Lionsgate has named Kathleen Grace as its first chief AI officer to lead the studio’s strategy for leveraging new generative AI technology in filmmaking.
Grace comes to the Hollywood studio after serving as chief strategy officer at Vermillio, an AI platform built to license and protect IP and peoples’ likeness and personas. In her role, Grace will report to Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and work closely with Lionsgate vice chairman Michael Burns and other senior leaders as the studio supports its filmmakers, finds new efficiencies in its production, marketing, distribution and administrative operations, and works to protect studio IP and its talent partners.
“Kathleen understands the AI ecosystem from the perspective of creators and IP holders alike, and she is the right person to lead our team forward in this exciting, complex and nuanced environment,” Feltheimer said in a statement. “Her AI expertise and digital media savvy will help us grow alongside our talent partners as we create new opportunities, establish new safeguards, and execute new strategies.”
Lionsgate in Sept. 2024 unveiled a partnership with applied AI research company Runway to train a proprietary AI model to serve its filmmakers. Grace joining Lionsgate also underpins how the arrival and evolution of generative AI in Hollywood has major studios and streamers looking for a playbook on how to work with the new technology.
“I’m very excited to become part of the team at Lionsgate. They have amazing creative partners, a rich and diverse portfolio of IP, an entrepreneurial and forward-looking culture, and a willingness to adapt to and embrace new technologies,” Grace said in her own statement. “I look forward to collaborating with their team of executives focused on the AI space, supporting initiatives already underway while taking their AI strategy to the next level in its ability to expand the creative palette for their storytellers.”
At Vermillio, Grace oversaw content owners and talent being able to track, authenticate, and be compensated for the use of their work in AI models. She earlier headed up New Form, a digital studio backed by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Discovery Communications, where she developed more than 40 pilots and sold nearly 25 series to networks and platforms.
Grace also spearheaded YouTube’s global Spaces initiative, establishing creator studios in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Tokyo, and where her creator credits include The Burg, Vuguru’s The All for Notes and Facebook Watch’s 365 Days of Love with Sofía Vergara.
