Live Session: August 13

'Build your own AI Helpers' with Basil Shadid

Join the session live, or watch the complete replay as a member.

Join Doc AI Hub

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.

  • Explore practical AI tools and workflows in a focused monthly session.

  • 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.

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.

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.

  • Practical AI Sessions

    A second monthly session explores a specific AI tool, workflow or question through a focused demonstration or discussion.

  • 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.

  • Complete Session Replays

    Watch guest sessions and practical AI sessions whenever it suits you.

  • Member Resource Space

    Access useful links, practical examples and session resources together in one members-only space.

The Doc AI 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

Inside the Doc AI Hub Replay Library

The member replay library already includes complete guest sessions and practical AI test drives like these, focused on documentary-relevant questions, workflows and use cases.

  • Michael LaPointe

    An Emmy-nominated documentary editor, Michael shows how AI can make ambitious, story-led work more achievable when conventional production is too expensive, slow or technically difficult.

  • Elisabeth Harris

    An experienced producer and showrunner with non-fiction credits spanning CBS, PBS, National Geographic, Hulu and Disney+, Elisabeth shares how she is approaching an experimental AI-generated documentary series about Houdini.

  • Evan Anthony

    A Dolby Vision Certified Senior Colorist whose work has appeared on Apple TV, Netflix and HBO, Evan gives a hands-on demonstration of AI in DaVinci Resolve, showing how it can shape tone, texture and emotion in documentary finishing.

  • ElevenLabs Flow Test Drive

    See how ElevenLabs FlowAgent uses a visual, node-based workflow to generate images, turn them into video clips, add music and narration, and assemble an AI-assisted B-roll scene.

  • OpenArt Director Test Drive

    Four practical experiments show how OpenArt Director develops a rough idea into a script, storyboard, character anchors, clips, music and narration, under your creative direction.

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.

  • What happens in the practical AI sessions?

    Each session centers on a practical test drive, demonstration or discussion of a specific AI tool, workflow or question. Members are also welcome to bring their own questions and relevant examples to discuss.

  • 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]