Denoised
When it comes to AI and the film industry, noise is everywhere. We cut through it.Denoised is your twice-weekly deep dive into the most interesting and relevant topics in media, entertainment, and creative technology. Hosted by Addy Ghani (Media Industry Analyst) and Joey Daoud (media producer and founder of VP Land), this podcast unpacks the latest trends shaping the industry—from Generative AI, Virtual Production, Hardware & Software innovations, Cloud workflows, Filmmaking, TV, and Hollywood industry news.Each episode delivers a fast-paced, no-BS breakdown of the biggest developments, featuring insightful analysis, under-the-radar insights, and practical takeaways for filmmakers, content creators, and...
ComfyUI Explained: How AI Image Generation Actually Works (Step-by-Step)

Curious how AI actually turns text into images? In this episode, Addy and Joey break down the inner workings of AI image generation and explore ComfyUI. We'll explain the core concepts of latent space, diffusion models, and how noise becomes a recognizable image. From basic text-to-image workflows to advanced techniques with LoRAs and image-to-image transformations, discover when to use ComfyUI versus web-based tools like Runway or ChatGPT for your creative projects.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect...
This Week in AI: Moonvalley's Marey, Luma AI's LA Lab, Veo 3 Adds Image to Video, and more!

Moonvalley's Marey AI model officially launches with pro-level features for filmmakers, while Luma AI opens a physical space in Hollywood. This week on Denoised, Addy and Joey break down the latest AI tools reshaping media production, including Veo 3's image-to-video capability, Perplexity's agentic browser Comet, and an array of new video generation models.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land...
We Talked to the Producer Behind Natasha Lyonne’s AI Movie

Natasha Lyonne is making a $70 million sci-fi epic called "Uncanny Valley" for just $10 million with the help of AI - and it's about to change everything. In this interview, Moonvalley and Asteria co-founder Bryn Mooser reveals why every future movie will have its own custom AI model, how the next Hollywood breakthrough will be financial not creative, and why a $4 million film could make $400 million while creators own it all.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of...
Inside Moonvalley’s Marey: Building AI Tools Hollywood Filmmakers Actually Want

Bryn Mooser, founder of Asteria and Moonvalley, joins Denoised to discuss Moonvalley's new 'ethical' AI model Marey, adapting current tools for Hollywood, and why studio-quality filmmaking could soon be within reach for indie creators.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
This Week in AI: 11 Tools Transforming Media Production

The latest AI tools are transforming content creation at breakneck speed, but which ones actually matter for filmmakers? Join Addy and Joey as they dissect 11 cutting-edge AI developments, from Claude's AI-powered app builder, to Adobe's voice-driven sound effects generator.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
iPhone Cameras in F1, MrBeast's AI Controversy, and Meta's AI Ad Creator

In this episode, hosts Joey and Addy discuss this innovative camera solution for F1 the movie, examine the backlash against MrBeast's AI thumbnail generator tool, and analyze Meta's new AI advertising platform that has creative agencies concerned about their future.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
Adobe's New Camera App, Jurassic World Shoots on Film, and AWE

Adobe launches Indigo, a new computational photography app, Jurassic World shoots on Kodak film, and Joey shares his hands-on experience with Snapchat Spectacles and more at AWE.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
Midjourney, ByteDance, and Hailuo’s New Video Models [This Week in AI]

The AI video generation race heats up with Midjourney's new V1 video model despite their ongoing IP lawsuit with Disney and Universal. In this episode, Joey and Addy break down the latest developments in AI creative technology, including Topaz's new Astra cloud-based upscaler, FLUX's Kontext model, and impressive new video models from China including Minimax Hailuo 02 and ByteDance's Seedance. Plus, they discuss how AI character ownership might become the next legal frontier as tools like Arcads AI emerge.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and...
How AI Transformed My Job Hunt: Addy's Path to Stability AI

Addy opens up about navigating unemployment after being laid off. In this episode, Addy shares how he leveraged AI tools like ChatGPT for interview prep, research, and ultimately landing a position at Stability AI.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
Apple’s WWDC: Liquid Glass But Where’s the AI?

Apple's WWDC left us with more questions than answers about their AI strategy. Let’s unpack the key highlights from the recent WWDC keynote — starting with Apple’s new Liquid Glass UI design. Plus, we explore cutting-edge tech beyond Apple's ecosystem—4D Gaussian splats bringing static images to life, innovative AI memory storage in MP4 files, and a breakthrough in faster image generation models.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is i...
We break down everything announced at Unreal Fest

Let's break down Unreal Fest, 28 Years Later iPhone rigs, and Natasha Lyonne hitting back at the AI criticism.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
What We Saw at AI on the Lot

Let's talk about what we saw at Hollywood's premier AI in media conference. We'll unpack how the industry is dividing into 2 camps: AI that enhances existing workflows versus fully synthetic generation. Plus SAG-approved AI films, the blurring line between real and AI-generated content, and the debate whether these tools will help creators do more or simply replace jobs.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP...
Fortnite Got Permission for AI Darth Vader: Why is SAG Upset?

AI is bringing legendary actors back to life - but is SAG-AFTRA on board? In this episode of Denoised, Joey and Addy dive into the controversy surrounding Fortnite's AI Darth Vader and how Orson Welles has returned nearly 40 years after his death. Plus, IMAX makes a surprising comeback with theaters installing 70mm film projectors again, upcoming major films shot on VistaVision, and AI tools you might have missed, including Manus AI's powerful new image generation capabilities.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily...
Breaking down Google's BIG AI Updates: Veo 3, Flow, and More!

Google's Veo 3 and Flow, Darren Aronofsky's AI film venture 'Primordial Soup,' and what Jony Ive's $6.5 billion move to OpenAI might mean for the future of AI hardware.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
Odyssey Shoots Entirely on IMAX, AI First Companies Walkback, and Microsoft's AI Fact-Checker

Christopher Nolan's upcoming Odyssey film will be shot entirely on IMAX with newly developed cameras, companies are reassessing their AI investments after disappointing returns, and Microsoft Research has created a new AI model that can identify when it might be providing inaccurate information.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
Runway AI Tips, Creator Economy Studios, and Parallel AI Processing

Tips for for control over AI outputs, a look at big studio's being built by YouTube creators, and a new type of neural network.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
Netflix Adds Vertical Video, Runway AI Does Animation, and Gamepad ComfyUI

Netflix unveils two major platform changes that could reshape how you discover content. Hosts Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud dissect Netflix's new ChatGPT-powered search and vertical short clips feed. Plus, they examine Runway's impressive hand-drawn animated pilot and a practical innovation that lets creators control ComfyUI with a gamepad instead of text prompts.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use...
Trump's Film Tariffs, ILM's AI Demo, and Claude's New Integration

Trump proposes a 100% tariff on film produciton outside of the US, sending shockwaves through Hollywood. In this episode of Denoised, Addy and Joey analyze what this policy could mean for American productions and offer practical alternatives. Plus, we examine ILM's AI demonstrations at a recent TED Talk, discuss LA's efforts to streamline film permitting, and break down Claude's new Integrations feature.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently...
From Fox to Natasha Lyonne: Three Key AI Developments in Media

Fox Entertainment quietly approves Runway AI for public-facing deliverables, marking a significant industry shift. In this episode, hosts Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud dissect this major development and what it means for other studios. They explore the actual capabilities of AI in film and TV production today, examining real-world applications and the necessity of custom training foundational models. Plus, they discuss Natasha Lyonne's upcoming AI film directorial debut.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective...
Duolingo Goes AI-First, Runway's New References Feature, Model Context Protocol Explained

Duolingo's memo announcing an 'AI-first' approach signals a shift away from contractors. In this episode, Addy and Joey analyze what this means for creative professionals, alongside Runway's impressive Gen-4 updates with its new References feature. Plus, we explore how Anthropic's Model Context Protocol is enabling Claude to control professional software like Blender and Resolve, raising questions about the future of creative tools.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is...
The Oscars Say AI is OK, Test-Time Training, and Descript Goes Vibe Editing

The Academy clarifies its stance on generative AI in filmmaking, along with a few other new rules. Then we break down a new AI paper with Test-Time Training and how it generated minute long Tom and Jerry shorts. Then we look at Descript's new 'vibe editing' tool that they teased and what it could mean for video editing.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP L...
Netflix Says AI Will Make Films 10% Better. Meanwhile, New Study Reveals Bias Against AI Involvement

Netflix's Ted Sarandos reveals his strategy for AI in filmmaking, suggesting a focus on making movies "10% better" rather than just cheaper. Hosts Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud dig into what this means for production costs and Hollywood's future. Plus, surprising findings about audience perception of AI-generated stories, and the deal that gives Ryan Coogler copyright ownership of 'Sinners' after 25 years - a potential shift in studio-filmmaker power dynamics.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective...
RenderCon, Higgsfield AI, and Vimeo Streaming

Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud dive into RenderCon's standout moments, including OTOY's Star Trek Unification project that digitally recreates Nimoy and Shatner, analyze Higgfield's impressive new AI video generation capabilities with its 49 pre-built camera moves, and examine Vimeo's strategic pivot with their new streaming service that allows creators to launch their own Netflix-style platforms.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use...
Is Sinners The Savior for Movie Theaters?

The theater experience is making a comeback as film formats return to prominence. In this episode, Joey and Addy dive into Ryan Coogler's innovative approach to shooting 'Sinners' on 70mm film, the surprising success of the Minecraft movie, and the uncertain future of LA's iconic Cinerama Dome. Plus, we analyze James Cameron's candid take on cutting VFX costs with AI tools, and examine Netflix's partnership with OpenAI to improve their search functionality.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or...
NAB 2025: Virtual Production, Gaussian Splats, Budget Friendly Gear and More!

Joey breaks down his week at NAB while Addy provides perspective from afar, covering the unexpected surge in VP innovations, practical AI implementations in post-production tools, and notable hardware releases that dominated the show floor.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
From VistaVision to Virtual Production: Film's Unexpected Second Act

Film isn't dead — it's finding new life alongside cutting-edge technology. Join Addy and Joey as they explore why major productions like Fallout and Poor Things are combining film with virtual production, the psychological benefits that shooting on celluloid brings to directors, and the surprising technical advantages film offers over digital. Plus, discover how Kodak and Fujifilm took dramatically different paths in the digital age, and why affordable anamorphic lenses are changing the game for indie filmmakers.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily re...
NAB Preview: PYXIS 12K, Strada Agents, Gaussian Splats and More

Blackmagic leaks a 12K PYXIS camera just before NAB as the industry prepares for a major trade show. In this episode, hosts Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud dive into pre-NAB announcements, examining Strada's peer-to-peer media sharing tool, Adobe's new AI features, and how Gaussian splats are quietly becoming the next significant technology evolution. Plus, they unpack OpenAI's strategic move into open weights and what it means for enterprise AI adoption.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of...
How vertical soap operas are making $10 million a month

Vertical soap operas are generating $10 million monthly while Hollywood struggles with production slowdowns. Plus, H&M reveals they're creating AI twins of real models (and paying them for each use), and we dive into Anthropic's fascinating research showing Claude's AI doesn't think the way you'd expect - with implications that might put us closer to AGI than previously thought.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently...
ChatGPT's Crazy Image Upgrade (Plus Reve & Ideogram 3.0), Hollywood's Global Shift, and Roblox Goes Generative

We analyze the image generation capabilities of ChatGPT 4o, Reve, and Ideogram 3.0, examining their improved text handling and what it means for creators. Then, we dive into the Studio Ghibli AI controversy, Hollywood's production exodus overseas, and why Rob Lowe is shooting American game shows in Dublin. Plus, Roblox enters the generative 3D space with their new Cube tool, potentially changing how virtual worlds are built at scale.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of...
Robot Cinematographers: Is This The Future of Filmmaking?

Will robots replace camera operators? WPP and Boston Dynamics' humanoid robots are now wielding cinema cameras on set, raising questions about the future of production crews. We analyze the practical applications and limitations of this technology. Plus, we dive into the escalating AI copyright battle between tech giants and Hollywood creators, and explore Stage Precision's impressive new SP Grid tool that's transforming virtual production workflows with its innovative calibration system.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions...
Stability AI Gets Another Oscar Winner on the Team, Sony's New Camera Tracker, Panavision Layoffs

Stability AI brings VFX legend Rob Legato on board as Chief Pipeline Officer while launching a new virtual camera tool, Sony enters the camera tracking market with OCELLUS, and we analyze the downsizing at Panavision and Village Roadshow's bankruptcy filing.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is independently produced by VP Land without the use of any outside company resources, confidential information, or affiliations.
NVIDIA's GTC Keynote Breakdown in 30 Minutes

NVIDIA just unveiled its vision for AI's future at GTC, but what does it mean for media professionals?
We break down the key announcements from Jensen Huang's keynote, including AI factories, the new Blackwell chips, and their new project Newton. Plus, we discuss NVIDIA's partnerships with DeepMind, Disney Research, and GM, while analyzing how these massive technological advances might reshape creative workflows.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. T...
DeepMind IRL, Vibe Filmmaking, and Miami's O Cinema Censorship Battle

Google DeepMind's latest humanoid robots are blurring the line between science fiction and reality. In this episode of Denoised, Addy and Joey explore how AI is making robots understand our physical world in real-time, the exploration of 'vibe filmmaking' as a creative approach using generative AI tools, and the alarming free speech battle facing Miami's O Cinema over screening the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land.' From cutting-edge AI to cultural censorship, this episode unpacks what these developments mean for creative professionals.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of...
How Feastables Funds MrBeast's Million-Dollar Videos

How a chocolate bar turned MrBeast into a $5 billion business while his YouTube videos actually lose money. Joey and Addy break down the financial strategies driving today's biggest creators, from Emma Chamberlain's coffee empire to Logan Paul's Prime energy drink dominance. We also explore YouTube's upfront events challenging traditional TV ad sales, and examine Netflix's experimental move into podcasting with Kill Tony.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or organizations. This show is i...
Will $10 million movie budgets be the new normal? Plus Manus AI & Mac Studio Ultra Upgrades

The Oscars signaled a major shift for indie filmmaking this year, with Anora's $6M budget dominating the Academy Awards with only a $6M budget, The Brutalist sweeping up behind with only a $10M budget, and Flow's $3.7M Blender-created animated feature beating out Pixar and Dreamworks.
In this episode of Denoised, we analyze what this means for the future of film production, how small-budget projects are redefining Hollywood, and how AI tools might find a sweet spot to help smaller-budget films punch above their weight. Plus, we examine Manus, the sought-after AI agent causing a stir with its i...
California Falls to #6: What's Driving Film Production Elsewhere?

Is America losing its grip as a film production powerhouse? We break down surprising survey results revealing the top global production hubs - with the U.S. notably absent from the top five.
We also dive into Promise AI's acquisition of Curious Refuge and what truly AI-native production studios might look like compared to traditional VFX pipelines. Plus, discover how a simple $70 RGB color sensor could become an essential problem-solving tool for virtual production sets.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not n...
From VFX to Speech: Pika, Flora, Scribe, Wan2.1 and More AI Updates for Filmmakers

Addy and Joey break down the latest AI tools reshaping creative workflows. From Pika Labs' impressive video manipulation features to Flora's intelligent canvas connecting multiple AI models, they explore how these tools are changing VFX and content creation.
Plus, insights on Midjourney mood boards, Alibaba's open-source video model, and ElevenLabs' new speech-to-text technology. Subscribe for more technical insights on the cutting edge of media production.
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The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers...
Why Grok 3 should be on your radar. Plus RED's New Z-Mount & Oscar VFX Predictions

Joey and Addy break down three major stories this week: xAI's Grok 3 model emerges as a serious AI contender despite its meme origins, with impressive coding capabilities and real-time data integration via X. RED introduces game-changing Z-mount compatibility, opening up their cameras to Nikon glass and Sony lenses without sacrificing functionality—the first major development since Nikon's acquisition.
Plus, Addy shares exclusive insights from his involvement in the 2025 Sci-Tech Awards, highlighting innovations like fire-resistant gel technology and advanced VFX denoising, before the hosts offer their Oscar predictions for Sunday's ceremony. A fast-paced, no-BS breakdown perfect for filmmakers and...
Industry Shockwaves: Technicolor's Fall & The Battle for Tax Incentives

Joey and Addy tackle the breaking news of Technicolor's potential collapse and what it means for the 15,000 employees worldwide at iconic VFX houses like The Mill and MPC. They analyze how the future of VFX might shift toward smaller, specialized teams and discuss DNEG's strategic acquisition of Metaphysic AI. The conversation shifts to the escalating tax incentive battles keeping productions away from L.A., with the U.K. raising its relief to 40% and Netflix investing $1B in Mexico. Plus, they examine several AI products recently laid to rest, including the Humane Ai Pin and Skyglass's virtual production app. A...
HPA Tech Retreat: AI Editing & Next-Gen Production Tools

In this episode of Denoised, Joey shares his first-hand experience at the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Tech Retreat, including his participation in a live AI-assisted editing challenge. Joey and Addy break down what makes HPA unique in the M&E space, the innovative AI editing tools Joey tested under pressure, and the cutting-edge tech on display in the Innovation Zone.
Key topics covered:
The unique networking environment at HPA Tech Retreat
Joey's "Live without a Net" AI editing challenge
AI tools tested: Claude, Perplexity, Strada, Eddie AI, ElevenLabs
Innovation Zone highlights: Quickture, Strada's...