AI is moving fast. Documentary work has different needs.

Not every new tool is relevant, and even the useful ones raise bigger questions around workflow, ethics, and disclosure.

The Doc AI Hub Membership

Practical AI guidance for documentary filmmakers

  • Keep up with the AI developments that matter to documentary filmmakers, without spending hours sorting signal from noise.

  • Learn from guest experts and filmmakers using AI in real documentary work.

  • Bring questions, share experiments, and get help in the monthly Office Hours.

  • Navigate AI with more confidence around ethics, disclosure, and responsible use.

"I started working with you on AI almost a year and a half ago..... Thank you. You've been my light in the darkness." - Fernanda R.

What's Inside the Doc AI Hub

What every member gets

  • Monthly Live Learning

    Each month, we’ll host a live conversation with a guest filmmaker, AI specialist, or industry expert, focused on practical ways AI is being used in documentary today.

  • Members Office Hours

    A second monthly session gives members space to discuss what they’re testing, what’s confusing, what’s changing, and what is worth paying attention to.

  • Community Space

    Stay connected between sessions with a members-only space for replays, useful links, shared examples, and ongoing conversation.

  • AI News Updates

    Twice a month, we’ll send a practical roundup of AI developments, tools, and ideas that are relevant to documentary filmmakers, so you can stay current without spending hours chasing every launch.

  • Replay library

    Can’t make it live? You’ll be able to watch past sessions inside the membership area and build your understanding over time.

  • Member-only extras

    Members will also get occasional discounts and priority access to selected Desktop Documentaries AI trainings, workshops, and new resources.

The Doc Funding Hub membership is designed for:

The AI-Curious Filmmaker

The AI-Curious Filmmaker

You keep hearing about AI, but most of what you see feels generic, gimmicky, or disconnected from documentary. You want practical guidance on where to start and what is actually relevant.

The Working Filmmaker

The Working Filmmaker

You are juggling fundraising, research, development, shooting, editing, outreach, and delivery. You want to understand where AI can genuinely save time, or strengthen your materials without lowering quality.

The Creative Experimenter

The Creative Experimenter

You’ve already tried some tools and can see the potential, but you want sharper workflows, better examples, and a smarter read on what is changing in this space.

Choose Your Plan

Select the plan that works best for you. All plans have full membership access.

BI-ANNUAL
$39/mo
$234 billed every 6 months
Get 6 months for the price of 5!
Get Started Now
ANNUAL
$35/mo
$420 billed every 12 months
Our lowest rate locked in for the year!
Get Started Now

Upcoming Guests

Expect a mix of documentary filmmakers, experienced AI specialists, and trusted industry voices sharing practical perspectives on where these tools are proving useful.

Our first webinar is scheduled for May 14 with Michael LaPointe in conversation with Philip Shane.

  • Michael LaPointe

    Michael LaPointe is a documentary filmmaker actively producing AI-animated content for international broadcasters. He will shared detailed production budgets, labor estimates and the challenges of pitching AI-produced documentaries to traditional funders and networks.

  • Elisabeth Harris

    Elisabeth has been a writer, producer, director, and showrunner on historical and non-fiction series’ for CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, Travel Channel, History Channel, Animal Planet, National Geographic, Hulu, and Disney+, as well as independent films. She's currently a co-EP on an experimental AI generated documentary series about Houdini.

  • Evan Anthony

    Evan is a Dolby Vision Certified Senior Colorist with two decades of experience shaping tone, texture, and emotion in picture finishing. He's lent his eye to everything from award-winning series to scripted stories and documentaries. His work has been featured on major networks such as Apple TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and HBO.

We help you stay current and use AI with more confidence in your documentary, with practical guidance and real-world examples.

Join now

Your Guides

Philip Shane

Philip is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over 35 years of experience. Philip's work has appeared on PBS, ABC, and the History Channel, among many other platforms, including theatrical releases worldwide. Philip's acclaimed films include "BEING ELMO: A Puppeteer's Journey," which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Beyond filmmaking, Philip hosts the science podcast WHAT THE IF? and has become a sought-after speaker on AI in documentary filmmaking and also produces the weekly webinar series, AI CAFE, for professional filmmakers.

Gareth Mackown

Gareth runs Desktop Documentaries and has a background in digital technology, online education, and audience-focused training. As the instructor for Desktop Documentaries’ ElevenLabs course, he has helped filmmakers understand how emerging tools can be used in practical, thoughtful ways within documentary workflows.

His focus is on making fast-moving ideas and technologies easier to understand, with an emphasis on storytelling, critical thinking, ethics, and real-world application.

"Philip is one of the best AI experts and editors, great patient teacher and outstanding artist." - M. Gabriela Estrada

Questions? We've got answers...

  • Is this a course?

    No. The Doc AI Hub is an ongoing membership. It is designed to help you stay current, learn from live sessions, access replays, and keep developing your understanding over time.

  • Do I need to already be using AI?

    No. The membership is suitable both for filmmakers who are just getting started and for those already experimenting with tools and workflows.

  • What kinds of AI tools will you cover?

    We’ll cover whichever tools and developments are most relevant to documentary filmmakers, including research, writing, image, video, voice, transcription, translation, and workflow tools.

  • What if I can’t attend the live sessions?

    You’ll be able to watch the replays inside the membership area.

  • How do the Office Hours work?

    It is designed as a discussion space for members to talk through tools, experiments, and developments together. Guidance will naturally come up, but it is not positioned as one-to-one troubleshooting or technical support.

  • How long do I have access to the materials?

    As long as you're a member! And you can cancel anytime.

  • Any other questions? Get in touch!

    If you have any other questions, please contact us at [email protected]