Producing and reviewing an AI-assisted video

1. Start with a one-page brief

• Audience: who should understand this?
• Purpose: what is the one key takeaway?
• Format: vertical short, horizontal explainer or another format?
• Length: what is the shortest duration that communicates the idea?
• Call to action: what should the viewer do next, if anything?

2. Write a short script

Organize the script into a hook, a few explanatory points and a conclusion. Ask an AI assistant for alternative structures, not unsupported facts. Mark every factual claim that needs a source and verify it before recording or generating visuals.

Example prompt: “Turn these verified notes into a 45-second explainer script. Do not add facts beyond the notes. Mark any unclear statement with [CHECK]. Use plain language and include a visual suggestion for each sentence.”

3. Build a shot list

For each sentence, decide whether you need original footage, a screen recording, a diagram, a licensed stock clip or a generated visual. Avoid generic filler footage that does not help explain the point. If a synthetic scene could be mistaken for documentary evidence, label or contextualize it appropriately.

4. Edit and correct captions

1. Make a rough cut that removes pauses and repeated material.
2. Generate captions, then compare every line with the actual audio.
3. Correct names, numbers, technical terms and punctuation.
4. Check caption timing, contrast and safe areas on a phone screen.
5. Listen with headphones for clipping, noise and abrupt transitions.
6. Watch the final export once without pausing.

5. Check rights and consent

Confirm permission for footage, photographs, music, fonts, voice recordings and likenesses. Read the current tool terms for commercial use, attribution and restrictions. Obtain appropriate consent before cloning or simulating a real person's voice or appearance. Follow the destination platform's current rules for altered or synthetic media.

6. Understand monetization limits

Publishing a video does not automatically make it eligible for advertising revenue. Platforms may apply eligibility thresholds, originality requirements, advertiser-friendly rules and disclosure policies. Repetitive, minimally transformed or mass-produced material may not qualify. Check the platform's current official policies rather than relying on old tutorials.

7. Evaluate the pilot

For an initial test, measure production time, correction effort, viewer retention and useful audience feedback. Compare the result with a video made using your previous workflow. Do not infer future earnings from one upload or a short period of views.