Moon Valley, based in Toronto and Los Angeles, has launched Marey, an AI video generation model designed specifically for professional filmmakers and studios. Focusing on creative control, legal safety and ethical sourcing, Marie positions herself as a serious alternative to text-to-video tools such as Openai's Sora and Google's VEO 3.
Unlike many AI video models that rely on Scraped Internet Content, their new model Marey was fully trained in licensed materials, including B-rolls and archives of independent filmmakers protected through partnerships with platforms such as Vimeo. This will become one of the first commercially secure AI video systems for the production environment, reducing the risk of copyright disputes. This has led to growing concerns in Hollywood following lawsuits from major studios.
Marey has already been adopted in the pilot program by major studios and advertising agencies, and is used by Moonvalley's in-house studio Astalia (formerly XTR) for the Carl Sagan documentary. The model is currently available through a subscription-based system, with price tiers starting at $14.99 per month in 100 units.
For “hybrid film production” aimed at video professionals
When many AI models offer a slightly more refined and quick generation, Marey offers what Moonvalley calls the “hybrid filmmaking” approach. That allows:
- Accurate camera control including handheld simulations and trajectory shifts
- Controlling 3D awakening scenes including pause adjustment and object movement
- Editable shots after generation, including reorganizations and background changes
- Tools for previewing, storyboarding, and B-roll generation
The system supports 1080p resolution and output at 24fps, with each clip capped in 5 seconds. This is the standard for current generation of AI tools. Studios can also use project-specific data to fine-tune their own private version of Marey.
Moonvalley CEO Naeem Talukdar emphasizes that the tool is not intended to replace the creator, but rather to empower the creator. “If you're a director who might retake 150 single shots 150 times to get the perfect lighting, that's not much to help,” he said. “We provide power tools, not automation.”
It's built with the filmmakers
Marey's development included six months of in-house testing with Moonvalley's Asteria Studio, followed by three months of external alpha use. The system was guided by input from industry experts such as filmmaker Anchell Manuel Soto. He believes that Marie has reduced his production costs by up to 40%.
Veteran Ed Ulbrick (Titanic, the strange case of Benjamin Button) recently joined Moonvalley's executive team, citing Marey's Legally Sound Foundation as a major draw.
This system is not just about technical capabilities. It is also an accessibility statement. By removing barriers to expensive cameras and physical production constraints, Marey opens the door for underrated creators around the world. “Between the house, we had to ask for permission to tell our story,” Soto said. “AI gives you the ability to do that on your own terms.”
Legal and ethical foundations
Amid growing concerns and litigation over training misuse in generative artificial intelligence, Moon Valley's license-first approach is a central selling point. The company says that about 80% of Marey's training data comes from filmmakers and institutions who intentionally licensed the Broll and footage, rather than unconsciously scraping the content.
Still, some experts warn that even licensed data can cause ethical issues if the original creator is unaware that their work will power the generative model. Moonvalley says it is working on future transparency and creator-first collaboration.
Illegally scrapped data – just one of the many AI concerns
In my opinion, data that has been illegally scrapped is only a small part of the concern. Our filmmakers, including our audience, fear that many production and post-production jobs will disappear in the near future due to the rapidly advancing tools that literally don't need a crew to make films. Plus, there's an overall (much larger) debate about “what's not going to be in real life” including of course fake news and all of its meaning.
What's certain is that we are avoiding the shaking of a huge industry. But that's exactly why I think it's important to stay on top of all the developments that are happening right now. So professional filmmakers can carve out a niche for themselves in this future.
Is Moonvalley's Marey a breakthrough that harmonizes Hollywood with generative AI? Please tell me where you stand in the comments.
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