Since its founding in 2020 and the start of its AI course in 2023, Curious Refuge has become the world’s first AI filmmaking academy, attracting more than 10,000 students from all over the world. This online platform, which is now part of AI entertainment studio Promise, teaches people in the entertainment and advertising industries how to make AI-assisted documentaries, tell stories, and make ads in 11 languages in 170 countries.
Michael Eng, a veteran of Hollywood visual effects, joined after seeing job ads that required machine learning skills during last year’s slowdown in production. There are pre-recorded sessions, weekly Discord office hours, and in-person events like Cannes meetups. 95% of the students come from the industry.
Major studios use NDAs to get into secret workshops, and the demand for AI is rising despite concerns in the industry. A study from 2024 says that generative tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney will affect 120,000 film and TV jobs.
Jamie Byrne, the president of Promise, says that Curious Refuge is important for creating a pool of talented people who know how to work with AI as competition grows. Caleb and Shelby Ward, the school’s co-founders, were the first to create the curriculum as AI tools became more popular. The school is located in an active Hollywood studio, so students can use real-world tools.
