Hollywood-native. AI-native.
The Studio of the Future
Staircase Studios AI was founded on a simple observation: the traditional studio model is broken, even as the global demand for premium storytelling has never been higher.
After nearly two decades inside the Hollywood system, producer Pouya Shahbazian saw firsthand how cost, risk aversion, and an inefficient development process leaves too many great scripts and original ideas stranded in development hell. Staircase exists to change that and to give ambitious, creator-driven projects a real path to the screen.
By combining world-class Hollywood talent with AI-native production workflows, Staircase Studios AI removes the financial and technical barriers that prevent great stories from being made. We bring the agility of a startup to the scale and craft of studio filmmaking, using cutting-edge technology and deep industry know-how to turn overlooked screenplays into finished film, television, and gaming projects. The result is a new model for storytelling: artist-led, technologically empowered, and built for a modern audience.
Our Values
Built by Artists. Always.
Human-Led Storytelling
We believe great stories begin with people. Staircase Studios AI is committed to working with human writers, human directors, and human actors on every project. Writers originate, directors guide, and human actors perform every line of dialogue. Technology is a tool in service of artistry, not a substitute for it. Our films are artist-led from the first draft to the final frame.
Committed to Hollywood
Staircase Studios AI is building within the Hollywood ecosystem, not against it. We proudly work with union talent, pay union wages, and operate as signatories to industry guilds and agreements. Our goal is to strengthen the creative community that has defined film and television for generations, while helping it evolve sustainably into the future.
Collaboration First
We believe in two cultural tenets: Work with great human beings and Make projects we can be proud of. Thus, we believe the best work comes from collaboration rooted in trust, respect, and shared ambition. That means working with people we admire and building projects we are collectively proud to stand behind. Collaboration isn’t a buzzword for us–it’s the foundation of how we create.
AI as a Tool
AI is not our starting point or our finish line–it’s our middle to middle solution. We focus first on thoughtful story curation and development led by our creative team. AI-native workflows help us accelerate and scale production, but the final mile is always mastered by human hands. For us, AI is a powerful tool in the process, not the author of the work.