New Venture Brings AI Infrastructure to Film Production

The rise of mainstream AI tools has sent shockwaves through the creative world, leaving filmmakers, writers, and actors to question whether this technology will be a helpful assistant or an outright replacement. But beneath this debate lies a more fundamental challenge: AI requires immense data centers and energy infrastructure to function, a hurdle that needs to be cleared before its creative potential can be fully realized.

A New Partnership to Power AI Filmmaking

A new joint venture, Utopai East, is stepping up to address this very issue by developing infrastructure specifically designed for producing movies and TV shows with artificial intelligence. This new company is an equal 50-50 partnership between the investment firm Stock Farm Road (SFR) and the AI film and television production company Utopai Studios.

The collaboration aims to co-produce film and television projects while expanding access to Korean intellectual property for international audiences. Production is set to begin using existing infrastructure, and according to Cecilia Shen, co-founder and CEO of Utopai Studios, the company expects to release the first content from this partnership next year.

The Players and Their Roles

Each partner brings crucial elements to the table. SFR, co-founded by Brian Koo (grandson of LG Group’s founder Koo In-hwoi) and Amin Badr-El-Din, is contributing the necessary capital, along with creative expertise and valuable industry contacts. On the other side, Utopai is providing its advanced AI technology, production workflow, and infrastructure knowledge.

Redefining Creativity and Efficiency

In the short term, the goal is practical. "Using AI is going to be primarily about lowering costs and increasing efficiency," Brian Koo told TechCrunch. This focus on optimization is just the beginning.

“Beyond that, we’re very excited about the new possibilities AI opens up," Koo continued. "Right now, some of our early focus is on creators in Korea. Just as short-form content was a novelty when it first emerged, we see opportunities for fresh approaches. We’re working not only with established directors in cinema but also with young, innovative creators who aren’t limited to traditional movies.”

AI as a Creative Partner, Not a Replacement

The novelty of AI in entertainment has understandably raised concerns among industry professionals. The fear that AI could one day replace human talent in creative roles like acting and writing is a significant point of contention.

However, Shen and Koo insist their approach is collaborative, not competitive. “These questions have been at the center of everything we build at Utopai Studios,” Shen explained. “Our workflow is designed to work alongside filmmakers, not in place of them. We still need writers to write, directors to direct, and actors to perform.” She also stressed that every model and dataset used is fully licensed and contractually approved, ensuring respect for the creators whose work powers the technology.

Koo added, “We want creators to understand that AI can expand their creative potential rather than compete with them. This isn’t about AI replacing people; it’s about the massive value it can create for audiences, creators, and engineers alike.”

Building the Digital Backbone for Entertainment

This joint venture is a key piece of a much larger strategy for SFR. The firm recently reached an agreement with the Jeollanam-do Province government to construct a 3-gigawatt AI data center in South Korea.

“The data center is part of our larger mission at Stock Farm Road to build the backbone for the next generation of intelligence-driven industries,” said Koo. This powerful facility will serve as the foundation for Utopai East's projects, providing the complete AI infrastructure needed for modern entertainment—from data management and creative intelligence to production and distribution.

A Global Vision Starting with Korean Content

While financial details of the Utopai East venture remain private, the company confirmed that capital is being sourced from SFR's investment vehicles, global institutional investors, and film industry partners.

The initial focus will be on creating Korean content, but the long-term vision is global. The venture aims to expand to other parts of Asia, with Shen noting that “Japan is always also a great market,” and highlighting significant potential in China and Thailand as well.