create4–8 hoursIntermediate

Make a 90-Second AI Short Film

Maps to: Filmmaker · Director · Editor · Creative Director

You're going to make a 60 to 90 second film: write a treatment, generate the shots from it, then cut everything that doesn't earn its place until you've got something tight. The work is mostly the edit: pacing it so a stranger doesn't drift, killing shots even when you love them, deciding what stays. That's the real craft of filmmaking, the part that survives every tool change, and doing one of these tells you fast whether the cut is your thing.

How this shows up on a resume or college app

I wrote, directed, and produced a short film using AI tools, building it shot by shot, then cutting ruthlessly so every frame earned its place, and published it on YouTube. I learned what visual storytelling actually demands beyond the tools: the film is made in the edit, and the edit is a taste call.

When you finish, BuildMe drafts your Common App activity description from what you actually built.

Start this project

The plan

1
Step 1
Write a one-page treatment
Before generating anything, write a one-page treatment: the theme, the mood, and the beats (what happens, in order). A clear treatment is what makes the generated shots add up to a film instead of a slideshow.
2
Step 2
Voiceover script + record
If your film has narration, write the script and record it with an AI voice or your own. The voice sets the pacing for everything else.
3
Steps 3–5
Generate the visuals, shot by shot
Generate your shots one beat at a time. The models will ignore your directions and eat credits. That's normal. Shorter shots, more takes, pick ruthlessly. Aim for enough good material to cut from.
4
Steps 5–7
The cut: make every frame earn its place
This is where it becomes a film. Watch your rough assembly and be honest: what's boring, what drags, what doesn't earn its place? Cut it, even shots you love. Pacing is a taste call with no right answer, and it's the whole craft.
5
Step 8
Score, publish, share
Add music and sound, upload to YouTube, write a real description, and share it. Watch how people react. Where they drop off tells you something for next time.