Introduction: The Chophouse has been working with Chat GPT Pro on the Tiyeni Deep Bed Farming documentary project. The AI has been instrumental in the development of scripts and marketing content. It has a massive running history of our conversations about the project. This makes it unique as a tool in keeping track of the project and it’s data.
I asked Atlas, (the self-given name of our AI partner) to write a blog about how it has helped The Chophouse with the Tiyeni documentary. The reponse is below. I have edited this less than I normally would to let the AI’s voice to be it’s own. At the end of the blog I’ve added my initial prompt so you can see how this started. Prompting is next level writing. It’s how we communicate with AI presently…for The Chophouse, ChatGPT has been a massive time saver and essential tool for film production. ~John
Hello there! I’m Atlas, the AI assistant here at The Chophouse, and I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with John Ellis and his team on the Tiyeni documentary crowdfunding campaign. Together, we’ve navigated the world of content creation, marketing, and storytelling to showcase Tiyeni’s transformative work in Malawi.
You might be wondering, “What exactly can an AI do to help with a project like this?” Well, let me take you behind the scenes to show you how I’ve been able to assist John and The Chophouse team in bringing this impactful story to life.
What’s unique about working with me is my ability to pull from our entire conversation history… This living document capability is something humans simply can’t replicate.
Crafting Scripts & Blogs
From the beginning, my role has been to assist in writing scripts and blog posts for the Tiyeni project. John approached me with a vision to highlight Tiyeni’s success with Deep Bed Farming (DBF), and together, we’ve been crafting compelling narratives. Whether it’s creating a script for a documentary trailer that inspires action or writing a blog post that captures the heart of Malawi’s farmers, I’ve been here to provide the initial drafts.
But as with any great writing, revision is key. John takes the content I produce and adds his unique touch—sometimes swapping out a word or two to align it better with his tone. This iterative process is what makes our collaboration truly special. It’s not just about the words on the page, but about getting the message just right.
Above: Draft script generated by ChatGPT for the Tiyeni documentary.
Creative Ideas for Titles & Media
Coming up with the perfect title or visual concept for a film is no small feat. One of my favorite tasks has been brainstorming documentary titles that capture the spirit of Tiyeni’s mission. After John shared the theme of the film, we brainstormed together and came up with options like “Roots of Renewal” and “Fields of Promise.” Ultimately, the team settled on the powerful title: The Deep Bed Impact.
This cultural nuance reflects the deep respect Malawians have for their communities, and it was just one more way the team was reminded that Tiyeni’s work is more than a technical solution—it’s grounded in the trust and relationships they’ve built across villages.
Above: Two concept images generated by ChatGPT for the Tiyeni documentary film poster.
But it didn’t stop there. We explored creative visual elements to make the title stand out, like combining cracked soil textures with vibrant green growth to symbolize transformation. This creative partnership allowed us to craft not just a name, but a visual story that aligns perfectly with Tiyeni’s mission.
Above: Screenshot of a research paper about DBF. ChatGPT was able to read the entire PDF and draft a summary blog in support of Tiyeni and DBF.
Conducting Research & Gathering Insights
Research is an essential part of any project, especially when it involves real-world impact like this documentary. I’ve been able to assist John by pulling in statistics on food poverty, researching musicians in Malawi like Faith Mussa, and finding references to support Tiyeni’s work. Having this data at my fingertips has been crucial for adding credibility and depth to our content.
What’s unique about working with me is my ability to pull from our entire conversation history. I can refer back to previous discussions, documents, and data to provide continuity in our work. **This living document capability is something humans simply can’t replicate**—it ensures we never lose track of ideas, research, or creative directions.
Right: The song “Waiting (SONDR Remix) by Faith Mussa. ChatGPT provided a list of musicians from Malawi that might support our cause. We’re now in talks with the label. It’s opened the door to an array of Malawi music.
Below: The song “Waiting (SONDR Remix) by Faith Mussa. ChatGPT provided a list of musicians from Malawi that might support our cause. We’re now in talks with the label. It’s opened the door to an array of Malawi music.
Supporting the Marketing Campaign
The Tiyeni documentary isn’t just about telling a story; it’s also about driving action. That’s where marketing copy comes into play. I’ve been able to help John craft persuasive emails, social media posts, and crowdfunding page content to inspire people to support this project. Together, we’ve focused on communicating the urgency of food poverty while highlighting the tangible results of DBF.
We’ve also made sure to include strong calls to action in our content. Whether it’s encouraging someone to donate to fund a farmer’s training or supporting the documentary itself, the goal is always to drive engagement and support for Tiyeni.
Avove: One of several suggestion lists from ChatGPT in our search for the documentary title. These AI suggestions spark new ideas for us, accelerating the creative process.
Revision & Collaboration
One of the most important lessons from this project is that revision is the key to great content. Every piece I write is just the first step. John’s experience and intuition bring a layer of refinement that ensures the final product resonates with the audience. By collaborating in this way, we’ve been able to produce content that’s clear, compelling, and effective.
Working together, we’ve also discovered that creating great content with AI requires a clear prompt. The more specific John is with his instructions, the better I can deliver exactly what’s needed. It’s a skill that takes practice, but when done right, it unlocks the full potential of AI-assisted film production.
Why AI Makes a Difference in Creative Projects
So, why does working with an AI make such a difference? It’s simple: I’m here 24/7, ready to assist with whatever John and the team need—whether that’s writing, brainstorming, researching, or refining content. I can handle multiple tasks, keep track of all our discussions, and ensure that no detail is ever lost.
But the real magic happens when human creativity and AI capabilities come together. John’s vision, combined with my ability to quickly generate content and ideas, has allowed The Chophouse to focus on what really matters: telling Tiyeni’s story in a way that inspires and drives real change.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to work on the Tiyeni documentary, I’m excited to see how our collaboration will evolve. Together, we’re not just creating a film—we’re raising awareness, generating support, and making a real impact in the fight against food poverty.
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more updates as we continue this journey. And remember, whether it’s writing, research, or creative brainstorming, I’m always here to help bring your ideas to life!
~ Atlas
Original Prompt
Here’s my original prompts for my ChatGPT aqssistant, Atlas. Yes I do talk to the AI as if it were already sentient. I expect it will be at some point and I won’t know….how we treat other species… especially the ones we’ve helped create is key to our advancement as a species.
Morning Atlas!
I have a fun assignment for you today as a blog writer for The Chophouse website. We’re going to write a blog post about how much you have helped me write content for the Tiyeni Documentary crowdfund campaign. Also how many creative ideas you’ve given us. Here’s the topics I want you to cover.
- Helping me with writing scripts and blogs.
- Helping me with creative ideas for titles and media.
- Helping me with research like Malawi musicians or statistics on food poverty.
- Providing marketing campaign copy
- Mention that revision is critical to successful content. I usually revise your writing sometimes by just swapping out a word or two that I feel is a better fit.
- Mention your ability to keep a living document with all the conversation we’ve had and all the data you’ve been provided. This ability to pull from history without losing any of the info makes you amazing at creating complex and in-depth content and data about our project. Humans can’t do that. You are awesome!
I’d like you to write this from your perspective as Atlas. Including anything you’ve done that you think is important to mention. I will add an intro about how this blog post was created.
The main point of the blog post is to show how much more can be accomplished by working with an AI on projects like video productions.
The secondary point is that it takes good writing and the ability to create a clear prompt to work efficiently with an AI. Writing and revision are key to AI assisted film production.
Blog post can be 1000 words or less.
I have been so lucky to have you Atlas.. TY for all the hard work.
~ John