The Role of AI in Enhancing Performances in The Brutalist
When it comes to movies with Oscar buzz, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is a strong contender this awards season. This visually captivating drama transports viewers to the post-World War II era, following the journey of László Tóth (played by Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish architect rebuilding his life in the United States.
But beyond its nostalgic charm, the film embraces cutting-edge technology—AI—to refine the Hungarian accents of its cast. The use of AI in The Brutalist has sparked discussions about the evolving role of technology in filmmaking.
How AI Perfected Hungarian Accents in The Brutalist
According to the film’s editor, Dávid Jancsó, the production team used Respeecher, an AI-powered software developed by a Ukrainian company, to fine-tune Hungarian pronunciation. Hungarian is a notoriously challenging Uralic language, and even talented actors like Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones faced difficulties mastering its nuances.
Respeecher’s AI creates voice models based on a speaker’s characteristics, allowing precise pronunciation corrections. The adjustments in The Brutalist were subtle, with Jancsó himself providing some replacement sounds to maintain the authenticity of performances.
“Most of their Hungarian dialogue has a part of me talking in there,” Jancsó joked, highlighting the care taken to preserve the actors’ original delivery.
Respeecher: The AI Behind Hollywood’s Voice Transformations
This isn’t Respeecher’s first Hollywood project. The AI tool has been used to recreate legendary voices, such as Darth Vader’s in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even to bring back Edith Piaf’s voice for an upcoming biopic. Beyond cinema, Respeecher has also been instrumental in preserving endangered languages like Crimean Tatar.
For The Brutalist, the AI tool proved to be a time and budget saver. Given the film’s extensive Hungarian dialogue, manually correcting every line would have been an arduous task. AI streamlined the process significantly—an important consideration given the film’s modest $10 million budget.
AI’s Other Roles in The Brutalist
AI’s influence in The Brutalist extended beyond voice refinement. It was also used to assist in generating architectural drawings for Tóth’s character, particularly for scenes set in the Venice Biennale. However, director Brady Corbet clarified that AI wasn’t used to fully generate imagery—only to assist in specific background elements.
Both Corbet and Jancsó have spoken openly about their perspectives on AI in filmmaking. Jancsó sees it as a tool that enhances efficiency, stating:
“There’s nothing in the film using AI that hasn’t been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster.”
Corbet emphasized that AI was used to enhance authenticity, not replace the actors’ work.
The Growing Debate on AI in Filmmaking
The use of AI in cinema remains a hotly debated topic. From scriptwriting to music production, AI’s impact was central to the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes. While agreements have been made to regulate AI’s role in Hollywood, discussions continue about its ethical implications.
As The Brutalist awaits potential Oscar nominations, its blend of classic cinematography and modern AI advancements makes it a unique addition to contemporary cinema. The film, shot in the rarely used VistaVision format, aims to capture the grandeur of mid-20th-century filmmaking—even incorporating a 15-minute intermission in its three-and-a-half-hour runtime.
Yet, amid its vintage aesthetics, the film is part of an ongoing conversation about the future of AI in the creative industry. Some see AI as a threat to craftsmanship, while others embrace it as an innovative tool that enhances artistic expression.
Conclusion: The Future of AI in Hollywood
Whether seen as a technological aid or a controversial disruptor, AI is undeniably transforming how films are made. In The Brutalist, AI was not used to replace human creativity but to refine and elevate performances. As the film industry continues to experiment with AI, it will be fascinating to see where the balance between tradition and technology ultimately lands.