The Academy Is Considering New Oscar Submission Rules That Would Require Films To Disclose Any Use of AI Following ‘The Brutalist’ and ‘Emilia Pérez’ Controversies

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AI is more frequently being used in movie production, and its appearance in potential Oscar winners is generating discussion. Notably, The Brutalist gained attention for employing AI to polish Hungarian dialogue, but it’s not the only film leveraging this technology. Other notable contenders like Dune: Part Two, A Complete Unknown, and Emilia Pérez have also integrated AI in various manners. Consequently, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is contemplating making it compulsory to disclose the use of AI for Oscar submissions.

At present, filmmakers have the option to disclose their use of AI voluntarily, but this could shift in the future. Governing bodies within the Academy are examining how AI is incorporated across various aspects of movie-making. The aim is to set more distinct guidelines for the 2026 Oscars, with detailed recommendations anticipated by April. Meanwhile, the Academy’s SciTech Council is working on defining and regulating AI usage with precise terms.

AI technologies have been instrumental in visual effects for quite some time now, and their influence is expanding. The Visual Effects Society (VES) Awards’ innovative technology category showcases several AI-enhanced tools, such as Rising Sun Pictures’ Revize. This technology was utilized in the film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga to flawlessly transform a character from childhood to adulthood. Additionally, it was employed in A Complete Unknown and Deadpool & Wolverine for facial fine-tuning and acting enhancements. Rising Sun’s president, Jennie Zeiher, acknowledged its use in these films without disclosing additional information.

Representatives from “A Complete Unknown” sought to alleviate any apprehensions, asserting that AI-assisted visual effects were employed for merely three quick motorcycle stunts: “The technology was utilized to aid in capturing three wide shots of a motorcycle, not affecting acting or creative aspects. This technology is frequently applied in films to make stunt performers resemble their respective actors more closely. For these specific 3 shots, the VFX studio employed this technique as a tool for the artists; such visual effects stunt face replacements have been in use for many decades.

For quite some time now, this particular technology, used to make stunt performers seem like actors, has been a common practice. In the film Furiosa, around 150 shots were subtly altered using AI technology to seamlessly combine two actors portraying the same character at different stages of their life.

The impact of AI goes beyond just special effects. For instance, in the production of “Dune: Part Two”, AI-assisted tools were employed to recreate the distinctive blue eyes of the Fremen, thereby reducing the artists’ workload substantially. Additionally, in their work, Emilia Pérez and Maria utilized AI-enhanced audio tools such as Respeecher and AudioShake for voice alterations and improvements.

Even though AI in cinema is becoming more prevalent, it continues to stir debate within the industry. Many professionals are concerned about its potential effects on originality and employment stability. This issue was significant during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes, and critics contend that increased transparency should be implemented. A seasoned member of the VFX branch underscored the significance of recognizing the human artists’ contributions to a film and ensuring that the accolades given reflect their work adequately.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the growing influence of AI in Tinseltown. The chatter about its role will only escalate, and the possible rule adjustments by the Academy could be a crucial move towards preserving industry transparency. The boundaries of how far AI should stretch in filmmaking are yet to be defined, but one thing is clear—it’s here to stay for quite some time!

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2025-02-08 12:14