AI from a Filmmaker's Perspective

AI from a Filmmaker's Perspective

CoSTAR Live Lab Presents: Prof John Mateer

CoSTAR Live Lab is a brand new R&D facility based at Production Park near Wakefield. Live Lab is part of the £75m government-funded CoSTAR Network, and supports innovation in immersive, multisensory and interactive technologies to transform audience experience, shaping next-generation live experiences for screen, stage and into the metaverse.

We are excited to welcome John Mateer for an inspiring public talk as part of our CoSTAR Live Lab Presents series on “AI from a Filmmaker's Perspective”.

John Mateer is an award-winning producer and director with over 35 years of experience in film and television across the US and UK. He is known for fusing traditional storytelling with cutting-edge visual effects and emerging technologies such as AI, creating work that spans feature films, broadcast television, and interactive media. He has collaborated with companies including Jonathan Goodson Productions (Paramount Studios), LucasArts, Ogilvy, Gabriel Films Ltd., and GSP Studios on projects that challenge genre conventions and embrace technological innovation.A former Professor of Film and Television Production at the University of York (now Emeritus), Mateer was a founding member of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television (which became the School of Arts & Creative Technologies) establishing all film and TV provision, including overseeing design of ACT's £25M production facility. His academic-industry partnerships supported the release of over 20 feature films. Mateer now works independently as a producer, director, and media consultant, looking to develop bold, forward-thinking stories that explore the evolving intersection of storytelling and technology.

Over to John to describe his talk:

“In this talk I will be discussing my experiences and observations in the creation of ‘Shatterpoint’, a short film thriller where all media assets were created with generative AI tools but with strict human oversight. I am interested in AI from a filmmaker's perspective, one where the creator still maintains the same level of control (or nearly so) as they have on a real shoot. I am looking to better understand how the power of AI can be harnessed in a supporting role to enhance professional production. Here, I approached the project as a traditional director and relied on AI effectively as 'crew'. 'Shatterpoint' grew out of my desire to explore whether the aesthetic fluidity of classic Hollywood — particularly the long takes and choreographed camera movement found in films like Orson Welles' 'Touch of Evil' — could be achieved using contemporary AI tools. I chose this approach given current generative systems, though powerful, have notable technical limitations and often fall short in replicating the emotional pacing and visual flow that define classic narrative filmmaking. This film was an experiment to see how well current AI can be applied in this context.”

John’s talk will take place on the 4th of September between 2-3pm. The talk is open to in-person attendees at Live Lab’s Production Park home, and will also be available as a live online video stream. After the talk, we invite in-person attendees to join us for networking from 3-4pm at Production Park’s CentR Stage Cafe. This will be an excellent opportunity to engage with our speakers, fellow attendees and to meet the CoSTAR Live Lab team.

If you would like to attend this talk, please sign up for a free ticket on the right of this page.

If you are attending in-person, we will require you to agree to the terms of Production Park's Confidentiality and Business Protection Agreement before we are able to welcome you on site. You can read this at the link below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fiX3pMW0QHUUeSXZEViYDnQkfWrzuuKj

Your access needs:

When signing up for the event, we will give you the choice to complete a brief access rider form, which will help us to ensure that our event is planned to accommodate your needs. If you would like to attend, but are unable due to the proposed time, or for any other reason, we would really like to hear from you (costarlivelab-admin@york.ac.uk). Your feedback will enable us to learn about how we can make future events and activities as accessible as possible to everyone who is interested.

Access bursaries:

We are committed to making our events accessible for freelancers and others developing skills to join our industry, especially those from working-class or diverse backgrounds.

To help with travel costs, we are offering a limited number of bursaries (up to £50 each) for this event. If this support would enable you to attend, for example, if you are freelance, not currently working, or would need to take unpaid leave, you are welcome to apply.

Please complete this form at least 3 working days before the event you plan to attend:

https://forms.gle/MfjN8Ban1Hm4PgwD6

Bursaries are usually reimbursed after the event, but if you cannot cover costs upfront, please email us at costarlivelab-admin@york.ac.uk and we will do our best to help. When applying, please include a brief outline of your expected expenses so we can confirm they meet University of York travel policy (e.g. standard class public transport).

We will reply within two working days to confirm. Please wait for confirmation before booking any travel. Your information will be processed under the University of York’s Privacy Policy:

https://www.york.ac.uk/records-management/dp/your-info/generalprivacynotice/

How to get to the event:

If you are attending in person, you can find detailed travel instructions in your confirmation email. You can also find information on how to travel to Production Park by car and public transport at the following link:

https://a.storyblok.com/f/226794/x/de32f604e6/production_park_site_map.pdf

When you arrive at Production Park, please report to the main reception.

If you are attending online, a Zoom link will be provided in your confirmation email.