S P E A K I N G
I explore why storytelling is the only durable advantage in an
AI accelerated world that's producing infinite content and shrinking attention.
Ant is Director of Storytelling at The Diary of a CEO (previously Director of Trailers) whose work has spanned global entertainment brands including Disney, Lucasfilm, 007, Universal Pictures, Sky and Netflix.
He also co-founded a video production company operating in the TV advertising and marketing space, giving him direct experience of commercial pressure and growth targets.
At The Diary of a CEO (FlightStory), he led the way on how long-form content is marketed, applying emotionally led storytelling, backed by psychological human behaviour hacks, to every trailer and intro. This played a key role in the growth of the podcast going from 300,000 subscribers to over 14 million.
Ant's trailer style has now been replicated by thousands of podcasters and marketing teams, and that same narrative framework now helps founders clarify positioning, sharpen messaging and scale without diluting meaning.
(scroll down for topics)
Ant described by flightstory co-founder, georgie holt.
In his role of Director of Trailers for DOAC, Anthony set the global standard for what modern trailers look and feel like. The blueprint he built is now copied across the industry, a blueprint that did not exist until Ant made it exist, because Ant quite frankly, believed it could and then went and made it happen.
He truly made DOAC trailers unmistakable and he ensured the stories they contain became experiences that have changed the lives of millions around the world. And he did this with a relentless obsession because he quite simply out cared everyone else.
Ant has produced well over 400 cinematic trailers for The Diary of a CEO, accumulating well over 1 billion views across social platforms, which ultimately led to millions upon millions more views towards the long form episodes. Known as the "King of the 1%s," Ant took the "1% mindset" to a whole new level by implementing incredible detail into every single frame, famously driven by his standard that “I should be able to pause the trailer anywhere and that frame alone could be a movie poster.”
By merging his knowledge of storytelling, a deep understanding of human psychology and his data driven approach, he effectively rewrote an entire sector of the media industry. But perhaps his greatest achievement however, was building the "un-buildable" team. In an industry where finding talent to match his level of editing was next to impossible, Ant successfully built a trailer team that matched the elite quality we couldn’t find anywhere else. He’s demonstrated exceptional leadership by mentoring Liv, elevating her in record time to a standard that many editors with 30+ years of experience fail to achieve.
Check out some clips from previous guest appearances below
T O P I C S
Through techniques, psychology, hacks and many lessons in failure from being the Director of Trailers for The Diary Of A CEO, I help brands and creators use cinematic storytelling and intentional AI, so their content has a strategic advantage.
S T O R Y
Turn narrative into competitive advantage using principles and psychology that I have gained through working on the fastest growing podcast as well as my experience interviewing Hollywood directors and creating assets for the biggest film/TV franchises.
Every single element of my work goes through a rigorous checklist ensuring qualities are maintained and that story perseveres. I have since trained editors and coached brands to create in the same way whilst ensuring that their voice, style and character remain rooted in their content.
A I
AI has created a world of infinite content, uncertainty, a constant question of trust and a lot of 'slop'.
BUT it has also enhanced my skills as a storyteller and editor in ways that I could never have imagined. It has elevated my work to levels that budgets previously would not have allowed and whilst it has caused a lot of worry, it has changed the game of film, marketing, social and what it requires to cut through the noise.
There is a way to use AI in a capacity that elevates your skills and your work and still maintain the one characteristic people are crying out for... Human connection.
P S Y C H O L O G Y
My work takes pride in 'hacking the human mind' for a strategic advantage. And not only is there nothing wrong with brands and creators to do this, it's also one of the biggest deciding factors whether your content works for you!
There are certain traits and behaviours every human experiences (both negatively and positively) and so I guide people on how to explore those traits, understand how humans behave and, most importantly, how they can adapt these findings into their own content to ensure that whatever they make... it stands a chance to cut through the noise, become memorable and leads to action.
M E T R I C S
In a world that is obsessed with going VIRAL, I explain why it can become one of the most destructive metrics.
Instead, I explain the key metrics of success that every brand and content creator should focus on, and how those metrics have driven the global success of The Diary of A CEO.
L E A D E R S H I P
How do you build a team of hungry, detail driven editors who understand that their work has to achieve so much?
I've been a solo editor, I've worked amongst teams, and I've built and managed teams in various capacities and have developed principles and guides to make teams thrive.
F U L L E P I S O D E S
If you liked what you watched above and want more... here are the full podcast episodes.
