Script & story notes
Detailed feedback on drafts and outlines to sharpen clarity, tension, and a credible defensive ending.
An independent film collective in the making
Making AI safety easier to imagine.
We're building a collective to fund and support microbudget short films that turn abstract AI dangers into concrete, human stories — then point audiences toward real defenses.
- Grants
- $300 – $5,000
- Runtime
- Under 5 min
- Support
- Notes · crew · post
Featured film
When AI meets nuclear command
A fictional crisis showing how AI woven into nuclear systems can accelerate escalation — exactly the kind of vivid, plausible scenario this project wants to put on screen.
More than a check
We back the film all the way to release
A microgrant is just the start. Selected filmmakers will get hands-on support from first draft to final mix.
Cost-saving production help
Concrete ways to keep the shoot inside a microbudget — lean schedules, daylight exteriors, smart workarounds.
Vetted collaborators
Introductions to crew and specialists we trust when you need to round out your team.
Post-production intros
Paths to post houses and freelancers for edit, color, and sound so your short actually gets finished.
How it works
From pitch to premiere
A simple path, with funding released in two parts so you can shoot now and finish strong.
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1
Apply
Pitch an original short or claim one of our 30 concepts. Tell us how you'd shoot it lean.
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2
Notes & greenlight
We give story feedback and, once it's green-lit, send a first installment so you can gear up.
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3
Shoot lean
Small crew, tight schedule. We help with collaborators and keeping costs in check.
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4
Finish & release
Post-production intros help you finish; we release the remainder on delivery.
In development
From the slate
Reference stills for tone — futures, infrastructure, and systems under strain. Not finished VFX; shipped films shoot original footage.
Photos via Unsplash (stock reference).
Most people don't care about AI safety because they can't imagine all the ways it could go wrong.
— The premise behind every film we fund
Questions
Frequently asked
How does payment work?
We plan to pay in two parts: a first installment up front when your project is green-lit — so you can rent gear, lock locations, and shoot. When the film is finished and we've signed off on delivery, we release the remainder. For talent, we expect to pay actors directly out of that closing tranche. Exact splits will depend on budget tier and your line items.
Why microbudget? How do you shoot so cheap?
The grant is built for small crews and lean schedules. We plan around exterior locations and daylight as much as possible — natural light and simple exteriors keep lighting, power, and location costs down versus studio sets or heavy night work. We'll still help you cheat interiors when the story needs them.
How long should the short be?
Finished films should run under five minutes (including credits unless we agree otherwise). Tighter runtimes are easier to finish on a microbudget and tend to perform better when people are scrolling.
Is AI Safety Studios up and running yet?
Not yet — this site is the pitch. AI Safety Studios is a real project at an early stage: everything here — the microgrants, the hands-on support, the 30-story slate — is the program we're working to launch. We aren't funded or accepting applications yet, so nothing on the site is a live funding offer. If you'd like to help get it off the ground — as a funder, a partner, or a filmmaker — email contact@orlandotorres.org.
Get involved
Have a story that makes AI risk real?
Pitch an original short or claim one of our 30 concepts — grants from $300 to $5,000, plus support all the way to the finish line, once the program is funded. Want to help launch it? Get in touch.