In the Season 2 premiere of Technically Creative, we sit down with André Vargas, Chief Data Officer at CAA, to talk about why data (and the people behind it) matter more than ever in the entertainment industry.

From redefining AI as “augmented intuition” to building CAA Intell, a machine learning platform designed for artist representation, André breaks down what it really takes to integrate technology into one of the most human industries in the world. Hint: it starts with trust, ethics, and a relentless focus on the client.

Vargas shares stories from the frontlines of negotiating with streamers, the art of measuring black holes with proxy data, and why generative AI is both powerful and perilous. Most importantly, he makes a compelling case for what data should be: not a shortcut, but a supercharger for creative success.

Orlando and André explore:

• Why client-centricity is the only real AI strategy in entertainment
• What happens when a Chief Data Officer thinks like an artist, not just a technologist
• How CAA Intell closes the negotiation gap with actionable insights
• The real risks of generative AI—and how CAA is staying ethical in a hype-driven industry
• The power of feedback loops and co-design with agents
• What it means to say “the AI is guilty until proven innocent”

In the SEASON FINALE of Technically Creative, we close out with a true legend.

Orlando Wood sits down with director Rob Minkoff, the visionary behind The Lion King, Stuart Little, and The Forbidden Kingdom — for a wide-ranging conversation about legacy, authorship, AI, and the future of animation.

With decades of experience across both animated and live-action storytelling, Rob reflects on how creative risk shaped his career, why emotional structure is central to great animation, and how emerging technologies like AI are reshaping what it means to tell stories.

It’s an insightful & heartfelt conversation to close out the season, and one you don’t want to miss!

🔍 Highlights include:

• How The Lion King nearly didn’t happen — and why it did
• The narrative timing of animation vs. live action
• Mentorship, creative resilience, and staying inspired

AI’s growing role in the future of animation and storytelling.

In this episode of Technically Creative by KoobrikLabs, Orlando Wood sits down with Mike Day, CEO of Palma Pictures, to unpack what it really takes to run one of Europe’s top production service companies.

Mike shares the story behind Palma Pictures’ growth from its roots in Mallorca to a major player across Spain and Portugal – helping studios, production houses, and brands bring complex creative visions to life. From doubling Spain as every country under the sun for The Crown to pioneering the production logistics behind reality juggernauts like Love Island, Mike offers a masterclass in creative problem-solving at scale.

The conversation explores the evolving role of service companies, the hidden logistics behind seamless shoots, and how production ecosystems survive – and even thrive – through crises like the 2008 crash and COVID. Mike also reflects on the balancing act of building a business with ‘four engines’ – scripted, unscripted, commercial, and digital content – and why the best briefs are the ones that make you a little scared.

Whether you’re a producer, a creative, or just fascinated by what it takes to keep the wheels turning behind the scenes, this episode is a deep dive into the unglamorous, indispensable world of production logistics – with a view from paradise.

Orlando and Mike discuss:

• How Palma Pictures grew into one of Europe’s leading production service companies
• Why Spain’s versatility makes it a global production magnet
• The hidden complexity behind shows like The Crown and Love Island
• Lessons in resilience: surviving the 2008 crash, COVID, and industry strikes
• What production service teams see before the rest of the industry does

In this episode of Technically Creative by KoobrikLabs, Orlando speaks with Pamala Buzick Kim – creative producer, entrepreneur, and community organizer – about her work championing inclusion behind the camera and fighting to keep production jobs in Los Angeles.

Pamala reflects on her career journey from repping top-tier directors to launching tech platforms for creative talent, and how her role as a “bridge between art and commerce” has taken her from ad agencies to advocacy. She shares how Free the Bid evolved into Free the Work, why representation in production still lags behind, and what it takes to shift the needle at scale.

The conversation dives deep into her latest work as a co-founder of Stay in LA, a grassroots coalition tackling outdated permitting, red tape, and dwindling tax incentives that threaten LA’s status as a production hub. Pamala lays bare the human cost of a shrinking creative economy – from job losses to neighbourhood impacts – and argues for a federal approach to supporting U.S. creative labor in the age of globalization and AI.

We also get a preview of mavenverse, her new platform aimed at professionalizing communities and fandoms for authentic brand engagement. And in a raw, honest moment, Pamala shares how perfectionism held her back from launching – and what finally pushed her to hit go.

Orlando and Pamala explore:

• Why representation behind the camera still isn’t where it needs to be
• How Free the Work helped open doors for underrepresented creatives
• What Stay in LA is doing to cut red tape and protect production jobs
• The human cost of industry decline – and why it matters beyond Hollywood
• How mavenverse is rethinking community, commerce, and brand access from the ground up

As we near the end of Season One, we’re doing something different.

In this special compilation episode, host Orlando Wood revisits one of the most revealing questions he asks every guest:

What’s the biggest f**k-up you’ve ever made — and what did you learn from it?

From feature directors to post-production heads, casting giants to brand leaders at Google, this episode is a raw, funny, and unexpectedly moving look at the failures that shaped some of the most respected voices in the creative industries.

What starts as a conversation about mistakes becomes something deeper:

about instinct, grace, ego, money, burnout, and the terrifying freedom of getting it wrong.

Featuring stories from:

– Eran Creevy (Welcome to the Punch, The Gentlemen)

– Ralph Taylor (Bonhams)

– Kate Morrison (Google)

– Lee Pavey (Electric Theatre Collective)

– John Papsidera & Kim Winther (Oppenheimer, Tenet, Yellowstone)

Orlando and guests explore:

🔹 Why failure is often the prerequisite to doing great work

🔹 The cost of ignoring your creative instincts

🔹 How vulnerability and leadership go hand in hand

🔹 The email that almost leaked a major studio film

🔹 The real lessons behind losing half a million — or half a continent

Whether you’ve made your first mistake or your fiftieth, this one’s for you.

Useful Links:

🔎 Visit KoobrikLabs: https://koobriklabs.com/

🔎 Connect with Orlando Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/

In this episode, Orlando Wood sits down with Jane Dilworth – co-founder of the award-winning post-production company Work Editorial – for a wide-ranging, honest conversation on longevity, leadership, and the invisible art of editing.

From navigating the shift to remote collaboration during lockdown to building a post house grounded in trust and shared ownership, Jane shares what it really takes to run a world-class editorial company for over 20 years. They explore the subtle dance between director and agency, the editor’s role as storyteller and diplomat, and why real creative magic happens when ego steps aside.

This episode is a deep dive into the evolution of the post industry – from DigiBeta machines and film negs to the rise of Evercast and AI-assisted workflows – and what’s been lost (time, trust, long lunches) and what still matters most (taste, care, and craft).

Orlando and Jane cover:

• Why the best editors are invisible storytellers and emotional translators
• How Work Editorial built a global company without losing its soul
• What the UK and US post cultures get wrong – and right – about collaboration
• Why generosity and culture-building are the real secrets to longevity
• How the economics of post are shifting, and why good work still leads the way

Whether you're a creative leader, editor, or just someone fascinated by the craft behind great storytelling, this is a masterclass in what it takes to build something that lasts.

🔗 Learn more about Work Editorial:https://www.workeditorial.tv/

🔗 Connect with Jane: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-dilworth-9713791/                               

🔗 Visit KoobrikLabs: https://koobriklabs.com

🔗 Connect with Orlando: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/

In this episode, Orlando speaks with Tom Dunlap, Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Superbloom House — a creative collective, agency, and production company built for a new era of content creation.

With a background that spans Wieden+Kennedy, RSA Films, and 72andSunny, Tom shares how Superbloom emerged during the pandemic with a simple but powerful goal: to bring the best parts of entertainment and advertising into one cohesive, culture-first ecosystem. They discuss the power of putting producers at the center, why Superbloom doesn’t separate art from commerce, and how to build fast, secure, scalable production without sacrificing creative integrity.

The conversation explores Superbloom’s unique structure, how they tap unexpected creative voices, and why speed isn’t just a tech feature — it’s a creative advantage. Tom also reflects on a formative career lesson about missing an opportunity he didn’t realize he was in the running for — and how that changed the way he works forever.

Whether you’re in branded content, entertainment, or agency work, this is an episode about rethinking the pipeline from the inside out — and building a model that actually works for the people making the work.

Orlando and Tom explore:

🔹 Why Superbloom blends agency, collective, and production under one roof

🔹 How to structure for speed, security, and collaboration

🔹 The creative producer’s evolving role in branded entertainment

🔹 Why producers should be at the strategy table

🔹 The moment Tom learned the value of never underestimating your shot

Useful Links:

🔎 Find out more about Superbloom: https://superbloomhouse.com/

🔎 Connect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-dunlap-76a2696/

🔎 Visit KoobrikLabs: https://koobriklabs.com/

🔎 Connect with Orlando Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/

In this week’s episode, Orlando sits down with AI Creative Technologist (Ex Meta, Ex R/GA, Ex Anomaly) and artist Omar Karim to explore the messy, playful, and sometimes deeply personal intersection of human emotion and machine intelligence.

Omar, whose unconventional career has taken him from groundbreaking ad agencies to leading creative tech at Meta, discusses the art of experimentation – why it’s the secret sauce in a world of generative AI, and how he’s turned tools meant for productivity into vessels for performance art and emotional exploration. The conversation delves into Omar’s viral “Mum AI” project – a digital companion built not just to automate, but to nurture and heal – and what it taught him about the limits and potential of emotional AI.

Orlando and Omar unpack the punk, pirate attitude behind creative repurposing of technology, the value of lateral thinking, and why failure is a necessary ingredient for innovation. The episode moves fluidly from the philosophical (what kind of questions are worth asking AI?) to the practical (the wild world of 3D printing, emotional feedback loops, and museum “heists” made possible by generative models).

Expect candid insights on what makes creativity truly human, how digital tools can be bent into unexpected shapes, and why the most interesting uses of AI are often the least expected.

Orlando & Omar cover: 

• How Omar’s playful approach to experimentation unlocks new possibilities for tech, art, and emotion
• The story behind Mum AI - building a digital companion that offered real support and sparked global conversations
• Why failure, creative risk, and lateral thinking are essential in an era of generative tools
• The ethics and artistry behind Omar’s digital “museum heist” and 3D-printed artifacts
• Why emotional intelligence, intuition, and a punk attitude matter more than ever in creative technology

Useful Links

• Omar Karim’s website: https://omarkarim.party/
• Follow Omar on Instagram: Omar Karim (@arthur_chance) • Instagram photos and videos
• KoobrikLabs website: KoobrikLabs - KoobrikLabs
• Connect with Orlando on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/

In this episode, Orlando speaks with Dav Karbassioun, CEO and Co-Founder of Magna Studios, about the shifting tides in production and what it takes to build a creative company that thrives across disciplines – without losing the humanity that creates it.

With a background spanning global advertising agencies and leading production companies, Dav shares how Magna is reimagining the role of the producer in a world where commercials, features, music videos, and branded content all blur together. He reflects on his journey from BBH to Pulse Films, and now Magna, where the mission is simple: let the work be your noise.

The conversation explores the economics of creativity – from helping Oscar-nominated directors like Brady Corbet and James Marsh make ends meet through commercial work, to Magna’s breakthrough Oasis documentary. Dav and Orlando delve into why emotional investment and care are the foundation of great production, how AI is reshaping post-production and voice work, and what it means to protect artistic integrity in a world obsessed with content.

They discuss the hidden value of advertising as a training ground for innovation, the danger of turning production into a commoditised service, and why fostering culture and community – inside a company and across industries – matters more than ever.

Whether you’re in film, advertising, or creative production, this is a conversation about staying human in the age of algorithms and building a system that lets artistry flourish.

Orlando and Dav explore:

• How Magna helps directors move between film, commercials, and content without losing their voice
• Why betting on multidisciplinary creativity is the only way to stay relevant
• The surprising role commercials play in keeping indie film afloat
• What AI really means for post-production, performance, and the creative process
• Why culture, care, and community still matter more than ever in production

Useful Links

Find out more about Magna Studios: https://magnastudios.com/

Connect with Dav on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dav-karbassioun-2701766a/

Follow Dav on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davud_k/

Follow Magna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magna.studios/ 

Visit KoobrikLabs: https://koobriklabs.com/

Connect with Orlando Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/

In this episode of the KoobrikLabs Podcast, Orlando Wood sits down with casting legends John Papsidera and Kim Winther, the team behind Oppenheimer, Tenet, Yellowstone, and the upcoming Superman, to unpack how casting is evolving in a world of data, algorithms, and digital disruption.

John and Kim share how their work balances artistic instinct with industry demands, championing vulnerable, human performances while navigating the growing influence of AI, self-tapes, and international box office data. They discuss the shift from in-person auditions to global casting via video, the tension between creative freedom and financing pressures, and why empathy, presence, and emotional connection still matter most.

From the politics of casting credit to the realities of social media metrics, this conversation explores what technology can’t replicate – and why the soul of a performance will always defy spreadsheets.

Whether you’re in film, media, or tech, this episode offers a timely reflection on the human edge in a changing creative economy.

Orlando, John and Kim discuss:

• How data, box office analytics, and global financing are influencing casting strategy
• 
  
• The rise of self-tapes and how tech is opening doors to more diverse, international talent
• 
  
• Why emotional intelligence and human connection remain irreplaceable in creative workflows
• 
  
• The evolving balance between artistic instinct and commercially driven decision-making
• 
  
• How casting professionals are adapting to disruption with empathy, creativity, and resilience

Useful Links

Find out more about John on IMDb: John Papsidera - IMDb

Find out more about Kim on IMDb: Kim Winther - IMDb

Visit KoobrikLabs: https://koobriklabs.com/

Connect with Orlando on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/