AI Studio Gennie Partners With U.K.'s Phoenix Television on New Documentary Series

"Birds Aren't Real" (Gennie photo)

MIAMI — Gennie, the newly launched generative AI content studio co-founded by ex-FilmRise and Shout! Studios executive Max Einhorn, Feb. 2 at the Realscreen Summit announced a co-production with nonscripted U.K. TV production company Phoenix Televison for a new documentary series, “Birds Aren’t Real.”

The series examines modern conspiracy theories and broader questions about how and why these ideas persist and gain credibility, and what they say about public trust in media, science, institutions and authority in the digital age.

The series takes its name from the viral “Birds Aren’t Real” phenomenon, which began in 2017 as a satirical joke about conspiracy culture, but gained traction as an actual movement and became a widely cited example of how misinformation can spread, evolve and, in some cases, be taken seriously. Each episode will explore one widely debated global conspiracy theory by taking a deep dive into examining its origins, the evidence cited by proponents, and the historical, scientific or journalistic record used to assess speculation, belief and verified fact. Narratives that will be explored include: birds aren’t real, the moon landing, the flat-Earth movement, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, suppressed medical breakthroughs, and claims involving hidden or withheld technologies, among others.

“This is a fascinating topic that has intrigued me for many years, and I’m thrilled to help explore the line between fact and fiction,” said Einhorn, who also serves as Gennie’s CEO. “Our AI technology will dramatically enhance these stories, guiding viewers through the evolution of conspiracy theories and providing a deeper understanding of how these movements originate and take hold.”

Miles Jarvis, founding partner of Phoenix Television, added, “In an increasingly connected world where ideas can proliferate rapidly, we believe it is essential to responsibly examine these conspiracy theories and how they spread. We are excited to bring on Gennie’s AI expertise to truly show the viewer how these theories originate in this new and compelling series.”

Every AI-assisted sequence created by Gennie is designed and directed by human filmmakers and is integrated alongside live interviews and licensed archive materials. The AI is used to help contextualize historical moments, illustrate abstract or disputed ideas, and clarify timelines and narrative complexity.

The series consists of eight episodes and is seeking commissioning distributors.

Global sales for “Birds Aren’t Real” are being handled by BossaNova Media.