Inside Wonder Studios: The Startup Merging AI With Hollywood (with founder Xavier Collins)

In today’s episode, we sit down with Xavier Collins, co-founder of Wonder Studios — the London-based AI film studio backed by Blackbird, LocalGlobe, and angels from OpenAI and DeepMind.Xavier shares Wonder’s mission to become the Pixar of the AI age, democratizing Hollywood-grade production and sparking a global wave of creativity. From supercharging storytelling and navigating venture capital, to blending software with traditional filmmaking and building a 21st-century studio culture, Xavier offers a rare inside look at the future of film.

We dive into:

• How Wonder Studios is bridging Hollywood tradition with AI innovation

• The bet on AI as a creative explosion, not a replacement
• Convincing VCs a studio can be venture-scale
• Unlocking Hollywood-grade production for creators worldwide
• The role of culture, talent, and new creative roles in building a modern studio

00:00 Introduction to the AI Gold Rush

00:19 Meet Xavier Collins of Wonder Studios

00:42 The Future of Storytelling with AI

01:02 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Film Studios

01:34 Building a Unicorn: Culture and Vision

01:51 Audience Engagement and Subscription Drive

02:30 Deep Dive into Wonder Studios' Vision

03:41 The AI Gold Rush Analogy

06:33 Democratizing Hollywood-Grade Production

08:36 VC Skepticism and Conviction

12:11 The Agency Model and Beyond

13:44 Notion Ad

18:39 Lowering Barriers to Hollywood-Grade Animation

21:20 Personal Journey and Creative Collaboration

26:19 The AI Video Landscape

29:40 Advice for Creatives in the Age of AI

32:23 Leveraging Technology in Filmmaking

34:36 Challenges and Opportunities in Scriptwriting

36:32 Impact of AI on the Filmmaking Economy

40:00 Building a 21st Century Studio

42:42 Team Structure and Culture

54:24 Future Goals and Vision