Cost & schedule an AI production
Walk out with a defensible budget and schedule for an AI-integrated production.
So when someone asks "what does this actually cost, and how long will it take?" — you have numbers, not a guess.
Upskilling Accelerator Program
Where factual film & TV pros become AI-fluent, with a portfolio to prove it.
Join fellow film and TV professionals who've opened themselves up to new opportunities by using AI tools. No tech skills required.
Go from tinkering in the dark to genuinely AI-fluent, with real work to show for it.
Sharpen your teeth on precise briefs, guided by practitioners who build AI pipelines for broadcast every day.
Before
- Overwhelmed by AI
- Unconvincing results and piling subscriptions
- Afraid of being left behind
What you walk out with
- The authority to scope, cost and lead an AI-integrated production.
- A body of work you’re proud to show a client.
- An instinct for where AI genuinely helps your craft — and where it makes things worse.
A taste of what you’ll build
The governance pack
Assemble the documentation a real production needs to use AI safely and take it to broadcast.
So you know where the lines are and how to talk to lawyers when it matters.
A short film
Direct a short dramatic sequence or a historical reconstruction with consistent characters, real camerawork, and dialogue.
Learn to bring your ideas to life quickly and direct AI with precision.
Visuals for a brand or ad campaign
Develop a distinct visual style and hold it across a full set of on-brand shots — a mock campaign that looks like it came from one confident hand.
So you can maintain brand coherence shot after shot.
Build your own tool
Describe the tool you've always wished existed — and build it from scratch.
Build your own apps like the top 1% of AI users, no coding required.
…and more.
Build your portfolio; sped along by the hard-won workflows and instincts of full-time practitioners, and a tight community of peers walking the same path.
Real Results from Real Professionals
A growing community of AI-fluent production professionals.
Our story
How the Upskilling Accelerator began
The Upskilling Accelerator started with a question nobody in film and television wanted to ask out loud.
By early 2025 it had become obviously clear that the industry had buckled. Streamers had pulled back, budgets had collapsed, and experienced directors and producers — people with decades of credits — were leaving the industry,driving Ubers and stacking shelves. Meanwhile AI was arriving fast, and the people quietly experimenting with it weren't the storytellers. They were geeky tech people in bedrooms and big studios. Our best creatives were being left out in the cold.
So we did the research. In January 2025, we interviewed 50+ factual film and TV professionals across the UK and asked a simple thing: how are you actually using AI? Almost everyone was — quietly, guiltily, treating it like a dirty word. Underneath sat fear, uncertainty, doubt, and a widening skills gap.
We grew tired of the endless talk and chinstroking, so we set out to walk the talk and take experienced professionals, get them genuinely hands-on, and show what happens when real craft meets these tools.
That became the Upskilling Accelerator — and the success stories we had bet on started to arrive. Our alumni are now leading AI departments at major production companies, funding their own productions through freelance AI work, spending more time with their children while taking on more work thanks to the time they save with AI, and creating opportunities they could only have imagined when they started.
Read our full storyMeet Your Instructors
Established in both technology ethics as well as factual film & TV.
Founder
Emilie van der Lande
Drawing on her background in Law and Cybersecurity, Emilie is an AI Ethics consultant and researcher. Upon leaving the corporate sector, where she advised governments and Fortune 500 companies on large-scale digital transformations, she now focuses on the risks and opportunities of AI in media and entertainment. Her work centers on strengthening the independent media space, reducing dependence on Big Tech, and advancing responsible AI. LinkedIn →
Co-Founder & Education Lead
Colin Byrne
When the tides started turning in TV, Colin was introduced to AI by chance in 2022 and is now a full-time AI Specialist, building on over 13 years' experience as a factual producer. Among the UK's first adopters of AI in filmmaking, Colin led bespoke training sessions for DirectorsUK. Colin now works full time building insurance-ready AI pipelines for the likes of Lion TV, Nutopia and Raw TV. Because he does it daily, Colin can tell you exactly what holds up for broadcast, the lines you don't cross, and the workflows that take you from blank page to finished shot. LinkedIn →
Trainer & Mentor
Joe Grace
With over a decade in TV as a producer, director and editor, Joe was an early AI adopter who delivered 300+ AI-generated shots for Channel 5 when AI on television was still largely unheard of. He has since specialised in AI-led factual visualisation and reconstructions, alongside story-led generative AI content for scripted productions, entertainment and brands. Working full time in AI, Joe integrates these tools into real VFX pipelines alongside editors, colourists and directors every day. He's here to help you build that same production-grade fluency. LinkedIn →
Join a private network of upskilled professionals, including Emmy, BAFTA, and Grierson-recognised filmmakers and creators, working across the full spectrum of factual media.
Feature FilmsShort FilmsDocumentaries
TV SeriesCommercials & AdvertisingMusic Videos
Social Media ShortsLive BroadcastVirtual Production & XR
Animation & Motion GraphicsVisual EffectsNews & Journalism
Reality TVGaming & Interactive MediaCorporate Video
Branded Content
Feature FilmsShort FilmsDocumentaries
TV SeriesCommercials & AdvertisingMusic Videos
Social Media ShortsLive BroadcastVirtual Production & XR
Animation & Motion GraphicsVisual EffectsNews & Journalism
Reality TVGaming & Interactive MediaCorporate Video
Branded Content
Ready to stop spinning your wheels and upskill?
Book a Free Strategy CallFrequently Asked Questions
How often do these programs run?
These programs run monthly.
How can I apply?
Book a free call with Emilie, we'll create a tailored roadmap to get you started and see if the Upskilling Accelerator is the way to go for you.
Do you also work with departments and organisations?
We do! To enquire about organisational offerings and support, get in touch.
I'm a tech dinosaur, do I need a super powerful computer? 🙃
Dinos welcome, no tech skills required. And no—this program works fine on a normal laptop or desktop. Just be sure you have a stable internet connection!
How are participants selected?
Selection is based on 1) current position, goals, and dedication, 2) group diversity, and 3) first-come, first-served enrolment.
Are you open to supporting NGOs and underrepresented groups?
Absolutely. We've previously been invited by organizations such as We Are Doc Women, TVMindset, and TV Switch Up by Tellymoms to host talks and facilitate sessions. For enquiries, get in touch.
How can I sign up for your updates and free resources?
Join the party! Follow us through our free newsletter for the latest and freebies. We're also on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram for more AI case studies and examples.