The Television Academy’s 3rd Annual AI Summit offers a dynamic, hands-on day built to equip members for the road ahead. Our main stage highlights include an opening keynote from The Mediator’s Doug Shapiro, a timely legal panel unpacking the latest industry developments, and an all-star music lineup closing the day with an energizing conversation on AI and sound.
In the Governor’s Room, bring your laptop and dive into interactive workshops, including a “deconstructed GenJam” hosted by Machine Cinema, designed to demystify the tools and put practical skills into your hands. Strategy, policy, creativity, and craft — all in one forward-looking Summit.
Visit our Artificial Intelligence Resources page to learn more about AI, watch a replay of previous summits, and more.
Timeline
8:30am Registration
9:00am Wolf Theatre Programming Begins
9:00am Welcome – Eric Shamlin - CEO, FireBringer; Television Academy Governor, Emerging Media
9:10am Keynote – Doug Shapiro - Writes The Mediator, Independent Advisor, Speaker, Senior Advisor BCG
9:45am Updates in AI and the Law: Litigation, Legislation, & Deal Making: A real-time briefing on the rapidly evolving legal framework surrounding artificial intelligence in media and entertainment. Over the past year, AI-related copyright litigation has advanced through the courts, state-level digital replica laws have expanded, and federal policymakers — including the White House through Executive Orders and agency guidance — have signaled a more defined regulatory posture. SAG-AFTRA has secured landmark AI protections in recent agreements, and new negotiations are now testing how those provisions are implemented, interpreted, and potentially expanded across the industry. What was once theoretical is now operational. From courtroom rulings to contract clauses, this discussion provides an essential update for members and attendees navigating risk, opportunity, governance — and how companies are actively engaging and operating in the AI era.
Peter Csathy - Chairman, Creative Media
Jonathan Handel - Entertainment & Technology Attorney, Feig/Finkel
Carlos Sanchez - Head of Global Business Development, Media – Protege
Ghen Laraya Long - Esq., Entertainment and Technology Attorney
Timothy Ursprung - Policy Advisor, Venable LLP
Moderator - Holly Leff-Pressman - Chief Client Engagement Officer, Screen Engine/ASI
10:50am Professional AI: Key Considerations, Creators Rights & Best Practices Television Professionals Can’t Ignore: As generative AI tools enter film and television workflows, industry professionals are being asked to make decisions that affect creative integrity, performer protections, disclosure, and long-term project viability. Drawing on the Television Academy’s AI Key Considerations, the Producers Guild’s “Fine Print of AI” framework, performer protections championed by the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), and the Archival Producers Alliance GenAI Guidelines, this session explores the critical questions and best practices television professionals should address before integrating generative AI into their productions.
Eugen Braeunig - Archival Producers Alliance (APA)
Tim Friedlander - President/Co-Founder, National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), Co-Founder, Creators Coalition on AI (CCAI)
Lori McCreary - CEO, Revelations Entertainment, past President, Producers Guild of America
Moderator - Christina Lee Storm - Head of Studio - Narrative, Secret Level; Governor, Emerging Media Programming; Co-Chair TV Academy’s Advocacy Committee
11:35am Virtual Production & AI: Lights! Camera! VidViz! Christopher Nichols and Daniel Thron of Monstrous Moonshine pull back the curtain on a filmmaking approach that feels refreshingly hands-on, even a little garage-built, while quietly powered by cutting-edge AI. Blending real-time ray tracing, machine learning, and practical on-set experimentation, VidViz brings high-end technology into a more direct, filmmaker-friendly workflow. This session explores how combining scrappy innovation with advanced tools can simplify production, empower creative teams, and let performance and story take center stage.
Chris Nichols - Director of Special Projects at Chaos Innovation Lab, Co-Founder of Monstrous Moonshine, and co-host of CG Garage Podcast
Daniel Thron – Creative Director of Monstrous Moonshine
Moderator - Carolyn Giardina - Crafts and Entertainment Technology Journalist
12:25pm AI & The Future of Music Making: Join us for an electrifying closing session as four pioneering music producers and artists take the main stage to showcase how AI is transforming the creative process. Starting a with a live demonstration, these innovators will reveal how they are incorporating AI into composition, sound design, and production—unlocking new forms of expression rather than replacing human creativity. Following the showcase, the artists will join a moderated conversation exploring how these tools are expanding what’s possible for today’s music makers. It’s a fitting finale to the summit: a celebration of creativity, technology, and the next evolution of musical artistry.
Jidenna - American rapper, singer and songwriter
Om'Mas Keith - Record producer, songwriter, musician, and engineer, Co-Founder of Sa-Ra Creative Partners
Roahn Hylton - Producer, songwriter, and composer
Ben Cantil - Co-Founder / Chief Technology Officer at DataMind Audio
Moderator - Shira Lazar - Founder What's Trending, Creators 4 Mental Health
1:30pm Closing remarks – Eric Shamlin
11:00am Governors Room Workshops Begin
Side A
11:00am Deconstructed GenJam - Machine Cinema
Side B
11:00am AI in the TV Production Pipeline; What’s Real, What’s Ready, What’s Next
Andy Cochrane - Visual Effects Supervisor, Virtual Production Supervisor, Cinematographer, Governor for Television Academy (VFX), VES Technology Committee, Dell Pro Max Ambassador
11:50am AI Without the Hype: Reengineering the Production Stack with real-world assistive AI
Andy Cochrane
12:40pm FAQ for Performers
Mitch Gould – Writer, Director, Stunt Coordinator
Eddie Perez – Director, Stunt Coordinator, Television Academy Peer Group Governor Co-Chair, Innovation Advisory Committee
1:00pm FAQ for Professional Representatives Peer Group
Holly Leff-Pressman
Jonathan Handel
Ghen Laraya Long
1:30pm FAQ for Doc & Reality Programming Peer Groups
Eugen Braeunig / Archival Producers Alliance (APA)
2:00pm FAQ for Performers Peer Group
Tim Friedlander / National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA)
2:20pm Music Hands On
Roahn Hylton
1:30pm Refreshments & Networking
3:00pm Governors Room Closes & Event Ends
This program was developed by the Innovation Advisory Committee.