The Alan Smithee Round Table (“The Trends That Will Shape Our Future”)

Hey everyone, welcome to the Alan Smithee Podcast with Scott Simmons, Katie Hinsen, and Michael Kammes. As 2025 comes to an end, the gang takes a look back at the year’s big events and looks forward to 2026. This topic sparks a lively conversation about the evolving media landscape, cutting-edge tech, and economic shifts that will reshape the entertainment and production industries. And as always, there are some really cool things to get excited about!

Show Notes

NAB 2026 registration is open (registration.experientevent.com/ShowNAB261)

The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI reach landmark agreement to bring beloved characters from across Disney’s brands to Sora (openai.com/index/disney-sora-agreement)

Cinematographers Guild Shutters Nearly Century-Old Magazine (hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/i…)

Adobe and Runway Partner to Deliver the Next Generation of AI Video for Creators, Studios and Brands (news.adobe.com/news/2025/12/adobe-and-runway-p…), and other partner models (cined.com/adobe-firefly-gets-new-ai-video-edit…)

One cool thing:

KH: AI-robotic powered fisheries forbes.com/sites/andrewwatman/2024/10/02/intro…
shinkei.systems

SS: Netflix Games (and Amazon Luna) netflix.com/tudum/articles/new-netflix-games-p…

MK: Apple ml-sharp: apple.github.io/ml-sharp