The Budget Test for AI in Film

Essays, research, and services to help film and TV teams use AI in ways that show up in real schedules and budgets.

I'm Steinarr Logi Nesheim, a producer with 25+ years in film and TV. Here I write about one question: If AI is supposed to make our work faster and more affordable, where does that actually show up in the budget?

What This Is (and Isn't)

What you'll find

  • Long-form essays on AI and film economics
  • Research on how other industries adapt to AI
  • Practical frameworks for pre-production, budgets, workflows
  • Case studies and speaking notes

What you won't find

  • Tool hype and affiliate links
  • "10 AI hacks" content
  • Fear-mongering about AI replacing everyone

Work with me

I help producers, post houses, and creative teams test where AI actually fits into their workflows - starting with pre-production.

Pre-Production AI Audit

We map your current pre-production process, test where AI can genuinely save time, and translate that into concrete schedule and budget changes.

  • Script breakdown, boards, scheduling focus
  • Baseline vs AI-assisted comparison
  • Clear recommendations for your next budget

Workflow Design & Implementation

If an audit shows real gains, I help you select tools, design workflows, train the team, and document the process.

Advisory & Speaking

Ongoing advice for executives and teams navigating AI decisions, plus talks and workshops based on The Budget Test series.

Book a conversation

30 minutes, no slides. We talk about your current process and whether a Budget Test makes sense.

Steinarr Logi Nesheim

About

I'm Steinarr Logi Nesheim. I've spent 25+ years in film and television production - as a producer, running service companies, and building production systems. These days, I'm focused on one question: what happens when AI meets film workflows?

Not the hype. Not the fear. The actual work. When a production adopts an AI tool, where does that show up in the schedule? In the budget? In the quality of the work?

I'm based in Iceland and work internationally. The Budget Test series is where I share what I'm learning - through research, conversations with other producers, and hands-on experiments with AI tools in pre-production.

Stay in the loop

No spam. Just long-form thinking and the occasional short update.

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