PAGE ONE
ACCELERATOR
6 weeks. One cohort. Take an idea all the way to a finished, pitchable project using AI-native tools.
Digital Garage • San Francisco
The tools for making stories, shows, games, and visual worlds have changed faster in the last eighteen months than in the previous decade. Small teams can now produce work that used to require full studios. But most creators are still experimenting in weekend sprints and one-off jams. Nobody is giving them the time, structure, or support to actually finish something.
That is the gap Page One fills. It is a cohort-based accelerator, run in person at Digital Garage in San Francisco, where a small group of creators spend six weeks turning an idea into a complete, presentable body of work. Not a sketch. Not a proof-of-vibes. A real project with a pitch package, a visual identity, and enough material to take it to the next stage, whether that means pitching a platform, raising money, or building an audience.
If you have been to a Machine Cinema GenJam before, think of Page One as the extended cut. Same collaborative energy, same bias toward making things, but stretched over six weeks so you can go deeper and actually ship.
Built on two years of
real experience.
We have spent two years running the largest global community of AI filmmakers. Over 100 GenJam events in multiple countries. Partnerships with Google, ByteDance, OpenAI, Luma AI, and others. A community of 2,000+ active creators and a newsletter that reaches over 10,000 people.
We know what works and what does not when creators sit down with these tools. We have seen the patterns: what gets people stuck, what unlocks a project, and what it takes to move from experiment to finished work. Page One is us packaging that experience into a program.
We also bring access. Tool partnerships, industry relationships, and production expertise that most individual creators cannot get on their own.
Finish with a pitch package,
plus one of these.
Over six weeks, you move through a structured creative arc with in-person sessions, guided work time, and regular feedback from mentors and your cohort.
Episodic Series
A 3-part series with characters, a story arc, and visual identity. Enough to pitch as a proof-of-concept for a longer run.
Visual Narrative
A storyboard or multi-page comic that communicates tone, world, and structure. Think of it as a visual bible for your project.
Interactive Prototype
A game-adjacent or interactive experience built with vibe-coding tools or world models. Something that shows a new format, not just a demo.
The point is to make something tangible and complete. Work you can show to someone who was not in the room with you and have it make sense on its own.
Creators who want to
go deeper.
Filmmakers
Artists
Writers
Designers
Creative Technologists
Small Teams
Individuals or small teams who already have an idea they want to develop. You are looking for structure and community, not a tutorial. You see AI as a creative tool, not a magic button. You are willing to commit six weeks of real effort. You want to be around other people who are doing the same thing.
You do not need to be an expert. You do not need a finished script or a polished deck. You need curiosity and the willingness to show up. If you do not have a team yet, note that in your application. You can find collaborators on the first day.
Six weeks.
Four modes.
Format
Cohort-based, 6 weeks, intentionally small
In Person
Weekly workshops and working sessions at Digital Garage, San Francisco. Food and drinks provided.
Online
Critiques, work sessions, and pitch practice between in-person meetups
Demo Day
Final presentations to an invited audience of industry people, potential partners, and folks who can actually help your project get to the next stage
Format
Cohort-based, 6 weeks, intentionally small
In Person
Weekly workshops and working sessions at Digital Garage, San Francisco. Food and drinks provided.
Online
Critiques, work sessions, and pitch practice between in-person meetups
Demo Day
Final presentations to an invited audience of industry people, potential partners, and folks who can actually help your project get to the next stage
More than a workshop.
A launchpad.
Expert Feedback
Structured feedback from experienced creators and industry professionals, not just your friends saying it looks cool
AI Production Tools
Access to the latest AI production tools and workflows
Global Network
Connection to Machine Cinema's network of creators and industry partners globally
Pitch-Ready Project
A polished pitch package and a demo-ready project
Demo Day Audience
An audience at Demo Day that includes people in distribution, production, and funding
Alumni Network
Alumni network and ongoing community access after the program ends
Digital Garage
Digital Garage is our home base for Page One. Located in San Francisco, it gives us a dedicated space for workshops, working sessions, and the kind of unstructured time that actually makes creative work happen.
More details on the venue and logistics will be shared with accepted participants.
Ready to build
something real?
The cohort is small on purpose. We are looking for people who will commit to the full six weeks and bring something real to the table. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.