Denoised
Denoised is a twice-weekly podcast that explores the intersection of AI and the film industry, covering topics like Generative AI, Virtual Production, and Hollywood news. Hosted by Addy Ghani and Joey Daoud, it offers fast-paced analysis and practical insights for filmmakers and media professionals. Produced by VP Land, the show aims to cut through the noise and keep listeners informed about the latest trends in creative technology.
Episodes
Is Ben Affleck the Next James Cameron of Tech?
Ben Affleck’s AI company InterPositive was recently acquired by Netflix, raising new questions about how filmmakers are post-training open-weight video models. Joey and Addy break down the technical details behind Affleck’s workflow, the ethics of mode...
Jeffrey Katzenberg Says Hollywood Needs to Embrace AI
Addy and Joey discuss Jeffrey Katzenberg’s argument for AI in entertainment, questioning whether his focus on studio pipelines misses how fast individual creators are adopting these tools. They also share real-world tests using Anthropic’s Opus 5.5 in ...
TIFF Recap: Filmmakers Hear “AI” and Think “Slop”
Joey returns from TIFF with observations on Kling's presence and the industry's ongoing misunderstanding of hybrid AI production. Plus, a close look at ChatGPT Image 2.5’s character consistency updates, how TypeSafe's Jev AI model tackles non-LLM tasks...
We Asked GPT-6 Astra to Build LAX and Miami from Scratch. Here's What Happened
Addy and Joey explore GPT-6 Astra’s ability to generate complex, accurate 3D cityscapes in Blender from simple prompt goals. They also review DaVinci Resolve 21.1's new AI agent integration and discuss why an Indonesian TikTok meme character might forc...
World Labs' Atlas Lets You Freeze Time and Fly the Camera Anywhere
In this episode of Denoised, Joey and Addy break down the latest breakthroughs in AI world models, from World Labs’ photorealistic Atlas to Runway’s GWM World 2 and Solaris interface. They also dive into tech news, including OpenAI’s Mac Mini hoarding ...
Green Screen vs No Screen. What is Hybrid AI Filmmaking Going to Look Like?
NVIDIA agreed to buy Hugging Face for $13B. Addy and Joey break down what's behind the deal and what it signals for open source AI. They also debate gray box vs. natural environments for AI hybrid shoots, cover Apple's new M5/M6 chip updates, and compa...
MPA and ByteDance's Seedance Deal: What It Actually Means
The MPA and ByteDance reached a deal on Seedance IP and likeness protections — Addy and Joey break down what it actually means for studios and why Chinese-based inference remains a blocker. Topaz releases Hyperion 2.5, converting 8-bit video to HDR. Pl...
This is one of the best real-time AI video models we've seen
An AI-generated "behind-the-scenes" disaster video hit 750 million views in four days — and most viewers had no idea it was fake. Addy and Joey dig into why it went viral, what it reveals about audience appetite for movie magic, and why the filmmaking ...
SIGGRAPH 2026: Film Production and AI Research Meet
Addy and Joey recap SIGGRAPH — covering EVRN's image-to-3D tool, ComfyCode.ai's metadata-driven JSON prompting, and Beeble's SwitchX 2.0 push toward pro-grade outputs. Neill Blomkamp releases a fully AI-generated short film, Flux 3 enters the video mod...
Codex Built a 3D Model in Blender From Phone Photos in 10 Min
Joey tests OpenAI Codex + Blender MCP to reconstruct a real building in 3D from phone photos — and the results have real implications for production workflows. Plus: what to expect at SIGGRAPH and a free AI Workflows Summit in LA.Also: Nuke's SmartRoto...
Seedream 5.0, Meta Muse & Unreal MCP: Big Week in AI
A hidden brain spontaneously developed inside an AI neural network — and that's just one of the stories this week. Addy and Joey break down Seedream 5.0 Pro's new precise image editing, Meta's Muse model and its controversial opt-out Instagram remix fe...
A24's Google Deal, Krea 2 Goes Open Weights, LTX Trainer Arrives
Google DeepMind puts $70M into A24. Anthropic's Fable model launched — then got pulled within days. Krea 2 goes open weight, and LTX Trainer brings video LoRAs to the open-source world. Adobe acquires Topaz Labs. -- The views and opinions expressed in ...
AI on the Lot and The Crazy Box Office Weekend
Addy and Joey recap AI on the Lot's biggest announcements: Amazon MGM's Gen AI Creators Fund, their new AI production platform Project Nara, and the backlash that drove Jorge Gutierrez out of the program. Plus, new agentic tools from Drumina and Luma. ...
“Nano Banana for Video”: The Simplest Way to Understand Gemini Omni
Joey returns from Google I/O with hands-on tests of Omni, Google's new video world model, comparing it head-to-head with Runway Aleph 2 on the same shots. Plus: Demis Hassabis puts AGI three years out, Google Flow gets agentic workflows, and Google Pic...
Image-Blaster, Netflix INK & Google I/O Guesses
Google I/O is around the corner, and Addy and Joey unpack what's expected — from a potential Veo HDR upgrade to DeepMind's new storywriting AI tool, Fabula, built alongside working screenwriters. They also cover Image-Blaster, an open-source tool conve...
NAB Recap: Lightcraft, Martini AI, and Claude's Adobe Deal
Lightcraft's browser-based virtual camera, Claude integrating with Blender and Adobe, Kling AI hitting 4K — here's what shifted in film tech while we were on the road. Joey returns from NAB with a roundup of under-the-radar tools worth paying attention...
NAB 2026 Preview: Blackmagic, Adobe, Sony
Blackmagic just loaded DaVinci Resolve with AI tools that can clone voices, reshape actor performances, remove motion blur, and simulate cinematic depth of field — and it's all built in. In this pre-NAB episode, Joey and Addy break down the most notabl...
Netflix's VOID Model Removes Objects and Fixes Physics
Netflix just open-sourced an AI model that removes objects from video and corrects the physics — and that's only one of several AI updates worth tracking this week. Addy and Joey break down Netflix's VOID model, early leaks of what looks like GPT-Image...
Hollywood Is Upset About Quilty. But Is Any of This Actually New?
New AI image and video models are dropping fast — but which ones are worth your time? Addy and Joey break down PhotaLabs, a new image model built for human likeness and character consistency, plus Fotello, a practical tool streamlining real estate phot...
OpenAI Just Killed Sora
OpenAI has officially shut down Sora — and the story behind its collapse reveals a lot about where AI video is headed. Addy and Joey break down why Sora never found its footing despite early buzz, what the dead Disney-OpenAI deal reveals about strategi...
Val Kilmer's AI Return and What It Means for Film
Val Kilmer is starring in a new film via AI — years after his passing and without ever filming a scene. Addy & Joey dig into what that means for actor estates, film marketing, and storytelling. Plus: an AI company paying improv actors $74/hr to capture...
We talked to the CEO of ComfyUI
ComfyUI is reshaping how studios create AI-generated content, with 50,000 downloads per day and adoption across Netflix, intelligence agencies, and major VFX houses. In this episode, Yoland Yan, CEO of ComfyUI, shares the origin story of the open-sourc...
What Ben Affleck's AI Company InterPositive Actually Does
Netflix acquires Ben Affleck's AI company InterPositive, which builds custom models for film productions. We also cover Corridor Crew's open-source chroma key model that's making VFX keying significantly easier, and LTX's new desktop editor that integr...
Google's Nano Banana 2 vs. Nano Banana Pro: Which One Wins?
Google's Nano Banana 2 delivers Pro-level features at half the cost, with web search capabilities that can generate current event imagery in real-time. Addy and Joey test the model across multiple scenarios and discuss Perplexity and Claude's rapid fea...
Open Source Image Models Flood In, Nuke Goes All-In on AI, Google's Lyria 3 Music Surprise
Addy and Joey break down the latest batch of open-source AI image models: FireRed's specialized editing capabilities, Recraft V4's enterprise-grade output with SVG support, and ByteDance's newest open-source offering. They also cover Foundry's acquisit...
SwitchX, Seedance 2.0, and Hollywood's IP Nightmare
Beeble's SwitchX transforms video backgrounds and relighting without destroying faces—potentially the most practical AI filmmaking tool yet. Joey and Addy test it live, debate LED volumes versus AI workflows, and break down Seedance 2.0's official rele...
Google Genie, OpenClaw & Kling 3.0
Google's Genie world generation model is now public, OpenClaw AI agents are running wild across the internet, and Kling 3.0 just merged the best features from multiple video models. Addy and Joey take a closer look. -- The views and opinions expressed ...
Reference Images vs LoRAs: Which Actually Works?
Addy and Joey put two AI workflows head-to-head: training a LoRA with Z-Image versus using reference images with Nano Banana Pro to replicate film cinematography. In this episode, we test whether LoRAs are still necessary for capturing specific cinemat...
Claude Cowork, PixVerse Real-Time, Apple's Creator Bundle
Claude Cowork brings AI desktop control to non-coders, while real-time AI video generation advances toward potential gaming applications. This week on Denoised, Addy and Joey break down the latest AI creative tools reshaping media workflows — from Blac...
CES 2026: Fuji's Fake 8mm Camera, LEGO Smart Bricks, Atlas Robot, and More
CES 2026 brought notable innovations for filmmakers and media professionals. In this episode, we break down the most interesting tech: Fujifilm's new instax mini Evo Cinema Camera with vintage film emulation, LEGO's impressive computer-integrated Smart...
2026 Predictions: What's Coming for AI Filmmaking
Addy and Joey dive into their tech predictions for 2026, categorizing forecasts from "super confident" to "long shots." They explore the future of AI tools like Comfy UI, real-time video generation, and VFX-focused models. Will we see feature-length AI...
Welcome to the Denoisies: Our 2025 AI Awards Show
In this episode, Addy and Joey present the first-ever Denoisies AI awards, highlighting 2025's most significant AI developments. They debate standout models like Z-Image vs. Nano Banana Pro, analyze industry partnerships including Disney-OpenAI, and re...
AI Roundup: Qwen Layers + Kling Animator + Wan 2.6 (Nobody's on Holiday)
New AI model releases won't stop for the holidays! This week, Addy and Joey dive into Wan 2.6, ChatGPT Image 1.5, Seedance 1.5 Pro, and other video generation updates. -- The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the ho...
How To: Hybrid AI & Live Action Filmmaking Tutorial (Nano Banana Pro, Kling, Wan, Resolve)
Go behind the scenes as Addy reveals his complete workflow for creating a hybrid live-action/AI short film featuring a job-seeking lizard creature. Learn practical techniques for multi-camera consistency, environment generation, and post-production fix...
McDonald's AI Christmas Ad Pulled After Massive Backlash
Disney invests $1B in OpenAI, allowing Sora to use Disney characters in videos. Plus, we dissect the McDonald's Netherlands AI ad controversy, analyze OpenAI's new image models codenamed Chestnut and Hazelnut, and explore sync's react-1 tool for modify...
Kling O1, Seedream 4.5, Z-image: AI's Biggest Week
Addy and Joey analyze Kling O1's superior video modification capabilities versus Runway Aleph, Z-Image's emergence as an open-source alternative to proprietary image models, and Seedream 4.5's unique batch generation feature. Plus, they compare new rel...
Animating Characters with Wan 2.2 AND Wan 2.5
Addy and Joey dive into AI animation workflows using ComfyUI, demonstrating how to transform static images into dynamic characters using Wan 2.5 and Wan 2.2 Animate. -- The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the host...
Nano Banana Pro, Meta's New SAM 3D, and World Labs!
Joey and Addy dive into Google's Nano Banana Pro, testing its enhanced 4K resolution outputs, text accuracy, and superior relighting capabilities compared to other models. They also explore Meta's SAM 3D for instant 3D model creation and World Labs' Ma...
Comfy Cloud, AI Camera Control, Nano Banana 2 and more AI updates
This week, Addy and Joey dive into the Nano Banana 2 leaks and their potential implications for media authenticity. Then we explore Comfy Cloud's powerful browser-based workflow ($20/month for 8 GPU hours daily), Veo 3.1's new camera controls, and real...
Coca-Cola's AI Holiday Ad Used 70,000 Video Clips
Coca-Cola's new AI-generated holiday ad has sparked both praise and controversy. In this episode, Joey and Addy break down the technology behind the commercial, analyzing how Secret Level combined tools like Veo 3, Comfy, and Sora to achieve CG-quality...
Adobe MAX 2025: 15 AI Updates That Actually Matter for Filmmakers
Adobe Max 2025 just revealed a treasure trove of AI-powered updates. Addy and Joey break down the most significant announcements including Firefly 5's improved human generation, automatic layer segmentation in Photoshop, integrated Topaz upscaling, and...
Is Wonder Studio Becoming the A24 of AI Cinema?
Xavier Collins, CEO of Wonder Studios, discusses their $12M seed round and acquisition of Playbook with co-founder JD LeRoy. They explain their community-led approach to AI filmmaking and how they're enabling creators to bring projects to life that wou...
Adobe Acquires Invoke.ai + Launches Custom Model Service
Adobe makes major AI moves with their new Foundry service and Invoke.ai acquisition. Addy and Joey break down how Amazon's 'House of David' series used AI for 253 shots, saving months of production time and potentially changing how TV is made. Plus, Ru...
Why Veo 3.1's New Insert Feature Changes Everything
Addy and Joey dissect major updates to Google's Veo 3.1, including ingredients to video, video markup tools, and improved frame extension. They also examine Runway's new specialized apps for VFX, Netflix Eyeline's research on video reasoning, and NVIDI...
The Topaz AI Workflow That Turns 8-bit AI Into 16-bit Cinema Quality
Joey takes you inside Infinity Fest’s panel on Gaussian Splats and AI in virtual production. Learn how this technology enables lighter, faster 3D environments and how ETC upscales AI outputs to 16-bit EXR files. Plus, Addy and Joey compare AI tools lik...
Sora's Copyright U-Turn
Taylor Swift faces backlash over suspected AI promos despite her billion-dollar success. In this episode, Joey and Addy analyze Sora's pivot to an opt-in model for IP after creator outrage, unpack the leaked details of OpenAI and Jony Ive's mysterious ...
Why Sora 2 Launched a Social Media App
OpenAI's Sora 2 launches as both a powerful video model and controversial social app. In this episode, Joey and Addy dive deep into how Sora 2 handles IP permissions with its opt-out approach, test its uncanny ability to generate likenesses, and examin...
Tilly Norwood Signing, Runway's Lionsgate Issues, AI VFX Wins
Addy and Joey analyze three stories at the intersection of AI and filmmaking: the potential talent agency signing of AI actress Tilly Norwood, the technical challenges in the Runway-Lionsgate partnership, and how VFX professionals are combining AI with...
Wan 2.5 Brings Talking AI Video
Alibaba unveils Wan 2.5, an AI model competing with Veo 3 that generates video with integrated audio and speech in a single output. In this week's AI Roundup, Joey and Addy analyze the flurry of new AI models and tools transforming media production, in...
Michael Keaton's Google AI Film + The Company Producing 5000 AI Podcasts a Week
Addy and Joey explore Google's collaboration with Michael Keaton on 'Sweetwater,' an AI-integrated short film, and examine a company planning to produce 5,000 AI podcasts at just $1 per episode. They also assess Meta's new Ray-Ban smart glasses and dis...
Is Seedream the Next Nano Banana? Plus Comfy Cloud and more film tech updates
Seedream 4, Comfy Cloud, new RED cameras, and more filmmaking tech updates. -- The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers or o...
Apple Keynote Recap for Filmmakers (Plus Surprise Blackmagic Camera ProDock)
We dive into all the camera and pro video updates from Apple's iPhone keynote. -- The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of their respective employers o...
XGRIDS' $5K Scanner, Krea Realtime Video, Acer's AI Workstation, + More AI News
XGRIDS PortalCam reshapes film production with a $5,000 LIDAR scanner that's changing how filmmakers capture location data. In this tech-packed roundup, Addy and Joey break down Krea's Realtime Video, Apple's surprising AI research moves, and how Wan's...
Nano Banana: We Found the Best Tips & Use Cases
Nano Banana (Google's Gemini Flash 2.5) is transforming image generation with capabilities that put it ahead of the competition. In this episode, Joey and Addy explore impressive use cases, best practices, and technical tips for this powerful tool. Plu...
We break down Netflix's AI guidelines + Our Cosm experience
Netflix just released their official generative AI rulebook — Addy and Joey unpack the 5 key principles for media production. We also dive into Cosm’s dome screening of The Matrix (what wowed, what didn’t) and a curious case of AI in Hollywood talent n...
Qwen Edit - The Free AI Image Editor That's Better Than Flux Kontext? Plus More AI in Film Updates
Chinese AI giant Alibaba drops Qwen-Image-Edit, a free open-source model rivaling FLUX Kontext – but what's their long-term strategy? This week we dive into the flood of impressive AI tools coming from China, explore Runway's major platform updates (in...
How AI Is Reviving Vertical Content. Plus: Atlanta’s Future After Marvel
Quibi's concept returns as MicroCo - Hollywood executives launch a vertical content platform using AI to slash production costs from $60,000 to $1,500 per minute. Plus, we analyze impressive AI VFX demos from Digital Domain's Greg Teegarden and explore...
Is Nano Banana Google's New Image Model? Plus a world model you can edit in real-time!
AI tools for film production are advancing rapidly, with multiple new releases this week that could transform creative workflows. Hosts Joey and Addy dive into Nano Banana (a suspected Google image model), several new world models from Tencent and Skyw...
We talked to Freepik's CEO about their pivot to AI, going unlimited, and more!
Freepik CEO Joaquin Cuenca Abela reveals how the platform generates 4 million AI images daily while serving over 100 million users. In this interview with Addy and Joey, Joaquin shares the company's swift pivot to AI in 2022, the strategic move to unli...
Genie 3, ElevenLabs Music, Lightcraft Spark & More! | This Week in AI for Filmmakers
Google DeepMind's Genie 3 stole the show this week with its persistent world generation, outshining OpenAI's underwhelming GPT-5 release. Join Joey and Addy as they break down how Genie 3 creates navigable AI worlds with accurate physics and memory—all...
The Truth About the Sphere's Wizard of Oz. Plus Showrunner AI
We dive into the Sphere's Wizard of Oz AI controversy, look at Showrunner AI, and explore how filmmakers are effectively combining practical effects with generative tools to create impressive low-budget content. -- The views and opinions expressed in t...
Runway Aleph Changes VFX Forever, Adobe Harmonize, Wan 2.2 & More! | This Week in AI for Filmmakers
Runway Aleph allows you to manipulate your videos using simple text prompts—no more tedious VFX workflows. This week, Addy and Joey break down the wave of new AI tools transforming post-production, including Luma AI's Modify with Instructions feature, ...
We tested JSON prompting in Veo 3
Is JSON prompting a useful technique or just influencer trend? In this episode, we examine the heated debate around structured prompts in Veo 3, test the claims ourselves, and share the results. Plus, we dive into Higgsfield Steal's controversial marke...
Step-by-Step: The State of AI Filmmaking Workflows
Joey and Addy break down different workflow of creating AI-generated films, exploring which tools to use at each stage and how to maintain consistency. They examine text-to-image creation, character development techniques, and how video-to-video models...
ComfyUI Explained: How AI Image Generation Actually Works (Step-by-Step)
Curious how AI actually turns text into images? In this episode, Addy and Joey break down the inner workings of AI image generation and explore ComfyUI. We'll explain the core concepts of latent space, diffusion models, and how noise becomes a recogniz...
This Week in AI: Moonvalley's Marey, Luma AI's LA Lab, Veo 3 Adds Image to Video, and more!
Moonvalley's Marey AI model officially launches with pro-level features for filmmakers, while Luma AI opens a physical space in Hollywood. This week on Denoised, Addy and Joey break down the latest AI tools reshaping media production, including Veo 3's...
We Talked to the Producer Behind Natasha Lyonne’s AI Movie
Natasha Lyonne is making a $70 million sci-fi epic called "Uncanny Valley" for just $10 million with the help of AI - and it's about to change everything. In this interview, Moonvalley and Asteria co-founder Bryn Mooser reveals why every future movie w...
Inside Moonvalley’s Marey: Building AI Tools Hollywood Filmmakers Actually Want
Bryn Mooser, founder of Asteria and Moonvalley, joins Denoised to discuss Moonvalley's new 'ethical' AI model Marey, adapting current tools for Hollywood, and why studio-quality filmmaking could soon be within reach for indie creators. ############# Th...
This Week in AI: 11 Tools Transforming Media Production
The latest AI tools are transforming content creation at breakneck speed, but which ones actually matter for filmmakers? Join Addy and Joey as they dissect 11 cutting-edge AI developments, from Claude's AI-powered app builder, to Adobe's voice-driven s...
iPhone Cameras in F1, MrBeast's AI Controversy, and Meta's AI Ad Creator
In this episode, hosts Joey and Addy discuss this innovative camera solution for F1 the movie, examine the backlash against MrBeast's AI thumbnail generator tool, and analyze Meta's new AI advertising platform that has creative agencies concerned about...
Adobe's New Camera App, Jurassic World Shoots on Film, and AWE
Adobe launches Indigo, a new computational photography app, Jurassic World shoots on Kodak film, and Joey shares his hands-on experience with Snapchat Spectacles and more at AWE. ############# The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the pe...
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Midjourney, ByteDance, and Hailuo’s New Video Models [This Week in AI]
The AI video generation race heats up with Midjourney's new V1 video model despite their ongoing IP lawsuit with Disney and Universal. In this episode, Joey and Addy break down the latest developments in AI creative technology, including Topaz's new As...
How AI Transformed My Job Hunt: Addy's Job Search Story
Addy opens up about navigating unemployment after being laid off. In this episode, Addy shares how he leveraged AI tools like ChatGPT for interview prep, research, and ultimately landing a new role. ############# The views and opinions expressed in thi...
Apple’s WWDC: Liquid Glass But Where’s the AI?
Apple's WWDC left us with more questions than answers about their AI strategy. Let’s unpack the key highlights from the recent WWDC keynote — starting with Apple’s new Liquid Glass UI design. Plus, we explore cutting-edge tech beyond Apple's ecosystem—...
We break down everything announced at Unreal Fest
Let's break down Unreal Fest, 28 Years Later iPhone rigs, and Natasha Lyonne hitting back at the AI criticism. ############# The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views o...
What We Saw at AI on the Lot
Let's talk about what we saw at Hollywood's premier AI in media conference. We'll unpack how the industry is dividing into 2 camps: AI that enhances existing workflows versus fully synthetic generation. Plus SAG-approved AI films, the blurring line bet...
Fortnite Got Permission for AI Darth Vader: Why is SAG Upset?
AI is bringing legendary actors back to life - but is SAG-AFTRA on board? In this episode of Denoised, Joey and Addy dive into the controversy surrounding Fortnite's AI Darth Vader and how Orson Welles has returned nearly 40 years after his death. Plus...
Breaking down Google's BIG AI Updates: Veo 3, Flow, and More!
Google's Veo 3 and Flow, Darren Aronofsky's AI film venture 'Primordial Soup,' and what Jony Ive's $6.5 billion move to OpenAI might mean for the future of AI hardware. ############# The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal vie...
Odyssey Shoots Entirely on IMAX, AI First Companies Walkback, and Microsoft's AI Fact-Checker
Christopher Nolan's upcoming Odyssey film will be shot entirely on IMAX with newly developed cameras, companies are reassessing their AI investments after disappointing returns, and Microsoft Research has created a new AI model that can identify when i...
Runway AI Tips, Creator Economy Studios, and Parallel AI Processing
Tips for for control over AI outputs, a look at big studio's being built by YouTube creators, and a new type of neural network. ############# The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are the personal views of the hosts and do not necessarily re...
