Oscars Consider Requiring Films to Disclose AI Use After ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversies

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It’s been making waves that AI was utilized in the Best Picture nominee “The Brutalist”, sparking debates, but it’s not alone. Prominent films like “A Complete Unknown”, “Dune: Part 2” and “Emilia Pérez” have also incorporated AI to varying degrees. The increasing trend has prompted the Motion Picture Academy to consider modifying its Oscar submission rules, requiring films to disclose their use of AI, according to our sources at EbMaster.

The Academy offers an optional AI use disclosure form now, but they plan to make it mandatory in the 2026 Oscar rules after investigating its application in each branch. The Academy’s SciTech Council is creating recommended language for this change, as reported by EbMaster.

The creation of visual effects tools and methods leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Machine Learning (ML), is not a novel idea. To provide an insight into the latest advancements, this year’s Visual Effects Society Awards have numerous nominees in the emerging technology category. One such contender is Rising Sun Pictures from Australia, with their Revize machine learning toolset. As stated on their website, this toolset has been applied to a wide range of digital ML enhancements, most notably face replacement, facial performance alteration, deaging, body replacements, and other likeness adjustments.

The VES entry highlights its utilization in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” as well as in “A Complete Unknown,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” and the series “Apples Never Fall.” In simpler terms, it explains where VES was applied, which includes these specific projects.

Jennie Zeiher, the president of Rising Sun, confirmed that both “A Complete Unknown,” the Bob Dylan biopic up for Best Picture, and “Deadpool & Wolverine” employed the services of Revize, although she didn’t disclose further specifics about their usage.

To achieve the transformation of character Furiosa from child to adult in “Furiosa,” Rising Sun employed a technique on approximately 150 shots. This process gradually morphed Alyla Browne’s portrayal of Furiosa into Anya Taylor-Joy’s adult version. According to Robert Beveridge, their machine learning 2D supervisor, they designed tools that allowed artists to adjust the character’s appearance precisely. These tools enabled them to fine-tune the look and swiftly experiment with different variations. Beveridge further stated that it was crucial to avoid overemphasizing Taylor-Joy’s adult features too soon when using a younger actress for the role.

Initially, the toolset was utilized by Zeiher as part of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” production, specifically to integrate Austin Butler into vintage Elvis Presley footage in certain scenes. Zeiher explains that the main purpose of these tools is to enhance the efficiency of the VFX team, ultimately directing more resources towards creating visually stunning effects on screen.

The technological suite developed by AI company Metaphysic has been nominated in the “Emerging Tech” category for the VES awards. This technology was instrumental in aging and rejuvenating Tom Hanks and Robin Wright for director Robert Zemeckis’ film “Here,” as well as in digitally recreating the likeness of late actor Richard Carter, who played the Bullet Farmer in “Mad Max: Fury Road,” for actor Lee Perry in “Furiosa.” Both films are contenders in the VFX competition.

As a cinephile, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit about the visual effects (VFX) used in the Oscar-nominated movie “Alien: Romulus.” To bring back the likeness of the late Ian Holmes, who starred in the original 1979’s “Alien,” they utilized advanced metaphysical technology. Essentially, this technology helped them recreate Holmes’ on-screen presence, making it feel like he was still with us, even beyond the silver screen.

AI technology is integrated into popular content creation software like CopyCat (a feature within Nuke’s compositing system), which was employed in the production of “Dune: Part Two”. Specifically, a machine learning model was utilized to match and reproduce the distinctive blue eye color seen in the actors portraying the Fremens. This automation is said to have saved significant time, approximately hundreds of hours, as stated in the VES entry.

In the case where it was discovered that the movie “The Brutalist” employed AI in its post-production, director Brady Corbet released a statement. This statement included an explanation that Respeecher’s AI audio technology was utilized exclusively for enhancing certain Hungarian vowels and consonants for precision during editing. It is important to note that no adjustments were made to the English dialogue. Furthermore, he emphasized that Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones’ outstanding performances in the film remained entirely their own work.

Respeecher is similarly credited in the “Emilia Pérez” closing credits. Another AI-based tool, AudioShake, also played a role in separating opera singer Maria Callas’ vocals from her 1960s recordings that were integrated into the soundtrack for the biopic “Maria.

With more and more tools incorporating AI, their applications become increasingly diverse. However, distinguishing where technology has intervened and how it was utilized is becoming progressively challenging. One seasoned member of the VFX industry advocates for transparency, stating “Honesty should always be paramount.” They argue that award decisions should reflect the human artist’s contributions, and employing these new tools in creative ways can inspire future advancements for everyone else, making it a significant contribution.

The source emphasizes that we should remember the main focus, which is providing the foundation for the story. They point out that when it comes to actors, a top-notch digital performance has always been dependent on a human actor as its basis. The source concludes by stating that the essence of the season lies in appreciating how all the crafts complement each other. In their view, collaboration is key, and that’s something anyone involved in any craft would agree with. This sentiment will remain consistent throughout the production process.

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2025-02-07 23:49