How AI Transformed Hungarian Accents in The Brutalist: A Game-Changer in Film Sound Design

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How AI helped refine Hungarian accents in The Brutalist

Exploring the Role of AI in Brady Corbet’s Oscar-Contending Film, The Brutalist

As awards season heats up, Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is generating significant buzz for its Oscar potential.

A Journey Through Post-War Architecture

This visually stunning drama immerses audiences in the post-World War II era, telling the compelling story of László Tóth, a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect portrayed by Adrien Brody. Forced to leave his family behind, Tóth starts anew in the United States.

The Intersection of Technology and Artistry

What sets The Brutalist apart is its blend of vintage allure with modern technology. Notably, the film expertly utilizes AI to enhance the actors’ Hungarian pronunciations, sparking intriguing conversations about the evolving role of technology in filmmaking.

AI’s Essential Contributions to Dialogue

Dávid Jancsó, the film’s editor, revealed that the production team partnered with Respeecher, an AI software developed by a Ukrainian company, to refine the Hungarian dialogue performed by Brody and co-star Felicity Jones. He highlighted the challenges of Hungarian, a Uralic language with unique sounds, which posed a hurdle even for seasoned actors.

How Respeecher Works

Respeecher isn’t magic, but it has made significant strides in voice modeling in recent years. The software analyzes a speaker’s voice characteristics to adjust specific elements like pronunciation. For The Brutalist, AI worked its magic to fine-tune specific sounds that posed challenges for Brody and Jones, with Jancsó also adding personal tweaks to ensure authenticity.

Respeecher’s Hollywood Impact

This isn’t Respeecher’s maiden voyage in Hollywood; the software has been lauded for reviving iconic voices, including Darth Vader’s in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series and recreating Edith Piaf’s voice for a forthcoming biopic. Beyond film, it also contributes to the preservation of endangered languages like Crimean Tatar.

Efficiency Meets Creativity

In The Brutalist, AI served not just as a convenient tool but as a crucial time and budget saver. With extensive Hungarian dialogue, manual editing would have been a massive undertaking. Jancsó noted that utilizing AI accelerated the editing process, which was vital considering the film’s modest $10 million budget.

Broader AI Applications in Production

AI made its mark beyond voice modulation, assisting in generating some of Tóth’s architectural designs seen in the film’s Venice Biennale sequence. However, director Corbet clarified that these images are not purely AI-generated but incorporate AI for specific background elements.

Director and Editor on AI’s Value

Corbet and Jancsó maintain an open dialogue about AI in filmmaking, with Jancsó emphasizing its role as a valuable tool: “There’s nothing in the film using AI that hasn’t been done before. It just makes the process a lot faster.” Corbet echoed this sentiment, stating that AI’s goal is to enhance authenticity rather than replace the actors’ efforts.

The Ongoing AI Debate in Film

The discourse surrounding AI in the film industry is ongoing. Topics from script-writing to music production drove the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes. While some regulations have been established to govern AI usage, the matter remains a contentious issue.

The Aspirations of The Brutalist

As The Brutalist vies for potential Oscar nominations, it showcases not just a riveting storyline but also a stunning cinematographic experience. Celebrating the postwar Brutalist architectural movement, it simultaneously pays homage to classic American cinema, shot in the rarely used VistaVision format.

A New Era of Storytelling

With its ambitious narrative and cinematic style, The Brutalist invites discussions about the increasingly influential role of AI in creative fields. Whether viewed as a betrayal of craftsmanship or an exciting tool for innovation, AI’s impact on storytelling on film continues to evolve.

Conclusion

The conversation surrounding AI in the arts is a multifaceted one, with The Brutalist serving as a fascinating case study. Its approach to integrating AI demonstrates evolving techniques in filmmaking while prompting critical discussions about creativity and technology.

Questions and Answers

1. What is the premise of The Brutalist?

The Brutalist follows László Tóth, a fictional Hungarian-Jewish architect, who emigrates to the United States after World War II, leaving his family behind.

2. How did AI contribute to the film?

AI was used primarily to refine the Hungarian pronunciation of the dialogue spoken by actors Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, enhancing their performances without overshadowing their authenticity.

3. What is Respeecher?

Respeecher is an AI voice modeling software that analyzes a speaker’s characteristics to adjust elements like pronunciation, which was essential for the Hungarian dialogue in The Brutalist.

4. Has Respeecher been used in other projects?

Yes, Respeecher has been used in various Hollywood projects, including reviving iconic voices like Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi and recreating Edith Piaf’s voice for a biopic.

5. What are the broader implications of AI in filmmaking?

The use of AI in filmmaking raises questions about creativity, craftsmanship, and efficiency, as industry professionals debate its integration and implications, especially in light of recent strikes regarding AI usage in the writing and film production processes.

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