How to make a short movie with AI
Brief for AI Create: A four-minute short: two strangers share a laundromat at 2 a.m., one is leaving the city tomorrow; one room, one washing machine, one line at the end.
Day one: the page and the cast
- Write the ending first, then the want that leads to it.
- Keep one place and two or three people.
- Read the cast and places the script finds; merge a nickname that is the same person.
- Approve the drawings. The first 15 setup images are free.
Day one, later: the storyboard
The storyboard is plain text: numbered shots with seconds, framing, camera move and lines. Read it like a screenplay. Cut any shot that only repeats another; add a close-up where a line lands. Editing is free. What you can change · How to write one shot.
Day two: render and fix
- Watch the free 5-second preview.
- Render the segments; queue several at once and let them run.
- Fix single shots rather than whole scenes.
- Join at 1 credit a second, watch the whole film once with the sound on.
Where to send it
Festivals publish their own rules on AI-assisted work, runtime and labels; check them before you submit. Online, 16:9 for a channel and a 9:16 cut for Shorts. A short for a festival · AI short movie maker · Free AI short film maker.
Make it in SceneMixer, start to finish
- Script: paste your own on Upload Script, or write the brief above in AI Create and let it draft the episodes.
- Step 1: Type Film; Scene Style Neon Nights, Urban Opulence; Costume Style Smart Casual, Streetwear; Visual Style Digital HD, Shot on Film; Target Region; dialogue language; 16:9 Landscape. Then read the script.
- Step 2: Draw the two strangers and the laundromat; nothing else is needed. The first 15 setup images on an account are free.
- Storyboard: generate episode 1 first (free on your first drama) and read it before you render anything. One place per segment.
- Video: render on the default tier at 10 credits a second, fix single shots instead of whole episodes, then put the episode together and post.
| Length | Seconds of video | Segments (15 s / 30 s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 minutes | 120 | 8 / 4 |
| 4 minutes | 240 | 16 / 8 |
| 5 minutes | 300 | 20 / 10 |
| 10 minutes | 600 | 40 / 20 |
FAQ
How do I make a short movie with AI?
Write one page, set the type to Film, approve the cast, read the free storyboard, then render the segments and join them.
How long does it take?
The writing, cast and storyboard can be done in a day; rendering runs on the server and you can queue segments together.
How much does it cost?
Video is 10 credits a second on the default tier plus 1 credit a second to join; reading and the first storyboard are free or small.
How many characters should I use?
Two or three carry a short movie; each extra is another drawing and voice.
Can it have dialogue?
Yes, spoken in the video in any of 15 languages.
Can I make it vertical?
Yes. Choose 9:16 Portrait in Step 1.
Can I enter a festival?
Many accept AI-assisted work, but rules differ; check each festival's entry rules.
Updated November 2, 2026