For YouTube
AI movie maker for YouTube short films and Shorts
By the FXI Studio team · Updated
To make a YouTube short film with AI, plan the story as a shot list, board each shot as a still, render the shots as video and frame-chain them into one cut. FXI Studio does this in one workspace, in 16:9 for a regular upload or 9:16 for Shorts, with music and editing built in.
How it works
Choose the format before the first frame. Stills are composed for their frame, so the aspect ratio is a decision, not an export setting.
Choose 16:9 or 9:16
Set the project to 16:9 for a regular upload or 9:16 for Shorts before you board anything, so every still is composed for the screen it will play on.
Plan the shots
Describe the story to the AI director. It proposes a shot list with framing and camera moves; for Shorts, ask for a strong opening image in the first second.
Lock the cast
Save each character from a reference sheet and tag them in every shot, so the face and wardrobe hold across the film and across episodes.
Render and frame-chain
Turn the approved stills into video. Each clip's last frame becomes the next clip's first frame, so the film plays as continuous motion.
Score, cut and export
Add music and voice, trim and order the clips, and export the film for upload.
Which format for which video
Most channels need both: a horizontal film for the main feed and vertical cuts for Shorts.
| Format | Aspect ratio | How to make it |
|---|---|---|
| Short film or trailer | 16:9 horizontal | Set the project to 16:9 and plan a full shot list |
| Shorts episode | 9:16 vertical | Set the project to 9:16 and keep subjects centered in the frame |
| Both from one film | 16:9 and 9:16 | Make the 16:9 film, then reframe cuts to 9:16 with crop or blur fill |
The free aspect ratio converter reframes a finished video to 9:16, 1:1, 4:5 or 16:9 in the browser.
Make a series, not a one-off
Channels grow on recurring characters. Save each one once and reuse it in every episode, then plan each episode as roughly ten shots from a cold open to a cliffhanger. How to make an AI drama series episode walks through it with the credit cost of every step.
For a single film with one cast, start with how to make an AI short film with consistent characters.
Rights and publishing
Commercial use included on every plan: you own your outputs, subject to our Terms. YouTube's own monetization and disclosure policies still apply to what you upload, so check them for your channel.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI make a short film for YouTube?
Yes. An AI director plans the shots, each shot is boarded as a still and rendered as video, and frame chaining joins the clips into one continuous film. You add music, order the clips and export for upload.
What aspect ratio should I use for YouTube Shorts?
Use 9:16 vertical for Shorts and 16:9 horizontal for a regular upload. Set the aspect ratio before you board the shots, so every frame is composed for the screen it plays on.
Can I make a 16:9 film and a vertical Short from the same project?
Yes. Make the 16:9 film first, then reframe the strongest moments to 9:16 with crop or blur fill using the free aspect ratio converter.
Can I keep the same characters across episodes?
Yes. Save each character from a reference sheet once and tag it in every shot of every episode, so faces and wardrobe stay the same across the series.
Can I monetize AI films on YouTube?
Commercial use included on every plan: you own your outputs, subject to our Terms. Whether a video is monetized is decided by YouTube's own policies, which you should check for your channel.
Is there a free way to start?
Yes. Every new account gets 65 free credits with no credit card, about 16 images or 3 free videos (2 today, 1 more next week), plus 25 more credits each week until the free balance is back at 65.
Related: AI short film with consistent characters · AI drama series episode · Aspect ratio converter · Free AI film maker
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