The International Film Industry Seems Okay With AI

While Hollywood creatives are mostly anti-AI, international filmmakers are signaling that they’re more open to using the tech as a tool that can expand a movie’s reach — as long as it’s used ethically.

The Big Picture: While some are going all in with generating content in movies, most international filmmakers are using the tech to power the dubbing process of movies for different markets or clean things up in post-production. If AI use helps more people see indie films globally and puts money in the pockets of creators, it could lead to more acceptance of the controversial tech.

Behind the Scenes: International filmmakers believe that there’s a right way to use AI.

• Many are using the LA-based Flawless AI to adjust the lip movements of actors, so dubbed versions appear more natural. That allows for the original actor, or a voice actor speaking a different language, to record their dialogue over it.
• The tech has piqued the interest of several high-profile productions like Tom Tykwer’s Berlinale-opening The Light (the movie is being sold in German and dubbed in English).
• Additionally, XYZ Films (one of the biggest global indie producers/distributors) struck a deal with Flawless to release a slate of English-dubbed films in the US, including Sweden’s Watch the Skies, France’s Vincent Must Die, and South Korea’s Smugglers.

Closing Credits: Flawless signed a compliance agreement with the actors union SAG-AFTRA, which led the union’s chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, to recently point out the company as one that uses AI “to serve human creativity, not replace it.” That provides significant legitimacy, especially as Oscar frontrunners like Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist have come under fire for not disclosing that they used the AI firm Respeecher to enhance their lead performances until they were found out. That’s already led the Academy to discuss implementing disclosure rules for Oscar qualification.

Like the many productions that have started proudly stamping their films as “no-AI” productions, it’s possible that the only way for movies to gain acceptance from the creative community for responsibly using the tech is by being radically transparent about it.