WELCOME TO THE ACADEMY

Secret Level Academy is a premium AI filmmaking education program designed for professionals in film, television, and advertising. It combines recorded masterclasses from working artists at Hollywood's leading AI-native studio, hands-on creative briefs, and an alumni community. The program is built to help you translate your production skills and build the confidence to make informed creative decisions in this new landscape. This isn't a tool tutorial or a theory lecture. It's the actual workflows from a working AI-native studio — taught by the filmmakers using them on real productions.

Secret Level is Hollywood's leading AI-native studio — led by Emmy winners, studio executives, and working filmmakers creating projects for major brands, artists, and platforms. We approach AI as a production tool that demands artistic integrity and accountability — not as a replacement for human performers or creative voice. We built the Academy to set the standard for AI filmmaking and to help you understand the workflows, constraints, and responsibilities shaping the next era of production.

This program is for professionals in film, television, advertising, and adjacent creative industries who know production and have honed their craft. Whether you're a cinematographer, producer, writer, editor, or creative director, the Academy speaks your language and helps you navigate the next chapter of filmmaking with confidence.

This program assumes professional experience in filmmaking or adjacent creative industries. As for AI, we expect curiosity more than expertise — if you've experimented with LLMs or image generation, you're ready. If you're brand new to AI tools, we'll point you to resources to build foundational skills before diving in.

You'll learn how to use AI tools across the entire production pipeline — from expanding your ideation process with LLM collaboration, to generating cinematic images and motion, through post-production and VFX. The curriculum covers prompting techniques, creating any characters (human or otherwise), world-building and location design, cinematography and composition, sound and music, and editorial workflows. You'll also learn how to incorporate these techniques into hybrid workflows alongside live-action production. By the end, you'll have completed portfolio pieces — a trailer, short film, or commercial — that demonstrate your ability to execute at a professional production level.

All videos are in English. Captions are available in 70+ languages. Some are already active — if you don't see yours, just email academy@secretlevel.co with the language you need.

The Academy consists of 7 modules — self-paced, on your schedule. Modules consist of recorded masterclasses you can watch on your schedule. They cover the foundations, creativity and ideation, pre-production, production, post-production, hands-on projects, and a look at what's ahead. You can complete it at your own pace, though we recommend finishing within four to six weeks — long enough to absorb the material, short enough to keep momentum and apply what you're learning while it's fresh.

AI-native means approaching production with generative AI as a foundational creative tool from the start—not as an afterthought or gimmick. It's about understanding the unique creative possibilities, limitations, and ethical considerations of working with these technologies at a production level, integrated into professional workflows.

You'll need access to AI generation platforms — Kling, Runway, Nano, Veo3, and others referenced throughout the curriculum. Start experimenting and familiarizing yourself with these tools before you begin. Tools evolve fast, so we will focus on principles and techniques rather than specific tools.

Plan for approximately $50-150/month in subscriptions during active coursework, depending on which tools you use and how heavily. Many platforms offer free tiers or trials, and some sites give you access to multiple models under one subscription. We teach principles that transfer across tools — you're not locked into any one platform.

No coding required. Most AI generation happens in the cloud, so a standard computer with reliable internet is enough. If you can use editing software, you're set. No specialized hardware is required beyond a standard computer with reliable internet.

The Academy officially launches February 2nd. Pre-order now at $997 — $500 off the regular price of $1,499.

The Academy is $1,299 for full access to all 7 modules, exercises, and downloadable resources. Pre-sale pricing is $849.

Real workflows, real briefs, real skills — taught by working professionals. We priced it to reach as many filmmakers and creative professionals as possible.

Yes. Email academy@secretlevel.co with proof of enrollment and we'll get you set up.

We don't offer payment plans at this time. The Academy is a one-time purchase.

We stand behind the quality of what we're delivering. Refund requests are handled on a case-by-case basis for purchases made within 7 days and with less than 5% of content viewed — whichever comes first. To request a refund, email academy@secretlevel.co

Level Up is our private alumni community for Academy graduates. Members get a space to share work, give and receive critiques, and connect with peers building in AI-native production. You'll also get first access to job opportunities at Secret Level, invitations to exclusive events, and behind-the-scenes looks at projects we're developing across film, TV, music, and brand work.

After completing the Academy, you can join Level Up — our private alumni community. It's a space to share work, exchange feedback, and connect with fellow graduates who are actively working in AI-native production.

You can jump around based on your interests. If you complete all modules, you'll receive a Certificate in AI-Native Filmmaking from Secret Level Academy.

No tests. At the end of each module, we invite you to try something out as a way to build skills. These tools feel different when you're using them yourself versus watching a demonstration — that's where the learning happens.

Secret Level is an AI-native film studio founded by Emmy-winning director Jason Zada and led by Hollywood veterans including Christina Lee Storm, a former Netflix and DreamWorks executive who led the Television Academy's task force on AI guidelines. Named to AdAge's Production Company to Watch 2025, Secret Level isn't observing the AI revolution in filmmaking—we're leading it.

The Academy is led by Jason Zada, Emmy-winning director with 27 years pioneering interactive storytelling, and Christina Lee Storm, former head of virtual production at Netflix and DreamWorks Animation executive who led the Television Academy's AI Task Force. They're joined by Secret Level's roster of working artists — the same team creating AI-native projects for major brands, artists, and platforms.