An AI Studio Making 'Quality' Movies for Dirt Cheap: Revolutionary or Dystopian?
Mar 10, 2025
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Pouya Shahbazian, Founder and CEO of Staircase Studios AI, shares his vision of revolutionizing film production using AI technology. He discusses how his studio plans to deliver high-quality movies for under $500,000, emphasizing a unique talent-driven approach. The conversation highlights AI's transformative potential in storytelling and the evolving dynamics of film production. They also delve into the implications for filmmakers and the industry's future, along with a cheeky prediction about Meghan Markle's new TV venture.
Staircase Studios AI aims to create high-quality films with budgets under $500,000 by integrating AI technology while prioritizing human talent.
The studio's talent-driven approach seeks collaboration with experienced Hollywood professionals to ensure compelling storytelling is forefront in their productions.
Deep dives
Introduction to Staircase Studios AI
A new startup, Staircase Studios AI, has emerged with the aim of producing budget-friendly films using artificial intelligence while still prioritizing human talent in filmmaking. Founded by Pouya Shabazian, the studio plans to make films for around $500,000 each, leveraging AI for a streamlined production process. This venture intends to tap into unproduced scripts that have been recognized by Hollywood, giving them a second chance. By collaborating with experienced Hollywood professionals, the company hopes to create quality content that may otherwise remain on the cutting room floor.
AI's Role in Filmmaking
Staircase Studios AI aims to redefine the role of AI in the filmmaking process by not replacing human creativity but enhancing it. By integrating AI tools with high-level Hollywood talent, the studio plans to keep the storytelling at the forefront while utilizing technology to reduce production costs. The process includes assessing scripts that have previously gone unproduced and working with industry veterans to bring these stories to life. There is an acknowledgment of skepticism surrounding AI in the creative sector, but intentions are to show that it can coexist with traditional filmmaking.
Talent-Driven Approach
The studio promotes a talent-driven approach, emphasizing that their workflow includes engaging with top-tier Hollywood writers, directors, and other specialists while paying union wages. This balance seeks to attract established industry professionals to collaborate with AI, enabling them to create films that may lack funding in conventional settings. By doing this, Staircase Studios aims to eliminate barriers that often prevent compelling stories from being told, ensuring that the most creative and powerful narratives get the attention they deserve. This approach positions them not as competitors to traditional studios but as an alternative path for those looking to innovate in filmmaking.
Future of AI in the Film Industry
As Staircase Studios looks to produce approximately 30 films within the next four years, they aim to broaden the spectrum of storytelling in the film industry. The founders believe that the introduction of AI will ultimately lead to more creative opportunities, not fewer, challenging the conventional risks associated with technological advancements. There’s a sense of optimism that AI will foster a new wave of low-budget production, similar to indie labels like Blumhouse, which thrived alongside major studios. However, the potential for achieving deeper emotional storytelling remains a critical factor, and the company is committed to ensuring that no matter the technology, the heart of storytelling remains intact.
Matt is joined by Pouya Shahbazian to discuss his company, Staircase Studios AI, a film, television, and gaming studio centered on an AI workflow that he claims revolutionizes the process of studio filmmaking. He explains how they plan to deliver “near-major-studio” levels of quality at budgets under $500,000, what their “talent-driven approach” actually looks like, and why this advancement in moviemaking technology should be embraced (02:38). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of Meghan Markle’s television show on Netflix (28:21).
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