The use of AI in film has become a big issue in Hollywood over the past year, with Searchlight’s A Complete Unknown the latest to acknowledge that it used artificial intelligence in some capacity.
What type of AI did A Complete Unknown use?
In a recent report from Variety detailing a variety of Best Picture-nominated films that used AI and how the Motion Picture Academy is exploring films to require disclosing the use of it, Searchlight acknowledged that it had used Australia-based Rising Sun Pictures’ Revize machine learning toolset for the movie.
The AI, which is often used for “a variety of digital ML augmentation, most notably face replacement, facial performance modification, deaging, body replacements and other likeness adaptations,” according to the company’s website, was used in making various stunt performers look more like actor Timothée Chalamet, according to Searchlight.
“The technology was used to assist in 3 brief wide shots on a motorcycle, not involving performance or creative enhancements,” said a spokesperson for the company. “This technology is commonplace for making stunt people resemble their actor in films. The VFX facility implemented this specific methodology as a tool for the artists to use for only these 3 shots – these type of VFX stunt face replacement shots have been used for decades.”
The report also highlights several other films to use AI in their production, including Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dune: Part Two, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and The Brutalist, the latter of which used AI to help edit the Hungarian language used in the film.
It’s unclear whether or not the use of AI has hindered any films in their ongoing campaigns for awards. Variety’s report notes that currently, the Academy has optional disclosure forms for AI, but due to the rise of usage in AI, it is considering making disclosure mandatory beginning in 2026.
(Source: Variety)
