist” has been a strong contender for awards, and after winning Best Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes, it appeared to be a leading candidate for Best Picture at the Oscars. However, recent speculation about the film’s use of AI has raised questions about its chances in those competitions.

After facing some controversy, director Brady Corbet clarified concerns about the use of AI in the movie “The Brutalist” in a statement to Deadline. Contrary to rumors, Judy Becker and her team did not employ AI to create or render any of the buildings depicted in the film. Instead, all images were hand-drawn by artists. The poor digital renderings seen in the memorial video’s background shot were intentionally created by the editorial team. “The Brutalist” is a film that explores human complexity, and every aspect of its production was shaped by human creativity, effort, and collaboration. Corbet also clarified that no AI was used to enhance the performances of stars Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones. The team takes great pride in their work on this project.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the exceptional work done by Adrien and Felicity in their roles. They dedicated months to working with dialect coach Tanera Marshall, meticulously perfecting their accents. In an innovative move, we employed Respeecher technology exclusively for Hungarian language dialogue editing, focusing on subtle refinements of certain vowels and letters for accuracy. However, no English dialogues were altered during this process. This was a painstaking task carried out by our sound team in collaboration with Respeecher during post-production. Our intention was to preserve the authenticity of Adrien and Felicity’s performances when translated into Hungarian, rather than replacing or altering their work. Every effort was made to respect their craft and the integrity of their performances.

It was disclosed after an interview with Dávid Jancsó, the editor of “The Brutalist,” by RedShark News, that the film employed AI. Jancsó explained that this technology was utilized to enhance the Hungarian accents of Brody and Jones, making them sound more authentic using AI resources from Respeecher, the same system used to age Mark Hamill’s voice for Luke Skywalker in “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.” Additionally, it was suggested in the interview that the movie employed generative AI for its climactic scene, a claim that has sparked debate among filmmakers and film enthusiasts.

The Growing Concerns Around AI in Hollywood

One of many films produced in 2024, including “The Brutalist,” has faced criticism for integrating AI in its production. For instance, “Late Night With the Devil” received intense backlash due to the extensive use of AI-generated artwork in its interstitial graphics. A24’s “Civil War” did not incorporate AI within the film itself, but it was utilized during the promotional campaign, resulting in a series of posters that were widely ridiculed and didn’t align with the actual themes of the movie. Similarly, “The Brutalist,” a competitor at awards for “Emilia Pérez,” employed AI to augment the singing voice of its star, Karla Sofía Gascón. The popular fan-favorite “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” also used AI in its post-production phase, which was unexpected given the franchise’s emphasis on practical filmmaking. Regrettably, the use of AI has become prevalent and is likely being utilized more than is publicly acknowledged.

Although Corbett’s statements may challenge the idea that the film employed generative AI for its artwork, and some may dismiss it as merely sound editing (a point still under discussion), the headlines about The Brutalist‘s use of AI could potentially damage its chances at the Oscars. Despite voting for nominations having ended on January 17, 2025, a day before The Brutalist made headlines due to using AI, this news may well accompany Corbett’s film throughout the awards season. If The Brutalist hopes to regain support from some of the more passionate Academy voters who might be uneasy about honoring a movie that employs controversial technology, it will need to do a considerable amount of damage control.

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2025-03-03 03:32