Fractional CTO for the Entertainment Industry

Technology Leadership • AI Innovation • Streaming • Creative Infrastructure

[email protected]

More about me at RyanVinson.com →

I’m Ryan Vinson, a Los Angeles–based Fractional CTO with over 25 years of experience helping studios, filmmakers, musicians, and entertainment startups build cutting-edge tech products. I’ve lived through every startup wave since the dotcom era and blend deep technical strategy with hands-on execution to support modern media companies.

“A Swiss Army knife of technology solutions.”

How I Can Help

Entertainment Tech Leadership

Fractional CTO leadership for film, music, streaming, and production companies. I guide technology direction, oversee developers, and optimize workflows across creative and engineering teams.

AI Integration & Automation

Implement AI solutions for sentiment analysis, video content workflows, script tools, automated marketing pipelines, and creative assistants. Experience with OpenAI, Anthropic, Replicate, LangChain, and custom AI systems.

Streaming & Connected TV Expertise

Architect and supervise Roku, Apple TV, and streaming infrastructure solutions including HLS, DASH, and Ant Media Server. Experience distributing, encoding, and automating connected TV workflows.

Startup Team Building

Hire, evaluate, and manage in-house or remote developers (U.S. and international). Build flexible “swat team” engineering units for rapid iteration and efficient scaling.

Who I Work With

Film Studios

Music Companies

AI Media Startups

Streaming Platforms

Creative Agencies

Innovation Labs

Highlights from 20+ Years in Media & Technology

VersusMedia – 2001 to Present

A multi-decade platform supporting over 1,000 indie films in music licensing, now expanded into streaming channels on Roku, Apple TV, and web PWA with over 800 films & music videos.

Created one of the earliest digital signature licensing systems (2005–2009) used in global film/music agreements through 2099.

AI Tools for Filmmakers & Musicians

Creator of Media Mentor AI, a free tool giving creatives instant feedback on scripts, music, marketing strategy, and more.

Built AI systems for sentiment analysis, real-time analytics, dynamic storytelling, and interactive game systems like Choose Your Fate AI.

Speaking Engagements

  • California Lawyers for the Arts – Music in Film/TV panels, 2015 & 2016
  • Musicians Institute, Hollywood – “How to Sell Your Songs”
  • Songnet.org – multiple critique & Q&A events (2004–2008)
  • American Film Institute – “Film Music Mecca” speaker

Industry Recognition & Publications

  • Featured in Music Connection Magazine, Music Dish, The Independent.
  • Recommended in Filmmaking for Dummies and The Indie Bible.
  • Author of Disregarded Entity (2017), documenting freelancing and tech leadership.

Language Experience

Mandarin Chinese 中文

6+ years of training with continuous proficiency advancement. I’ve taken several solo immersion trips to Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Qingdao, Yantai, Kunming, and Mile. Though I haven't taken official testing, I estimate my proficiency to be around HSK3.

I'm well-versed in the Chinese film industry and the common themes often used in their stories.

Khmer (Cambodian)

Basic understanding of the language with ongoing exposure and practical experience. I have been involved in producing Cambodian films in the past.

Spanish, French, Etc

Experience localizing websites and digital products into Spanish, French, and many other languages as part of global-facing media and entertainment projects.

Let's Work Together

Available for consulting, ongoing engagements, or entertainment-tech speaking events.

Contact Ryan