Grail Names ‘Skateland’ Director Anthony Burns As In-House Creative Producer

EXCLUSIVE: Writer, director and producer Anthony Burns has joined U.S. production and rep company Grail as in-house creative producer to develop and package original film and TV projects.

Burns made his feature directorial debut with Skateland, which he co-wrote and produced. The coming of-age drama premiered at Sundance in 2010, screened at SXSW and starred Shiloh Fernandez and Ashley Greene. He subsequently directed and produced Home Sweet Hell, starring Patrick Wilson, Katherine Heigl and Jordana Brewster.

His producing credits include Monica, starring Trace Lysette and Patricia Clarkson; the Jimi Hendrix biopic Jimi: All Is by My Side, starring André Benjamin; and Green Is Gold. He recently served as showrunner on José vs. Mourinho, Grail’s collaboration with Coca-Cola and Goal for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and collaborated with Bianca on the original project A Song To Raise The Dead.

We first told you about AI-oriented producer Grail last year. The company is an entertainment, tech and rep company founded by filmmaker Davide Bianca (who co-directed the first globally broadcast AI commercial for Coca-Cola last year, titled Holidays Are Coming) and producer Jeff Krelitz. Headquartered in Florida and LA, the company develops and produces content across film, TV, advertising, gaming, animation, immersive media and AI.

The company’s portfolio includes work for Coca-Cola, Microsoft and Activision, including
Fanta’s Haunted Universe. Grail says it is also developing “proprietary creative technologies, including Grail+Forge, “an integrated AI-powered production environment designed to support filmmakers and creative teams throughout development and production.”

Grail’s advisory board includes Barbershop and Bob Marley: One Love producer Bob Teitel and Hitman producer Adrian Askarieh