Turning stills
Into magical motion
Into magical motion
Videos generated: 185
Assets used: 25
Swear counter: 10+
Coffee counter:
5+
Failed generations: 30+
Hours spent:
13+
Tools used:
Check out the very first export of the AI generated footages starting to lay out the trailer.
Check out the very first export of the AI generated footages without anything additional, starting to lay out the trailer itself.
My standards
Crafting this video was a deliberate and precise process, with a strong focus on selecting only the MidJourney images that truly captured my prompt's essence. Every detail mattered—the camera angles, the subjects in focus, the coherence of the environment. These elements had to align perfectly with the vision I was trying to create. To enhance these selected stills, I used Magnific to upscale and add more depth, as I beleive that the initial frame's detail is critical for generating high-quality motion before starting the work in Runway.
Empty heading.
Road to realism
The journey involved multiple attempts—like perfecting the dragon flying footage, which took about 10 attempts to achieve the realistic look and feel I envisioned just to later be replaced with a more convincing footage from a different angle. Generating slow-motion cinematic experiences was a specific goal, allowing the visuals to fit seamlessly into the magical, immersive world I aimed to create.
I spent over 13 hours across three days generating and refining these assets, approaching each session with fresh eyes to ensure every detail was perfect. During the process, I tested some upscales using Topaz VideoAI, leveraging a friend’s licensed version to keep costs down. These tests were essential in determining the best approach for enhancing the footage quality.
All together for this project I've generated 187 assets.
All together for this project I've generated 187 assets.
Dedication was a key element in this project - with generating around 7.5x more footage than I ended up using (32 scenes)
Shaping the experience
The project continued with extensive editing, where transitions were refined, the narrative was built, and every aspect was aligned with the overall vision. After the visuals were locked in, I dedicated time to SFX, branding, and final touches which I will get into in details in the next reads, but the initial goal was ensuring the trailer was as polished as possible.
Conclusion
This project is a testament to the dedication required to keep pushing until the vision is fully realized, even when it means multiple attempts and refinements. My goal was to create a fully AI-generated trailer that could stand on its own.
The challenge was to maintain visual coherence throughout, without relying on pre-captured footages that wouldn't blend seamlessly with the AI-generated scenes. While the final product is close to realism, it retains a cinematic quality akin to those legendary game trailers of the past. (Such as Assassin's Creed II)
Though it can't be compared to the work of seasoned professionals, I poured my heart into every aspect—images, angles, cinematography, videography, editing, SFX, and branding—to create something that truly reflects my best efforts.
The challenge was to maintain visual coherence throughout, without relying on pre-captured footages that wouldn't blend seamlessly with the AI-generated scenes. While the final product is close to realism, it retains a cinematic quality akin to those legendary game trailers of the past. (Such as Assassin's Creed II)
Though it can't be compared to the work of seasoned professionals, I poured my heart into every aspect—images, angles, cinematography, videography, editing, SFX, and branding—to create something that truly reflects my best efforts.
Money spent*1:
$160
RedBull counter
3
Ditched footages:
60+
Scenes attempted:
5
*1: Amount spent for the Runway monthly subscription + extra credits were bought after my subscription ended knowing I’m not far from finishing the footages.