Debate Ignites Over AI’s Role in The Brutalist Film Dialogue and Design

AI in Dialogue Refinement

• Hungarian’s Linguistic Complexity:
  • Hungarian is infamous for its intricate phonemes, vowel harmony, and sounds unfamiliar to non-native speakers. Actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones encountered significant challenges mastering the language despite months of intensive training with dialect coach Tanera Marshall.
  • Their linguistic hurdles stemmed from their Anglo-Saxon linguistic roots, making phonetic precision particularly difficult.
• Respeecher’s AI Contribution:
  • Editor Dávid Jancsó, a native Hungarian, employed Respeecher’s advanced AI tools to subtly enhance the Hungarian dialogue. The AI system, using Jancsó’s voice model, refined vowel sounds and phonemes while preserving the actors’ emotional expressions.
  • This enabled targeted corrections without requiring extensive ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) or costly reshoots, which were impractical given the film’s budget of under $10 million.
• Manual Oversight and Respect for Craft:
  • Director Brady Corbet emphasized that these adjustments were minimal, manual, and designed solely to ensure linguistic authenticity. English dialogue remained untouched.

Generative AI in Visual Design

• Architectural Blueprints and Designs:
  • AI was utilized to generate conceptual drafts of architectural designs attributed to the fictional Hungarian architect László Tóth, played by Adrien Brody.
  • These AI-generated designs served as foundational inspiration, subsequently refined by human artists led by Judy Becker to reflect an authentic 1980s aesthetic.
• Closing Sequence and Artistic Intent:
  • The film’s closing sequence featured a memorial video with intentionally crude digital renderings reminiscent of 1980s computer graphics, created by the editorial team to evoke an era-specific aesthetic.

Budgetary and Practical Necessity

• Cost Constraints:
  • As an independent film with a modest budget, The Brutalist relied on AI to address logistical and financial challenges without compromising artistic integrity.
• Efficiency and Precision:
  • AI allowed the production team to achieve high levels of linguistic and visual accuracy while maintaining cost efficiency, showcasing how technology can support creativity in resource-limited contexts.

Industry and Audience Reactions

Social Media Backlash and Ethical Concerns:

• Critics and social media commentators questioned the ethical implications of AI’s involvement in the film. Some argued that it undermines traditional craftsmanship and the authenticity of performances.
• Comparisons have been made to similar controversies, such as Hans Zimmer’s music reuse in Dune: Part Two and the reliance on post-production audio in other films like Bohemian Rhapsody.

Awards Eligibility Debate:

• The film’s use of AI has raised questions about its eligibility for major awards, including the Oscars and SAG Awards. Critics argue that even minor AI adjustments could detract from the perceived authenticity of performances.
• Corbet’s defense highlights that AI served as a technical tool rather than a creative force, aiming to preserve rather than alter the actors’ efforts.

Defending AI’s Role

• Brady Corbet’s Perspective:
  • Corbet emphasized that AI was used solely as a technical aid, not as a creative force. He maintained that the film’s emotional depth and narrative complexity relied entirely on human performances.
• Dávid Jancsó’s Justification:
  • Jancsó defended the use of AI as a practical necessity to address minor linguistic issues. He argued that these adjustments preserved the authenticity of the performances without overshadowing the actors’ efforts.

Broader Implications for Cinema

Redefining Authenticity:

• AI challenges traditional definitions of artistic originality, prompting debates about the balance between human creativity and technological intervention.

Setting a Precedent for Independent Films:

• The film demonstrates how AI can enable independent filmmakers to overcome logistical challenges, potentially influencing future productions.

Balancing Efficiency with Artistic Integrity:

• While AI offers cost-effective solutions, its integration raises concerns about maintaining the essence of traditional craftsmanship.

Contextual Highlights

• Respeecher’s Role in Hollywood:
  • Respeecher has been utilized in other high-profile projects, such as recreating James Earl Jones’s iconic voice for Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi.
• Awards Controversy:
  • Alongside The Brutalist, films like Emilia Perez have also faced scrutiny for their use of AI, making this awards season a focal point for debates on AI’s role in cinema.

Critical Recognition and Impact

• The Brutalist has received nine BAFTA nominations and three Golden Globe wins, including Best Actor for Adrien Brody. Despite these accolades, the film’s reliance on AI continues to fuel discussions about its artistic and ethical implications.

Final Thoughts

Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist illustrates the potential of AI as a collaborative tool in filmmaking, addressing practical challenges while raising vital questions about the future of creativity and authenticity in cinema.