Look, I’ve been messing around with AI video tools for a minute now. And if you’re on Reddit or Twitter/X, you’ve probably seen those insane looking anime-style shorts or wild sci-fi clips that make you go, “Wait, did a person actually make this?”
Spoiler: they didn’t. Not entirely.
I’ve been using a combo of ChatGPT for scriptwriting and Openseedance (specifically their Seedance 2.0 model) to actually generate the videos. And after burning through way too many credits on bad outputs, I finally figured out a workflow that actually works.
Here’s exactly how I do it. No fluff.
Step 1: Start With a Stupidly Specific Prompt for ChatGPT
Most people mess this up. They go to ChatGPT and say, “give me a short film idea.” That’s how you get boring, generic trash.
Instead, you need to act like an unhinged producer who knows exactly what sells on platforms like YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Reels. I use a prompt that forces ChatGPT to think like a pro short-form creator.
Here’s my go-to system prompt (feel free to steal it):
You are a top-tier short-form content strategist who has produced multiple viral series on TikTok and YouTube Shorts. You understand retention curves, hook density, and how to design scenes specifically for AI generation. You never give vague advice. Every idea you provide must be immediately usable for AI image and video generation.
My goal: Create a 9:16 vertical AI-generated short series aimed at 5-10 million views. The series needs to be highly shareable, fast-paced, and cheap to produce with AI tools.
Rules you must follow:
- 3-second hook rule: The first 3 seconds must be visual chaos or a line of dialogue that makes you stop scrolling.
- High-density pacing: Each 1-2 minute episode needs a twist, reveal, or fight beat every 15-20 seconds.
- AI-friendly scenes: Avoid complex continuous action or subtle facial expressions. Focus on high-impact single shots, big environments, and character designs that can be reused across episodes.
- Cliffhanger every episode: Last 5 seconds must make someone smash that subscribe button or comment “part 2???”
Step 2: Pick a Concept and Force ChatGPT to Build a Real Production Bible
Last week, I gave it that prompt and it spit back three ideas. I picked the one that actually got me excited: a fantasy revenge story where a disgraced prince gets a second chance with future knowledge. Basic, but works.
Then I ask it to give me three completely different viral-worthy concepts. Not variations of the same thing. Different.
Step 2: Pick a Concept and Force ChatGPT to Build a Real Production Bible
Last week, I gave it that prompt and it spit back three ideas. I picked the one that actually got me excited: a fantasy revenge story where a disgraced prince gets a second chance with future knowledge. Basic, but works.
Then I hit ChatGPT with a second, much more annoying prompt. This one forces it to think like a real director of photography and story editor.
Here’s what I ask for:
Core premise (one sentence, max)
Character sheets for the hero, villain, and sidekick — including fixed visual descriptions so the AI doesn’t change their face every other scene
A beat sheet broken into three acts, with specific “hook points” for the end of every episode
Text-to-image prompts for each main character’s “look” (because if you don’t do this, good luck keeping them consistent)
Honestly, the character prompts alone saved me hours of trial and error.
Step 3: Write the Actual Script (Or Let ChatGPT Do the Heavy Lifting)
Here’s where I used to get stuck. I’d have a cool concept but zero patience to write line-by-line dialogue for 10 episodes.
So I just tell ChatGPT:
“Write episodes 1 through 3 in standard screenplay format. No tables. No bullet points. Keep dialogue punchy. Every scene should either advance the plot, deliver a payoff, or set up a cliffhanger.”
And it works. I get back readable, usable scripts. Are they Emmy-winning? No. But for a 90-second AI-generated short? Absolutely fine.
I usually go through and tweak the dialogue to sound less like an AI wrote it. But the structure is solid.
Step 4: Take That Script Straight Into Openseedance
Once the script is done, I don’t overthink it. I copy-paste the whole thing — character descriptions, scene headings, dialogue — directly into the Openseedance prompt box.
Then I upload the reference images I generated earlier (the ones I prompted for in Step 2). This is key. If you skip this, the AI will just invent random character designs and you’ll get wild inconsistency.
Hit generate. Wait a few minutes. And suddenly, you’ve got a real video.
No actors. No camera. No lighting setup.
What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)
Let me be real with you:
What works great:
Fantasy, sci-fi, historical action, horror-lite
Characters with strong silhouettes and simple outfits
Big, moody environments (ruined temples, futuristic cities, creepy forests)
Fight scenes broken into key moments (not continuous motion)
What still sucks with AI video:
Two people having a quiet, emotional conversation where the camera slowly zooms in
Complex hand-to-hand choreography that lasts more than 3 seconds
Specific branded objects (logos, text on signs, etc.)
Characters who need to cry or show subtle emotion without looking cursed
Work with the limitations, not against them.
The Part Nobody Talks About
You will generate a lot of garbage. I mean a lot. Like, weird extra limbs, melting faces, backgrounds that shift between frames kind of garbage.
That’s fine. The workflow I just described doesn’t eliminate the bad outputs. It just makes it way more likely that 20-30% of your generations are actually usable. And for free or cheap tools? That’s the game right now.
Also: keep episodes short. Under 90 seconds. The AI holds up better, and honestly, so does viewer attention.
Final Thought
A year ago, making even a 3-minute short film meant begging friends for favors or saving up for gear. Now I can sit down on a Sunday afternoon, brainstorm with ChatGPT, and by evening have something that looks 80% of the way to a real animated series.
It’s not perfect. But it’s crazy how close we’re getting.
Try the workflow. Break it. Make it your own. And if you get something cool out of it, drop a link in the comments — I want to see it.
Also: keep episodes short. Under 90 seconds. The AI holds up better, and honestly, so does viewer attention.
Final Thought
A year ago, making even a 3-minute short film meant begging friends for favors or saving up for gear. Now I can sit down on a Sunday afternoon, brainstorm with ChatGPT, and by evening have something that looks 80% of the way to a real animated series.
It’s not perfect. But it’s crazy how close we’re getting.
conds. The AI holds up better, and honestly, so does viewer attention.
Final Thought
A year ago, making even a 3-minute short film meant begging friends for favors or saving up for gear. Now I can sit down on a Sunday afternoon, brainstorm with ChatGPT, and by evening have something that looks 80% of the way to a real animated series.
It’s not perfect. But it’s crazy how close we’re getting.
Try the workflow. Break it. Make it your own. And if you get something cool out of it, drop a link in the comments — I want to see it.
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