Staircase Studios AI, the film, TV, and gaming studio, today released CHRISTMAS AT GODFREY'S—a groundbreaking short film featuring synthetic AI characters played by real actors, which received official SAG-AFTRA approval for its union cast. The 12-minute film marks a landmark moment in AI filmmaking, demonstrating how the technology can work within Hollywood's union framework.

Veteran Hollywood producer Pouya Shahbazian has launched Staircase Studios AI, a pioneering entertainment company dedicated to producing high-quality film and television projects at a fraction of traditional costs. Utilizing a proprietary AI workflow called "ForwardMotion," the studio aims to release 30 projects over the next four years—starting with the WWII drama The Woman With Red Hair—while maintaining an ethical approach that includes paying union rates to talent and collaborating with human creatives to bring overlooked scripts to life.