AI AND THE OSCARS: WHEN IS IT TAKEN TOO FAR?
This year some of the best productions that have been released across 2024-early 2025 were showcased at the annual Academy Awards. However, the award show was not without its controversy regarding who should be nominated, or even win, for their performance. The most notable argument surrounding the award season was on the usage of AI in the film, The Brutalist, specifically in perfecting leading stars Felicity Jones and Adrien Brodys’ Hungarian accents.
The editor of the film, Dávid Jancsó, admitted in an interview with ‘Red Shark News’ that when editing the film, he used AI technology to perfect their accents so that it was near impossible to spot any ‘difference’ between a native or foreign speaker. However, this raised serious contention regarding whether this modification should qualify actors, directors or general creators within the film from being eligible for nomination. It raises an unclear boundary as to when something stops being the sole work of an individual and begins to become the work of AI technology. Without observation of the original footage, audiences have no comprehension of when and where an actor’s ability to truly embody the character begins.
Though it is still the actors performing the emotions and craft within the film, having knowledge of AI being involved in some capacity surrounding their performance shadows this. Their work to audiences becomes forgotten and the centre of focus within the major production shifts to what extent such technology has intervened. Thus, impacting on the believability of the actors’ skill. Though Brody is an acclaimed actor and previous Oscar winner, the public began to cast doubt on if he had any entitlement to his nomination and especially on if he was deserving of his win in the Best Actor category. Even despite his history of credible performances, he was not exempt from the passing of judgement on his talent. For an up and coming creative, such a scandal could prevent their career from progressing in an already challenging industry.
It is important to note that though The Brutalist and Adrien Brody’s performance were the most heavily debated in the media, they were not the only film found guilty of AI usage amongst nominees this award season. The already controversial nomination, Emilia Pérez, was also noted to have used AI in an attempt to blend Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón’s voice, with another singer to accommodate their vocal range. As the film is a musical, this is a significant component to their nomination. AI usage in both films were not noted until after nominations had already been released for the Academy and the beginning of the awards season.
According to an article released by ‘Variety’, the Oscars are now considering whether they will require films and creators to disclose their usage of AI before nominations are finalised. Currently, films are provided an option as to whether they would like to disclose such information. Considering the growing use of this technology in entertainment, enforcing transparency around AI may be the only way to protect the integrity of the awards in the eyes of the public.
SOURCES
https://www.redsharknews.com/why-epic-period-drama-movie-the-brutalist-was-shot-on-vistavision
