Anthony Zuiker, the creator of “CSI,” is developing a new true-crime platform called Cinemalistics that uses artificial intelligence to generate short vertical video stories about active or recent criminal cases as new information becomes available. The project, created with former CAA colleague David Freeman, AI and technology entrepreneur Doug Scott, and actor Donovan Leitch, is designed to bring true-crime storytelling closer to the pace of breaking news by updating its films and documentaries in near real time.
Zuiker said the idea grew out of a conversation about “real-time true crime” and reflects his belief that journalism and audience consumption are changing. Cinemalistics would let users watch AI-generated crime sagas within hours of a case breaking, using public records, news reports, press conferences, social media posts and other source material to create minute-length videos. The platform is being built with Nvidia AI tools and is part of Nvidia’s Innovation Lab for AI startups.
The company plans to offer both free, ad-supported access and premium subscriptions. It is targeting a public debut at the Mipcom conference in Cannes this October. Venture firm 5IR Funds, led by David Carstens, is funding the first investment round, though the company has not disclosed how much money it has raised. Zuiker said the team eventually hopes to hire journalists, production managers and story editors as the platform expands.
According to Freeman, Cinemalistics is intended to connect major creators directly with audiences and reimagine how fans engage with news and crime stories on mobile devices. Zuiker, who will serve as the platform’s chief crime officer, said the content will remain consistent in structure for all users but will evolve as evidence develops. If a new witness comes forward or a weapon is found, the app’s film and documentary versions would update to reflect those changes.
The platform also includes a deeper-source layer for users who want more context. Through a menu inside the app, viewers would be able to access materials behind each video, such as 911 calls, media coverage and press conferences. Zuiker said the goal is not only to deliver entertainment, but also to offer a more immediate, visual way of consuming journalism.
At the same time, the project faces ethical questions about how to depict violent crimes responsibly. Zuiker said Cinemalistics will avoid graphic portrayals and will not show faces until identities are publicly known. He described the company as focused on storytelling, science and forensics rather than gore, and said the production approach will try to respect victims and their families.
Eventually, the company wants to let users create their own AI-generated crime productions, but with guardrails to prevent gratuitous violence. Zuiker called the idea both “a journalism fix of the future” and a community-driven platform for crime enthusiasts.
