Inside CAA Intell: André Vargas on Fighting AI Hype with Artist-First Data
In the Season 2 premiere of Technically Creative, we sit down with André Vargas, Chief Data Officer at CAA, to talk about why data (and the people behind it) matter more than ever in the entertainment industry.
From redefining AI as “augmented intuition” to building CAA Intell, a machine learning platform designed for artist representation, André breaks down what it really takes to integrate technology into one of the most human industries in the world. Hint: it starts with trust, ethics, and a relentless focus on the client.
Vargas shares stories from the frontlines of negotiating with streamers, the art of measuring black holes with proxy data, and why generative AI is both powerful and perilous. Most importantly, he makes a compelling case for what data should be: not a shortcut, but a supercharger for creative success.
Orlando and André explore:
Why client-centricity is the only real AI strategy in entertainmentWhat happens when a Chief Data Officer thinks like an artist, not just a technologistHow CAA Intell closes the negotiation gap with actionable insightsThe real risks of generative AI—and how CAA is staying ethical in a hype-driven industryThe power of feedback loops and co-design with agentsWhat it means to say “the AI is guilty until proven innocent”
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Rob Minkoff On the Future of Animation in the Age of AI
In the SEASON FINALE of Technically Creative, we close out with a true legend.
Orlando Wood sits down with director Rob Minkoff, the visionary behind The Lion King, Stuart Little, and The Forbidden Kingdom — for a wide-ranging conversation about legacy, authorship, AI, and the future of animation.
With decades of experience across both animated and live-action storytelling, Rob reflects on how creative risk shaped his career, why emotional structure is central to great animation, and how emerging technologies like AI are reshaping what it means to tell stories.
It’s an insightful & heartfelt conversation to close out the season, and one you don’t want to miss!
🔍 Highlights include:
How The Lion King nearly didn’t happen — and why it didThe narrative timing of animation vs. live actionMentorship, creative resilience, and staying inspired
AI’s growing role in the future of animation and storytelling.
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From Love Island to The Crown: Inside Spain's Production Revolution
In this episode of Technically Creative by KoobrikLabs, Orlando Wood sits down with Mike Day, CEO of Palma Pictures, to unpack what it really takes to run one of Europe’s top production service companies.
Mike shares the story behind Palma Pictures’ growth from its roots in Mallorca to a major player across Spain and Portugal – helping studios, production houses, and brands bring complex creative visions to life. From doubling Spain as every country under the sun for The Crown to pioneering the production logistics behind reality juggernauts like Love Island, Mike offers a masterclass in creative problem-solving at scale.
The conversation explores the evolving role of service companies, the hidden logistics behind seamless shoots, and how production ecosystems survive – and even thrive – through crises like the 2008 crash and COVID. Mike also reflects on the balancing act of building a business with ‘four engines’ – scripted, unscripted, commercial, and digital content – and why the best briefs are the ones that make you a little scared.
Whether you’re a producer, a creative, or just fascinated by what it takes to keep the wheels turning behind the scenes, this episode is a deep dive into the unglamorous, indispensable world of production logistics – with a view from paradise.
Orlando and Mike discuss:
How Palma Pictures grew into one of Europe’s leading production service companiesWhy Spain’s versatility makes it a global production magnetThe hidden complexity behind shows like The Crown and Love IslandLessons in resilience: surviving the 2008 crash, COVID, and industry strikesWhat production service teams see before the rest of the industry does
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Hollywood is Dying: Inside Stay in LA
In this episode of Technically Creative by KoobrikLabs, Orlando speaks with Pamala Buzick Kim – creative producer, entrepreneur, and community organizer – about her work championing inclusion behind the camera and fighting to keep production jobs in Los Angeles.
Pamala reflects on her career journey from repping top-tier directors to launching tech platforms for creative talent, and how her role as a “bridge between art and commerce” has taken her from ad agencies to advocacy. She shares how Free the Bid evolved into Free the Work, why representation in production still lags behind, and what it takes to shift the needle at scale.
The conversation dives deep into her latest work as a co-founder of Stay in LA, a grassroots coalition tackling outdated permitting, red tape, and dwindling tax incentives that threaten LA’s status as a production hub. Pamala lays bare the human cost of a shrinking creative economy – from job losses to neighbourhood impacts – and argues for a federal approach to supporting U.S. creative labor in the age of globalization and AI.
We also get a preview of mavenverse, her new platform aimed at professionalizing communities and fandoms for authentic brand engagement. And in a raw, honest moment, Pamala shares how perfectionism held her back from launching – and what finally pushed her to hit go.
Orlando and Pamala explore:
Why representation behind the camera still isn’t where it needs to beHow Free the Work helped open doors for underrepresented creativesWhat Stay in LA is doing to cut red tape and protect production jobsThe human cost of industry decline – and why it matters beyond HollywoodHow mavenverse is rethinking community, commerce, and brand access from the ground up
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Epic Fails in Film, Media, and Advertising – Stories From the Cutting Room Floor
As we near the end of Season One, we’re doing something different.
In this special compilation episode, host Orlando Wood revisits one of the most revealing questions he asks every guest:
What’s the biggest f**k-up you’ve ever made — and what did you learn from it?
From feature directors to post-production heads, casting giants to brand leaders at Google, this episode is a raw, funny, and unexpectedly moving look at the failures that shaped some of the most respected voices in the creative industries.
What starts as a conversation about mistakes becomes something deeper:
about instinct, grace, ego, money, burnout, and the terrifying freedom of getting it wrong.
Featuring stories from:
– Eran Creevy (Welcome to the Punch, The Gentlemen)
– Ralph Taylor (Bonhams)
– Kate Morrison (Google)
– Lee Pavey (Electric Theatre Collective)
– John Papsidera & Kim Winther (Oppenheimer, Tenet, Yellowstone)
Orlando and guests explore:
🔹 Why failure is often the prerequisite to doing great work
🔹 The cost of ignoring your creative instincts
🔹 How vulnerability and leadership go hand in hand
🔹 The email that almost leaked a major studio film
🔹 The real lessons behind losing half a million — or half a continent
Whether you’ve made your first mistake or your fiftieth, this one’s for you.
Useful Links:
🔎 Visit KoobrikLabs: https://koobriklabs.com/
🔎 Connect with Orlando Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlando-wood/
Technically Creative by KoobrikLabs explores how technology and AI are transforming the creative industries.
In a world where creativity and technology increasingly intersect, artists, designers, and storytellers need to embrace new tools to streamline workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and unlock their full potential.
How can AI enhance the creative process without replacing the human touch?
What emerging technologies are reshaping content production?
How can creative teams stay ahead in a tech-driven landscape?
These are the questions that our host, Orlando Wood, seeks to answer on this show.
In each episode, we sit down with leaders from media, entertainment, publishing, advertising, and beyond to uncover how they’re leveraging technology to elevate creativity and solve industry-specific challenges.
You can learn more about Koobrik Labs at KoobrikLabs - KoobrikLabs
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