Rough Cut

What if the future of AI in the creative industry isn’t inevitable? We chatted with Ted Tremper, producer, director, and writer whose credits include The Daily Show, I Love You, America! with Sarah Silverman, the Borat sequel and The AI Doc, and who serves as the Executive Director of the Creators Coalition on AI, about making art in the age of AI, and what it means to have a say in where the technology goes next. They explore how the promise of replacing human workers has become a sales pitch for the AI industry, and what artists can do to challenge that narrative before it becomes reality. They consider the danger of the “industrialization of storytelling” and what it means to move beyond simply accepting or rejecting AI, toward shared language, collective action, and clear boundaries around the technology. With the rules of AI still being written, the conversation asks what it would take for storytellers to help shape what comes next.

Show Links: 

Ted Tremper

Creators Coalition on AI

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

Credits

Host: Sky Dylan-Robbins

Guests: Ted Tremper

Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio

Producer: Audrey Horwitz

Music: Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

We sat down with the award-winning and meticulously creative Canadian filmmaker Charlie Tyrell, co-director of The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, to talk about the value of handmade filmmaking in an increasingly synthetic world. Video Consortium’s founder Sky Dylan-Robbins and Charlie explored the decision to tell a story about artificial intelligence through an entirely handcrafted visual approach, shaped by Charlie’s tactile stop-motion style and the painstaking work behind it. Their conversation digs into the tension between efficiency and authenticity, Charlie’s belief that the struggle of making something yourself is part of what makes the work meaningful, and the importance of developing a distinctive creative voice while holding onto curiosity, critical thinking, and genuine human connection as AI reshapes how we make and experience stories.

Show Links: 

Charlie Tyrell 

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist 

The AI Doc on Peacock (US)

The AI Doc on Apple TV

Credits

Host: Sky Dylan-Robbins

Guests: Charlie Tyrell

Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio

Producer: Audrey Horwitz

Music: Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

As AI rapidly reshapes the media landscape, how can we embrace new tools without losing the creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking that make storytelling matter? We spoke with journalist and producer Bianca Consunji about what the rise of artificial intelligence means for creativity, journalism, and the future of nonfiction storytelling. Bianca’s cross-cutting background in both storytelling and tech brings a nuanced perspective on how creatives can use AI as a tool without losing the human qualities that make great work original. She and Video Consortium’s founder, Sky Dylan-Robbins, discuss AI's limitations, the importance of critical thinking and taste, the risks of bias and homogenization, and why journalists might be uniquely equipped to help shape more responsible AI systems.

Show Links: 

Bianca Consunji

Credits

Host: Sky Dylan-Robbins

Guests: Bianca Consunji

Executive Producers: Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio 

Producer: Audrey Horwitz

Music: Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

On this episode of Rough Cut, VC Executive Director, Sky Dylan-Robbins, talks with filmmaker Anthony DiMieri about his unconventional path across nonfiction, fiction, and political campaigns. They discuss Anthony's projects, including Subway Takes and Keep the Meter Running, which blend documentary storytelling, comedy, and social media to reach audiences where they are, as well as his iconic Melted Solids collaboration with Debbie Saslow on the viral social videos for Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign. Anthony shares his thoughts on the future of filmmaking, vertical versus horizontal video, building audiences online, and why community might be the antidote to nihilism.

Show Links: 

Anthony DiMieri

Melted Solids

Zohran Halalflation

Fix the MTA: campaign precursor, early use of doc style for Zohran media

Claire Valdez + Zohran

Zohran Polar Plunge 

Zohran Donors (our favorite from the primary)

Zohran Nightclub Documentary

KTMR x Zohran

Subway Takes Ep 1

Credits

Host Sky Dylan-Robbins 

Guest Anthony DiMieri

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins, Kat Vecchio 

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

Leonard Cortana, the Inclusion Program and Strategic Partnerships Manager at EURODOC joins Rough Cut, with guest host Keisha Knight, founder of Sentient.Art.Film and Solidarity Media Network, for a wide-ranging conversation on documentary filmmaking, collective care, and the future of global nonfiction storytelling. Leonard reflects on how documentaries can serve as tools for restorative justice, why producers need spaces built on empathy and shared values, and how initiatives like BIPOC EURODOC are challenging the inequities embedded in the international film ecosystem. Together, Keisha and Leonard explore everything from visa inequities and festival culture to burnout, representation, and the radical generosity needed to create a more inclusive documentary ecosystem.

Show Links

EURODOC: https://www.eurodoc-net.com

BIPOC EURODOC: https://www.eurodoc-net.com/bipoc

Solidarity Media Network: https://www.solidaritymedianetwork.org

Credits

Host Keisha Knight

Guest Leonard Cortana

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this episode of Rough Cut, we explore the powerful intersection of professional duty and personal history with Emmy-nominated journalist Katie G. Nelson. After more than a decade reporting on conflict and human rights across East Africa, Katie found herself back in her hometown of Minneapolis just as it became the epicenter of a global movement. We dive into the importance of local journalism and the shifting climate of on-the-ground reportage. Join us for an insightful conversation on the art of nonfiction storytelling and what it means to fight for meaningful change when the front line is only a mile from your childhood home.

Show Links: 

Katie G. Nelson: https://videoconsortium.org/members/katie-g-nelson

Katie’s substack: https://substack.com/@katiegnelson

www.katiegnelson.com

Far on Foot Productions: faronfoot.com

Stories Discussed 

ICE Took Liam Conejo Ramos. His Classmates Have Something to Say.

Minneapolis Precinct Fire: How A Night Of Chaos Unfolded

In The Middle Of Chaos: Living With The Daunte Wright Protests At The Front Door

How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody

Credits

Host Sky Dylan-Robbins 

Guests Katie G. Nelson

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

In this compelling episode of Rough Cut, esteemed journalist and VC Board member Kevin Merida, former Executive Editor of the Los Angeles Times, sits down with the visionary Executive Producer and Editor-in-Chief of PBS Frontline, Raney Aronson-Rath, to explore the profound responsibility of documenting history as it unfolds. The  2024 Oscar-winning 20 Days in Mariupol anchors Raney’s reflections about the "bittersweet" reality of investigative journalism—balancing the celebration of critical storytelling with the sobering fact that the conflicts they cover often continue long after the cameras stop rolling. Together, they discuss why documentaries are essential tools for navigating our modern, turbulent world and why, despite the heavy toll, journalists must "keep the faith" that their work serves as an indispensable record for the future.

Show Links: 

Frontline: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/ 

Kevin Merida: https://videoconsortium.org/members/kevinmerida

Credits

Host Kevin Merida

Guests Raney Aronson-Rath

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode of Rough Cut, guest host Andrea Arauz sits down with Mexican filmmaker and SSP fellow Viviana Zuñiga to deconstruct the evolving identity of Latin American film. The two discuss the "guerrilla mode" of production—the art of fulfilling every role to bring a dream to life with limited resources. Viviana shares how her work is inspired by the "beauty in the wound" found in the films of Tatiana Huezo and the rule-breaking spirit of Lola Arias.

This conversation is a masterclass in cinematic resistance. It’s a powerful exploration of why Latin American filmmakers must stop apologizing for their "chaotic" reality and instead embrace the grit, the shadows, and the radical honesty that define their craft.

Show Links

Andrea Arauz: https://videoconsortium.org/members/andrea_arauz

Viviana Zuñiga: https://videoconsortium.org/members/viviana-zuniga

Credits

Host Andrea Arauz

Guest Viviana Zuñiga

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium

In this episode of Rough Cut, we sit down with the award-winning filmmaking duo Brandon Kramer and Lance Kramer. Through stories from their acclaimed films City of Trees, The First Step, and their Oscar-shortlisted feature Holding Liat, the brothers reflect on community, collaboration, and the ethical responsibility of nonfiction storytelling. Guest hosted by Kristin Feely, Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, the brothers explore how their work is a reflection of the communities and intimate relationships they’ve built over three feature films.

Show Links

Holding Liat - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com/holdingliat

Meridian Hill Pictures - https://www.meridianhillpictures.com

Credits

Host Kristin Freely

Guests Lance Kramer and Brandon Kramer

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium 

Step courtside with Los Angeles Sparks Videographer Alicia Ramirez! In this episode of Rough Cut, hosted by producer Lauren Mahoney, Alicia shares her journey from cinematography and film production to capturing the energy of the WNBA. Hear how she leveraged unpaid gigs to land her dream job, the pressures of being a one-person crew shooting everything from promos to practices, and the amazing experience of having the best view in the house. Alicia talks gear, her busy in-season workweek, building trust with the team, and where she hopes to go from here. Consider this episode the final, satisfying swish of the net as we successfully close the book on another incredible season.

Show Links

Lauren Mahoney: https://videoconsortium.org/members/lauren-mahoney

Alicia Ramirez: https://www.aliciasramirez.com/

LA Sparks Instagram: www.instagram.com/la_sparks

LA Sparks YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLosAngelesSparks/

Credits

Host Lauren Mahoney

Guests Alicia Ramirez

Executive Produced by Sky Dylan-Robbins and Kat Vecchio

Produced by Audrey Horwitz

Music by Zack Wright

Click here to join or support the Video Consortium