Have you ever imagined creating a short film that looks like it was shot on location without leaving your home, filming raw footage, setting up a green screen, or even owning a camera? This might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s not a dream—it’s the power of artificial intelligence (AI). With tools like Google Maps, ChatGPT, Leonardo AI, Runway, and others, you can produce cinematic shots set in locations around the world. Best of all, this approach isn’t just creative—it’s a lucrative opportunity that’s accessible even to beginners. This article will walk you through a practical, hands-on method to create high-quality AI-generated short films and explore ways to monetize them, even if you have no editing experience.
What Is This AI Filmmaking Method?
In simple terms, this method uses AI to simulate on-location shooting, placing virtual characters in real-world settings like bustling city streets or cozy indoor scenes, and turning them into movie-like footage. Whether it’s a character strolling through Kyoto’s historic alleys, Paris’s chic boulevards, or a New York café, you can create immersive videos without ever stepping outside.
Why Create These Videos?
Here are some practical applications:
- AI Travel Vlogger Account: Build a social media presence featuring a virtual character who “travels” the world, checking in at iconic locations. These videos can gain traction on platforms like Xiaohongshu, Bilibili, Douyin, or YouTube.
- Narrative Short Video IP: Create a fictional character’s “global diary” with story-driven content, blending travel and drama for engaging series.
- Brand Marketing: Add a personal touch to your brand with emotional, cinematic videos paired with compelling copy to boost influence.
- Monetization Opportunities: Sell video templates, tutorials, or custom AI-generated travel videos for clients, tapping into a low-cost, high-profit niche.
This approach is versatile, practical, and beginner-friendly, requiring no coding or advanced skills—just a computer and creativity.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating AI Short Films
Step 1: Crafting Your Virtual Character
The first step is to create a protagonist for your video. Instead of hiring a real person, you’ll use AI to design a custom character tailored to your vision.
- Choose a Style: Decide on the character’s look—perhaps a chic, artistic girl with long, wavy hair, a crossbody bag, and a relaxed, literary vibe.
- Generate a Prompt: If you’re skilled at writing prompts, craft one yourself. For example: “A cinematic shot of a young woman with long, wavy hair, wearing an artistic outfit with a crossbody bag, standing in a street, full-body shot, in a dreamy, relaxed style.”
- Use AI for Prompts: If writing prompts feels daunting, use ChatGPT to generate one. Input: “Create an image prompt for a cinematic, full-body shot of an artistic, relaxed young woman with long, wavy hair, a crossbody bag, and literary-style clothing, in a photographer’s movie-like style.” Copy the generated prompt.
- Create the Character: Paste the prompt into Leonardo AI, set the aspect ratio to 16:9, and click “Generate.” Within moments, you’ll have multiple images of your character with slight variations. For additional shots (e.g., back or side profiles), ask ChatGPT to modify the prompt accordingly, such as: “Generate a back-profile prompt for the same girl, maintaining the same style and features.” Repeat the process in Leonardo AI.
Alternative tools like Stable Diffusion, MidJourney, or Playground AI can also be used for character generation.
Step 2: Selecting a Location with Google Maps
Next, choose a real-world backdrop for your character using Google Maps’ Street View.
- Access Street View: Open Google Maps, click “View More,” and select “Street View.” Switch to satellite view for easier navigation.
- Pick a Location: Search for a city (e.g., Paris, Kyoto, Prague, or New York). Zoom in to explore streets marked with blue lines, indicating available Street View imagery.
- Capture the Scene: Navigate to a desired spot, adjust the angle and direction, minimize the sidebar, and take a screenshot. This image becomes your background material.
- Explore Options: Repeat this process to gather multiple street scenes from different locations.
Step 3: Combining Character and Background with Runway
Now, merge your character and background to create a seamless, cinematic image using Runway’s Reference Mode.
- Open Runway: Go to Runway, select “Try Runway Now,” and ensure you’re in Reference Mode.
- Upload Assets: Upload your background (Street View screenshot) and character image. Add a prompt like: “A girl walking on a street.”
- Generate the Image: Click “Generate” and wait. Runway’s Reference Mode blends the character into the scene, accounting for lighting, shadows, and textures. You may need a few tries to perfect the result, but the output often resembles a movie still.
Step 4: Animating the Scene
Turn your static image into a dynamic video using Runway’s Gen-4 model.
- Access Video Generation: Return to Runway’s homepage, select “Generate Video,” and upload your blended image.
- Add a Description: Write a prompt like: “The girl walks confidently down the street, occasionally glancing at the scenery, with a sunny vibe.” For added cinematic flair, include camera instructions like “slow zoom” or “breezy atmosphere.”
- Generate the Video: Click “Generate” and wait. The result is a short, movie-like clip. Pair it with atmospheric background music and engaging text overlays for a polished, emotional short film.
Step 5: Creating Indoor Scenes
Want your character in a specific indoor setting, like a Paris café or Tokyo sushi shop? Google Maps can help.
- Find Indoor Imagery: Search for a business (e.g., a bookstore) on Google Maps. Click the shopping icon to view details and access interior photos under the “Photos” tab.
- Capture and Blend: Screenshot a suitable interior image, then use Runway’s Reference Mode to integrate your character. For example, upload the bookstore image and character, with a prompt like: “A girl standing in a bookstore, browsing shelves.”
- Animate the Scene: Upload the blended image to Runway’s Gen-4 model, add a prompt like: “The girl browses books in a bookstore,” and generate the video.
You can even create a sequence where your character walks from a street into an indoor scene, all without real-world filming.
Monetizing Your AI Short Films
This method isn’t just creative—it’s a gateway to multiple income streams:
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Build a Travel Vlogger Account:
- Create a series featuring your virtual character exploring global destinations with engaging narratives and emotional captions.
- Post consistently on platforms like Xiaohongshu, Bilibili, Douyin, or YouTube to build a following.
- Monetize through affiliate links for AI tools, courses, or template packs.
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Sell Tutorials and Templates:
- Record beginner-friendly tutorials teaching this process and sell them to newbies.
- Create and sell pre-made video templates or素材包 (material packs).
- Offer custom AI travel video services, charging $10–$100 per video for clients seeking unique content like couple portraits, pet videos, or emotional photo shoots.
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Develop an AI Filmmaking Course:
- Package this method into a comprehensive course, covering tools like ChatGPT for prompts, MidJourney for images, and Runway for video synthesis.
- Market yourself as an expert, offering a complete system for creating cinematic AI short films.
- Sell the course as part of a knowledge-sharing account focused on content creation.
Why Start Now?
This AI filmmaking approach is still a relatively untapped niche, giving early adopters a competitive edge. With just a computer, you can produce high-quality short films without filming, appearing on camera, or traveling. The result is a scalable, low-cost project that combines creativity and profitability.
By following these steps, you can create compelling, cinematic content and turn it into a side hustle or full-fledged business. Stay ahead of the curve, experiment with these tools, and start building your AI-driven content empire today.
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