Last Updated on February 25, 2026 by Jan Barley
It took a while to perfect my AI filmmaking workflow, but it’s becoming second nature now.
AI filmmaking isn’t just a futuristic idea. It’s a practical way to create professional-quality content faster and cheaper than ever.
Since the start of January 2026, I’ve been experimenting with AI tools to produce ads, social content, and UGC videos that look polished without needing a full production team.
In this post, I’ll show my exact workflow and the tools I use, so you can start creating AI-powered videos yourself.
Step 1: Concept & Script
Everything starts with an idea, and the only thing limiting you is your imagination. One of the best things that came from learning this AI filmmaking workflow is how much my imagination is blossoming. I hadn’t realised how little I used it, and it’s delightful to have it back. It’s like being a kid again 😊
I mostly use ChatGPT for AI-Image generation prompts, and it does a good job. You may want to tweak it a little and remember not to include brand names in your prompt, like the term “Pixar-style’ because most of the AI tools reject brand terms.
Step 2: Generate Images
For the best images, use Nano Banana Pro or Midjourney. There are pros and cons for both. 99% of the time, I use Nano Banana Pro because it is excellent at understanding what you want, and its text generation is spot-on, something Midjourney hasn’t fully mastered yet.
ElevenLabs rolled out text-to-image and image-to-video in early 2026. It’s fantastic because it brings all the image and video generation tools together in one place. The one downside is that it gets twitchy about certain prompts.
You can’t use the word “child” or children” and no brand names or terms. However, once you understand that, it’s fast and accurate, plus you can upscale your images with Topaz upscaler within the platform.
Just keep an eye on the credits, as it can be hungry. I’m on the Creator plan, which gives me 100k monthly credits, and, unlike many companies, credits do rollover.
My Tips:
- Use camera angles, lighting, type of camera lens, etc., in your prompts, as that can make a huge difference. You can ask ChatGPT to include these things.
- Upscale your images to at least 2K, as that impacts the quality of the video
Basically, your role is to act as a film director, not a content creator. The better you work in the beginning stages, the better film results you will get.
Finally, download your images and move to the next step.
Step 3: Converting Images to Video
Choose which image-to-video tool you want to use – such as VEO or Kling. With both, you can add a start and end frame image. That helps the AI to understand what you want. VEO and Kling are both good at lip-syncing audio.
For example, suppose you’re creating an animation of a mouse, and you want it to hop onto a prop in a scene. You would have the start frame as the character and the end frame of the mouse sitting on the prop.
Remember to use a good hook in the first few seconds of the video.
Keep prompts simple. You might add instructions like:
The mouse smiles and waves at the camera and then hops onto the large stone. He then looks at the camera and winks playfully.
The next step is where your concept comes to life.
Step 4: Voiceovers & Narration
The right voice can make or break a video. I use ElevenLabs to generate realistic AI narration. This saves hours of recording and editing audio while keeping a professional quality.
My Top Tips:
- Match the voice tone to your brand: You might want a deep, calm voice for storytelling and a fast-paced voice for animated characters. Not that ElevenLabs won’t technically let you create children’s voices, but you can work around that by using voice design. You can upload a childlike voice you like, go to the voice design tool and recreate it.
- Keep pacing natural: Use a voice that sounds as human-like as possible. They are getting so good now. Alternatively, you can clone your voice in ElevenLabs by uploading audio samples of your voice.
Although this is step 4, it’s a good idea to decide on the type of voice you want once you have character design.
Step 5: Editing & Polishing
Finally, I bring everything together using CapCut. It’s beginner-friendly and perfect for adding:
- Sound effects & music
- Text overlays or subtitles
- Transitions and effects.
- Slowing down or speeding up the video or audio
You can get sound effects from Uppbeat or Pixabay – Move between the two to find the most suitable. Adding sound effects significantly improves the quality of your video.
To get a sense of the power of sound, start watching movie trailers and see how many sound effects they use that you may not have noticed before you started AI filmmaking.
At this stage, you can export the video and check that it’s ready to publish or pitch as a service. Watch it a few times and try to detach from it so that you can see or hear mistakes, poor timing, volume, etc.
Why This Workflow Works
The beauty of this workflow is its simplicity and scalability. One script can become multiple videos, short clips, or social content.
Each project becomes a system you can reuse, improve, or even sell as a service. Over time, these small projects compound into an impressive portfolio to show potential clients.
What stopped me from starting filmmaking was being frozen like a deer in the headlights because I had no idea what the AI filmmaking workflow was. After studying with the AI Video Bootcamp for a few weeks, it all started falling into place.
What to do Next
If you’re interested in trying this simple workflow yourself, start small: pick one product or idea, write a 30–60-second script (use ChatGPT for a prompt), and create a test video using one of the image-to-video generators in Galaxy.ai, which costs only $15/month. It’s a great platform for practising image and video creation.
I use a variety of platforms that have multiple AI Tools:
- ai – $15/month – Free trial
- FlexClip – from $15.99/month – Free trial
- ElevenLabs – from $5/month – Free trial
Why subscribe to a few platforms? Well, because you will probably run out of credits before the end of the month, having a fallback keeps the AI filmmaking workflow. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to stop when your imagination is in full swing. The beauty of ElevenLabs is that you can create voice, images and video but, as mentioned, generation can eat away at your credits.
Don’t worry about perfection; that will come later. When you’re beginning, focus on building systems, establishing a workflow and learning by doing.
In the coming weeks, I’ll share a step-by-step case study of a complete AI-generated ad project, including all tools, time spent, and results.
I do plan to start a few social media channels once I have enough material to share, so look out for that. Now, I’m formulating my niche and creating content.
I hope this AI filmmaking workflow shows you that it’s not as complicated as you might think. My advice would be to join the AI Video Bootcamp and learn from experts.
The training is bite-sized but in-depth, and the feedback on your work is priceless. It’s incredible value for $9/month, but I suspect the price will go up soon, since there are 9k members in the community right now.
FAQs
What Is AI Filmmaking?
AI filmmaking is the process of using artificial intelligence tools to create video content, including visuals, voiceovers, animations, and editing. Instead of filming everything manually, creators use AI image generators, text-to-video tools, and AI voice platforms to produce professional-quality content faster and more efficiently.
Do I Need Technical Skills to Start AI Filmmaking?
No. Most AI filmmaking tools are beginner-friendly and designed with creators in mind. If you can write a basic script and follow a structured workflow, you can start producing AI-powered videos. The key skill is creativity and clarity of vision—not advanced technical ability.
How Much Does It Cost to Start AI Filmmaking?
It can be surprisingly affordable. Many AI tools offer free trials or low-cost monthly plans. Depending on your tool stack, you could start experimenting for under $50 per month, and in some cases, much less. The most important investment is learning how to use the tools effectively.
Can You Make an Income with AI Filmmaking?
Yes, absolutely. AI filmmaking can be monetised in several ways:
- Creating UGC-style ads for brands
- Selling digital products or templates
- Running paid ad creatives for clients
- Producing content for social platforms
- Offering AI video services to small businesses
As demand for short-form video and ads continues to grow, creators who understand AI workflows have a real opportunity to turn this into a side hustle—or even a full-time income stream.
Where Is the Best Place to Learn AI Filmmaking?
While you can learn a lot through experimentation and free tutorials, joining a focused community can dramatically speed up your progress. Communities like AI Video Bootcamp (hosted on Skool) provide in-depth training, live calls, support, and feedback on your videos and it only costs $9/month.
Having access to real-time guidance and a group of creators working through similar challenges can significantly shorten your learning curve.
How Long Does It Take to Create an AI Video?
Once you’re comfortable with your workflow, you can create a short AI-powered video in a few hours. The first few projects may take longer while you refine your prompts and editing process, but the speed improves quickly with practice. My first few videos took me most of a day, but that was because I made mistakes with my prompts, since I hadn’t learned to do it effectively.
What Type of Videos Can You Create With AI?
AI filmmaking can be used for:
- UGC-style ads
- Educational clips
- Storytelling videos
- Creative short films
- Promotional content
- Social media content
The possibilities are expanding rapidly as tools improve.
Is AI Filmmaking Saturated?
Not yet. While AI tools are becoming more popular, most businesses and creators still don’t understand how to use them effectively. Skilful creators who combine storytelling with AI tools stand out quickly.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link.
