DEAN ARNETT OVERVIEW

AI CONSULTANT & AUTOMATIONS DESIGNER

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way organisations work, but for most businesses the gap between potential and reality is vast. The tools are evolving faster than teams can keep up, the marketing is louder than the substance, and the pressure to “do something with AI” is real,  even when nobody is quite sure what that something should be. This is where Dean comes in.

As an AI consultant with a background in media production and broadcast journalism, Dean brings a perspective that most AI consultants simply don’t have: he understands both the technology and the operational realities of deadline-driven, high-pressure working environments. His consultancy is grounded not in theory but in practical, tested experience of what AI can and cannot realistically deliver for the organisations he works with.

Beyond strategic consultancy, Dean designs and builds bespoke AI automations, custom workflows that identify and remove the friction points quietly costing production companies, media organisations and businesses hours of unnecessary manual work every week. From automated content pipelines and transcription workflows to AI-assisted research, briefing and distribution systems, Dean maps the bottlenecks in your operation and builds the tools to fix them.

His consultancy work spans the media industry and beyond. While his deepest expertise lies in broadcast, production and publishing environments, he has successfully delivered AI strategy and automation projects for organisations in a range of sectors, helping leadership teams build confidence, upskill their people, and make decisions about AI that are grounded in reality rather than hype.

In 2025, Dean founded Aona Digital Ltd., an AI-focused media agency that brings together AI consultancy, automation design, production and training under one roof, working with clients who want a trusted, experienced partner as they navigate one of the most significant technological shifts of the modern era.

MEDIA & AI TRAINER

Dean has been training media professionals for over 15 years, first as a BBC Academy Trainer, helping to reshape how the BBC’s journalists filmed, edited and told stories on screen, and since 2013 as an independent trainer working with broadcasters, NGOs, publishers and media organisations worldwide. To date he has delivered training in more than 40 countries, across every continent.

His traditional media training portfolio covers the full range of broadcast craft skills: camera operation, editing (including Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere), documentary production, MoJo smartphone journalism, corporate storytelling and creative visual storytelling. Every course Dean delivers is one he still works in professionally, he trains in what works on the ground, under deadline, in real productions. Not theory. Not what used to work. What works now.

In recent years, AI has become a central pillar of Dean’s training offer. He has designed and delivers a suite of broadcast-standard AI training courses specifically for media professionals: AI Tools for Journalists and Newsrooms, AI Video Generation, AI Image Generation, and AI in Media Production. These courses are constantly updated to reflect the rapidly evolving AI landscape, and have been delivered in-person to broadcasters, digital publishers and media organisations on every continent.

Dean’s training courses have received international recognition, with award wins that reflect both the quality of the content and the impact of the delivery. He is a sought-after speaker and trainer at major industry events, including WAN-IFRA and other global media conferences, where he regularly presents on AI, broadcast workflow and the future of media production.

For organisations unable to access in-person training, Dean’s growing library of online video training courses is available via videoschool.deanarnett.com, bringing broadcast-standard media skills and AI training to individuals and teams wherever they are in the world. For bespoke in-person delivery, contact training@deanarnett.com.

BROADCAST DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER

Dean has been producing broadcast documentaries for over 30 years, working with major broadcasters and commissioning organisations across the globe. His credits span the BBC, Discovery, Al Jazeera, Alaraby, Amazon Prime and others, a body of work built film by film, in some of the world’s most demanding environments, on some of its most significant stories.

As a self-shooting producer, Dean combines the editorial vision of a director with the technical command of an experienced camera operator and editor. This approach gives him a level of creative control, flexibility and efficiency that is increasingly valued by commissioning organisations operating under tighter budgets and faster turnarounds, without any compromise to the quality or ambition of the storytelling.

Among the most significant films of his career is ‘Burying The Past’, a documentary he shot on location in Russia that went on to win a large international award. The film stands as testament to Dean’s ability to operate in complex, sensitive environments and to find the human stories within them; the kind of work that requires equal measures of courage, craft and editorial intelligence.

Dean’s documentary approach is built on a belief that the best films find their power in people, in the moments, relationships and stories that statistics and headlines can never fully capture. Whether working with a full crew or self-shooting alone in a remote location, his goal is always the same: to create films that inform, move and endure.

He remains an active documentary producer, bringing the same rigour and storytelling instinct he has always applied to subjects that reflect the most pressing themes of our time. If you have a documentary project you’d like to discuss, he’d welcome the conversation.

CORPORATE VIDEO PRODUCER

Dean has been making corporate video for over two decades, producing, directing, shooting and editing campaigns and content for some of the world’s best-known organisations. His corporate clients include Dropbox, the NHS, ServiceNow, Oracle, Microsoft and Orange, as well as a wide range of businesses working directly or through agencies across the UK and internationally.

What sets his corporate video work apart is the same instinct that drives his documentary filmmaking: a commitment to story. The most effective corporate videos are not product demonstrations or talking-head compilations, they are films that find the human truth in a brand or message and communicate it in a way that actually lands with an audience. This is the approach Dean brings to every corporate project, regardless of budget or scale.

As a self-shooting producer comfortable across multiple production roles, Dean can engage with corporate projects in a number of ways: as a Producer/Director with a full crew, as a self-shoot producer, as a shoot/edit, as an edit producer working with existing footage, or as a standalone editor. This flexibility makes him a practical and cost-effective choice for organisations that need broadcast-quality results without the overhead of a large production company.

His corporate work spans a wide range of formats and purposes, brand films, product launches, internal communications, executive interviews, event coverage, testimonials and campaign content, delivered to broadcast standard and on schedule. If your organisation needs to communicate something important on screen, Dean can make it happen.

AI VIDEO PRODUCER

AI video generation has moved from novelty to genuine production tool faster than almost anyone anticipated. The leading platforms — Kling, Runway, HeyGen and others — are now capable of producing footage that would have been impossible without significant budget, crew and post-production resources just a few years ago. The question is no longer whether AI can produce video. It’s whether the person using it understands storytelling well enough to make it worth watching.

Dean brings over 30 years of broadcast and documentary production experience to his AI video work. He produces, directs and creates AI-generated video content for clients and for his own editorial projects, applying the same narrative discipline and visual intelligence he has always brought to his filmmaking, using a toolkit that is fundamentally new. The result is AI video that doesn’t look like AI video: considered, purposeful and crafted.

His primary tools include Kling, Runway and HeyGen, alongside a wider suite of AI image, audio and post-production tools that he stays at the leading edge of. As someone who both practises and teaches AI video production, Dean’s knowledge of what these tools can and cannot do is current, practical and grounded in real production experience rather than experimentation for its own sake.

A full portfolio of Dean’s AI video production work is available on his AI Portfolio page, showcasing the range and quality of what is now possible when broadcast craft meets AI capability. For clients interested in incorporating AI video into campaigns, communications or productions, Dean is available to consult, produce or deliver complete projects.

vMIX LIVE-STREAM PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

Live television is one of the most demanding disciplines in broadcast media. You have one chance, no second takes, and the requirement to make everything look seamless regardless of what is happening behind the scenes. It is a skill built through experience under pressure — and Dean’s foundation in this discipline was built during his years as a live studio director at the BBC, directing live programming to broadcast audiences and learning to lead productions where anything can, and does, go wrong.

Today, Dean applies that experience to a new generation of live production: the live streams, virtual events, webinars, conferences and hybrid broadcasts that have become central to how organisations communicate with their audiences, teams and clients. He produces and directs live events of all scales — from focused executive webinars to large-scale international conferences — delivering broadcast-standard results whether working remotely or on-site.

His primary live production platform is vMix, one of the most powerful and flexible professional live streaming tools available, supported by StreamYard for specific formats and client requirements. From multi-camera switching and graphics management to remote guest handling and simultaneous stream distribution, Dean’s technical command of these platforms is matched by his directorial instinct for pacing, storytelling and audience engagement.

Clients he has produced and directed live events for include The Promethean, The Airship Association and YIGF (Young Internet Governance Forum), among others. A dedicated portfolio page showcasing these productions is coming soon. Whatever the brief, product launch, annual conference, panel discussion, awards ceremony, or live training event, Dean can plan, produce, direct and deliver it to a standard that reflects well on your organisation and genuinely serves your audience.

If you have a live event coming up and want to discuss what broadcast-quality production could look like for it, get in touch.

CAREER PROJECT SUMMARY

Dean Arnett

Filmmaker, Media Trainer, AI Production Consultant

Professional Profile

My name is Dean Arnett. I am a filmmaker, media trainer, and AI production consultant with over four decades of experience in broadcast, documentary, corporate production, and digital media. While I began my career in traditional film and television, in recent years my work has increasingly focused on artificial intelligence, workflow optimisation, and future-facing media production.

I have worked extensively for broadcasters, international organisations, marketing agencies, and media development bodies across the UK and worldwide, combining creative production with technical expertise and professional training.

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Early Creative Work (1979 to 1988)

From an early age, I was fascinated by film and animation. Inspired by experimental Eastern European animation, I began creating stop-frame films at the age of ten using a modified Super 8 camera.

My early work included:

• The Death of Mr Lucky, combining hand-drawn and physical animation using a custom-built rig
• Wild Weed and other claymation films made using plasticine

Several of these films won awards at small international film festivals and established my early interest in experimental storytelling.

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BBC Career and Early Broadcasting Work (1989 to 2012)

BBC Technical and Production Roles (1989 to 1995)

In January 1989, aged 19, I joined the BBC as a Trainee Technical Operator and was substantiated after one year.

During my first three years, I designed and built the Multi-Format Area at BBC East, using surplus equipment in a disused studio space. This facility became one of the busiest in the station.

I worked as:

• Studio and location camera operator
• Sound engineer on live programmes and documentaries
• Technical systems designer

Early Directing and Editing (1991 to 1996)

In 1991, I was commissioned by ITV Anglia to write and direct As Seen on TV, a 30-minute drama combining live action and stop-frame animation, shot on Super 16mm using an Arriflex camera.

From 1993, I worked as a video editor across multiple broadcast platforms, including:

• 1-inch tape
• Betacam SP and DigiBeta
• Avid
• Adobe Premiere
• Final Cut Pro

I edited news, magazine programmes, and long-form documentaries, developing a strong interest in narrative structure and storytelling.

In 1996, I founded Stealing Thunder Productions, producing short science fiction films including Dark Angel and Surface Tension, as well as developing the feature project Bark Pulse.

Network Production and Video Journalism (1996 to 2005)

In 1996, I co-founded The Fly By Night Film Company with Mick Le Moignan.

Together we produced:

• Twelve series of Turning Points (12 episodes per series)
• Three series of Brainwaves

These programmes were broadcast repeatedly on BBC One and BBC Two.

From 1997, I also:

• Directed and vision-mixed live BBC programmes
• Directed and edited documentaries
• Developed self-shooting skills

In 1998, I became a lead figure in the BBC Video Journalism project, working in almost every BBC newsroom in the UK and mentoring local journalists.

From 2000, I joined the BBC training team, training journalists in filming and editing while continuing documentary production.

Key documentaries included:

• The Journey
• Yaap Kruese: Geordie Ship Builder
• George Reynolds: Playing by His Own Rules
• Mars Man

Documentary and Training Leadership (2005 to 2012)

In 2005, I produced The Commitment, a behind-the-scenes documentary on John Duigan’s feature film.

In 2008, I produced The Invisible Journey of Flowers for Discovery.

From 2009 to 2012, I managed the BBC’s central Video Journalism training team in the Midlands, delivering nationwide training in:

• Broadcast editing systems
• Mobile journalism
• Digital workflows
• Trainer development

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Freelance Career and International Work (2012 to Present)

In August 2012, I left the BBC to work independently as a freelancer, balancing filmmaking, consultancy, and training.

I operated initially as Dean Media Ltd, later Sparks Fly Media Ltd, and in 2025 founded Aona Digital Ltd, an AI-focused media agency.

Since 2012, I have worked worldwide as:

• Creative Director
• Self-shoot Producer
• Broadcast Trainer
• Studio Design Consultant
• AI Workflow Specialist

Major Long-Term Clients and Partners

• Waggener-Edstrom (2012 to 2015)
• Branch Road (2015 to 2023)
• Mosaic Marketing (2012 to present)
• Press Association (2013 to 2025)
• Frontline Club (2014 to present)
• META (2021 to 2022)
• IREX (2021 to 2025)
• Thomson Foundation (2017 to 2025)
• WAN-IFRA (2023 to present)

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Documentary and Major Productions (2014 to Present)

Key long-form projects include:

• Burying the Past (2014)
• Tata: India’s Global Giant (2015)
• Return of the Airships (2017)
• Voodoo Bank Heist (2018)
• The Story of Airlander (2020)
• Saving Paradise (2022)
• The World Cup Legacy (2024)

Many of these projects were broadcast internationally and distributed on platforms such as Amazon Prime and Al Jazeera.

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Training, Consultancy, and Media Development

From 2013 onwards, I have delivered training and consultancy in over 40 countries, working with broadcasters, NGOs, and media organisations.

My areas of specialism include:

• Video journalism
• Mobile journalism
• Documentary development
• Studio design
• Production workflows
• AI in media production
• Audience engagement strategy

I have designed and built multiple live studios and online training platforms for organisations including WAN-IFRA and the Frontline Club.

Only Connect Programme

My work with META led to the development of:

Only Connect: The Science of Online Video

This programme focuses on audience retention, platform optimisation, and storytelling for digital media, and has been delivered globally.

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AI and Emerging Media (2020 to Present)

Since 2020, I have increasingly focused on AI-driven production workflows.

Recent work includes:

• AI training for BBC World partners
• WAN-IFRA AI academies
• WHO campaign films
• AI-generated music and promotional videos
• Workflow automation for ITV News
• AI consultancy saving over 59,000 staff hours

Notable projects include:

• Not So Silent Night (2024)
• AI remastering of The War Before the War (2025)
• AI-generated music video Drive (2025)

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Recent Work (2024 to 2026)

Recent highlights include:

• Global AI training programmes for BBC, WAN-IFRA, and Internews
• Studio design for the Frontline Club
• Media Accelerator Conference (Talisman Training)
• Workflow consultancy for ITV News
• Podcast production and hosting
• WHO international campaigns
• Promethean podcast series

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Professional Focus

Today, my work combines:

• High-end film and documentary production
• International media training
• Broadcast systems design
• AI integration and automation
• Strategic consultancy

My aim is to help media organisations, journalists, and content creators adapt to rapidly changing technologies while maintaining high editorial and creative standards.