The AI Backlash Surrounding The Brutalist: A Deep Dive into AI's Role in Modern Filmmaking

The revelation that The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet, employed AI tools in its production has sparked a fresh and heated debate surrounding the increasing role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. The film, which has garnered significant attention during this awards season and is considered a strong contender for a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, tells the story of László Tóth, a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect (played by Adrien Brody) who is forced to immigrate to the United States after World War II. Set against the backdrop of postwar Europe, The Brutalist is a visually striking film, reflecting both the architectural movement of Brutalism and a dedication to the cinematic style of mid-20th-century American cinema.

One of the most controversial aspects of the film’s production is its use of AI-enhanced voice software developed by the Ukrainian company Respeecher. The AI was employed to adjust the Hungarian accents of Brody and his co-star, Felicity Jones, allowing them to pronounce difficult Hungarian words more accurately. While AI in film is not new, the backlash surrounding The Brutalist is a reflection of wider concerns within the film industry about the ethics and implications of incorporating AI technology into creative processes.

How Did The Brutalist Use AI?

In an interview with RedShark News, The Brutalist editor Dávid Jancsó discussed the team’s use of Respeecher’s AI tool to refine certain Hungarian words and sounds, making them more authentic. Hungarian, as a Uralic language, features unique sounds that are difficult for native English speakers to pronounce, even for skilled actors. According to Jancsó, the AI tool was used to correct specific letters in the actors’ dialogue—primarily vowels and other challenging phonemes. The AI was not used to alter the entirety of the actors' performances but rather to enhance their pronunciation in a way that respected their original delivery. Brody and Jones were aware of the adjustments, and most of the AI-modified dialogue was read by Jancsó himself.

Jancsó further explained that while these adjustments could have been made manually using sound-editing software like ProTools, the AI tool allowed the team to speed up the process. With The Brutalist having a tight budget of $10 million, time and resources were limited, and the AI tool was a way to meet the challenges of a complex production schedule while maintaining the integrity of the actors’ performances.

What Exactly Does Respeecher Do?

Respeecher’s technology specializes in voice conversion, which allows filmmakers to adjust accents, pronunciation, or even recreate specific voices. The software creates a digital database of a person’s voice, capturing key features like language, accent, and other characteristics. It then allows the voice to be modified in post-production. In The Brutalist’s case, Respeecher was used specifically to refine Brody and Jones' Hungarian dialogue, replacing hard-to-pronounce letters rather than altering their voices completely. The aim was to preserve their performances while making their accents sound more natural.

Respeecher has worked on other high-profile projects, including restoring James Earl Jones’ iconic Darth Vader voice for Obi-Wan Kenobi and recreating the voice of French singer Edith Piaf for a biopic. Additionally, the company has applied its technology to help preserve endangered languages, such as Crimean Tatar, which is under threat due to geopolitical factors.

AI in Architecture and More

The Brutalist also used AI technology beyond voice adjustments. According to Jancsó, AI was used in creating some of the architectural drawings and buildings featured in a Venice Biennale sequence in the film. However, Jancsó did not specify which AI tools were employed or whether these drawings were entirely AI-generated. It’s important to note that while AI was used to speed up certain aspects of the production, the team was cautious not to replace the artistic input of the production design team. AI allowed the filmmakers to include details that they otherwise would not have been able to afford or shoot in the film's limited time frame.

Despite the pushback against AI's role in The Brutalist, Jancsó emphasized the importance of openly discussing AI's place in filmmaking. He argued that AI should be viewed as just another tool, one that can be used to enhance the filmmaking process, not replace human creativity. Jancsó pointed out that AI tools have long been used in other industries and that their integration into filmmaking should not be feared but embraced as a means of advancing the craft. In his words, the use of AI simply makes the filmmaking process faster and more efficient, helping the team overcome obstacles that would have otherwise hindered the production.

The Director Responds to the Backlash

After the controversy erupted, director Brady Corbet issued a statement clarifying the film's use of AI. In response to claims that AI was used in the architectural sequences of the film, Corbet refuted the notion, clarifying that all of the buildings in the Venice Biennale sequence were hand-drawn by artists, not generated by AI. He also reiterated that the use of Respeecher's AI tool was limited to refining the Hungarian dialogue, not altering the actors' performances. According to Corbet, both Brody and Jones worked extensively with a dialect coach to perfect their Hungarian accents, and the use of AI was simply a way to ensure accuracy in their pronunciation without compromising their performances.

Corbet stressed that the goal of using AI in post-production was not to replace the actors' work but to enhance it. The technology was used respectfully and carefully, ensuring that the actors' original performances remained intact while improving the authenticity of the Hungarian language dialogue.

The Broader Debate: AI and Filmmaking

The use of AI in The Brutalist has reignited the ongoing debate about the role of generative AI in creative industries. As AI becomes more integrated into the filmmaking process, from screenwriting to acting and music production, concerns have grown about its potential to replace human creativity. This concern was one of the driving forces behind the 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), who sought to regulate the use of AI in the industry.

The ongoing controversy surrounding The Brutalist highlights the tension between technological innovation and artistic integrity. As AI tools become more advanced, filmmakers will need to navigate the ethical implications of using AI while ensuring that it remains a complement to human creativity, not a replacement. Whether or not the backlash surrounding AI will affect The Brutalist’s Oscar prospects remains to be seen, but the conversation around AI in filmmaking is far from over. This debate is likely to shape the future of the industry as it continues to evolve in response to emerging technologies.