EXCLUSIVE: Beta Film has teamed up with a trio of industry executives to launch artificial intelligence startup Chapter41. The Munich-based film and television company has joined forces with Hannes Jakobsen, Dominik Böhm and Lars Stark to create the new Berlin-based company. It will focus on the use of AI in three areas: content generation and production, consulting and workflow optimization.
Beta is well established in terms of film and television production and global sales and said this launch is a recognition of the importance of AI in the entertainment sector. “Artificial intelligence is one of the key strategic issues for the film industry,” the company said when speaking to Deadline about the launch. “The question of how to approach this challenge could be crucial to its future financial and creative success.”
Jakobsen will be Managing Director of Chapter41. He is a producer and founder of DRIVE beta, a Berlin-based digital studio working in production and marketing. Stark, meanwhile, is a specialist in generative AI and will be the creative director. Böhm will serve as chief technology officer. His background is in AI, camera work, post-production and software development.
Specifically, Chapter 41 will develop generative AI tools and products, an area that remains a controversial topic at the industry level. The start-up will also offer consulting and training services to creatives and businesses wishing to improve their skills and discover applications. The new company will also specialize in producing AI-generated videos.
The company will work with Beta and Drive on projects and will also make its services available to the wider industry.
“The central idea of the partnership with Hannes, Dominik and Lars is to rethink the production processes within the Beta Group and make them more efficient using AI,” said Moritz von Kruedener, Managing Director of Beta Film: “In Chapter41, the AI tools are not created in isolation, but rather always in relation to specific productions, whether from DRIVE beta or in collaboration with the production companies belonging to the Beta Group.”
“Chapter 41 is meant to be part of the burgeoning creative AI ecosystem,” Jakobsen added. “Together with our partners, we are creating space to work on making generative AI usable and valuable in the production of moving images. We want to push the boundaries of creativity and ensure real added value for our partners.”
Many in the industry are concerned about the impact of AI on business and are calling for safeguards and regulation. There is debate over what ethics looks like, while some executives argue that everyone in the industry needs to learn how to use AI in their particular role.
