May 15, 2025
By Zahara Chowdhury
Editor-in-Chief
From creating visual effects to improving foreign accents, Hollywood has found its new star: artificial intelligence. However, the use of generative AI in filmmaking and TV production is not without controversy.
Technology specialist Mr. Belmont, who teaches English and public speaking, said AI can detract from a film or TV show’s authenticity.
“It’s crafted by people based on their unique skills [and] experiences, [so] using AI tools… risks having things become sort of stale,” Belmont said. “It’s not providing that outlet for people to express themselves creatively.”
Belmont said AI can negatively impact actors’ portrayals of characters.
“Sometimes the best things about an actor or actress’s performance are the imperfections and the things that make them unique. Especially if those things were altered by AI, it would feel very impersonal,” Belmont said.
He said AI can help decrease the long hours many film industry employees must endure.
“AI can streamline that process so it can help those workers with their personal health and then also ensure that the product meets standards without sacrificing money or people that maybe aren’t available,” Belmont said.
At the 2025 Academy Awards, the 2024 drama film “The Brutalist,” starring Adrien Brody, earned 10 nominations and won three, including Best Actor. However, the production used Respeecher AI software to enhance Brody’s Hungarian accent. The movie’s Oscar-nominated editor, Dávid Jancsó, said the filmmakers wanted to do such a good job that even native Hungarian speakers could not detect imperfections in Brody’s accent.
“Sometimes the best things about an actor or actress’s performance are the imperfections and the things that make them unique.”
Belmont said “The Brutalist” compensates for using AI by staying true to the industry’s tradition.
“It was shot on film. In a lot of ways, [the production crew] strayed away from newer digital technologies, so it sort of balances itself,” Belmont said.
Sophomore Serenity Mendoza, who performs in LHS’ plays and musicals, said Brody should have honed his accent rather than relying on technology.
“Accents are hard. That’s common knowledge, but I feel like that’s part of the process and part of getting into character. Developing the character as an actor is something you need to work on,” Mendoza said. “Actors have had to take classes to develop their accent, and that [reflects the] effort put into it, so I feel like it’s almost cheating.”
The 2024 musical film “Emilia Pérez,” which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won two this year, was also criticized for its use of AI to increase the vocal range of lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón. The production additionally used Respeecher to implement voice cloning techniques.
Mendoza said that although artists often use pitch correction software like AutoTune to enhance their singing, AI produces insincere performances.
“It leads me to question: if [the filmmakers] weren’t confident enough in [Gascón’s] singing abilities, why was she cast?” Mendoza said.
Similarly, senior Angelina Brennen, who performs in LHS’ musicals and plans to minor in music and theater at Ithaca College in New York, said she is concerned about AI’s role in altering vocal performances.
“If somebody can’t sing, they shouldn’t have the role, and that really, really, really worries me, especially in the musical theater field because of the training that I’ve put in. I would not want to see somebody take something from me because… they can make their vocals better [by] using technology,” Brennen said.
She said AI could never do the job of a TV or film producer, but other jobs are at risk.
“A director, editor, music director, people like that—it’s unfortunate, but they can be replaced by AI, which I don’t think is fair at all,” Brennen said. “Nobody should be replaced by AI.”
