A.I. in Lockdown: An Indie's Innovation

RTS London Podcast

Covid brought most production to a halt in March. But Commissioners, and viewers, still want fresh content. This session is a case study of a company finding innovative ways of working emerging from the constraints – new methods that can bring about long-lasting benefits.

Factual specialists Arrow International Media addressed the uncertainties of lockdown by convening a virtual task force, from every level of the company, to brainstorm innovative ideas. Their top priority was to consider their assets – over 4,000 hours of rushes and completed series from both the Arrow Media and Arrow Pictures' archives which could be examined and catalogued to create new programmes. The sheer size of the task seemed insurmountable, so their solution was to invest in AI, which could both interpret the images and even identify faces, people and locations.

The panel will share the story of how the company managed the resulting new ways of working, whilst still continuing to question established practices and processes, to both deliver new programming as quickly and effectively as restrictions allowed and maintain the high quality of content for which the company is so well known.

Chair:
Muki Kulhan - MD, Muki-International Ltd

Panellists from Arrow International Media:
Dan Carew-Jones - Post Production Consultant
Carrie Pennifer - Production Executive
Kyran Speirs - Post production Manager
India Goss - Runner

Producers:
Terry Marsh, Carol Owens, Phil Barnes