How to create an AI documentary video

1. Pick one question worth answering

A focused topic gives a short film a clear purpose. Instead of “the history of astronomy,” try “How did observatories measure time before atomic clocks?” Include the place, period, and central question in your topic. Avoid asking a short video to cover an entire field.

2. Choose your membership and length

Register, select a membership, and choose the duration yourself. The free membership includes one 15-second production with 25 tokens. Starter supports up to 1 minute, Creator up to 5 minutes, and Studio up to 10 minutes. Available choices are 15, 30, and 60 seconds, plus 3, 5, and 10 minutes. Each 15 seconds uses 25 tokens; your balance and membership both apply.

Use 15 seconds for a single observation, one minute for a question and explanation, and longer formats when the story needs context. Check membership prices and availability before choosing a paid plan.

3. Review the script and scene directions

Check names, dates, quotations, and causal claims against the listed sources. A citation alone does not prove a sentence is supported. Generated scenes are illustrations, not archival evidence. Revise directions that depict the wrong period, equipment, or setting, and check that each scene supports the spoken words.

4. Let production finish, then check the full video

Narration, images, motion clips, and final composition have separate processing stages. Completion time varies with length and service availability. Reopen a saved project to resume unfinished stages. When the MP4 is ready, watch it from beginning to end and check pacing, pronunciation, captions, and visual alignment. A script or audio preview is not yet a finished MP4.

5. Download and prepare your post

Download the completed vertical MP4, subtitles, and publishing package. Review the suggested title and platform copy. YouTube publishing requires a connected channel; TikTok and Instagram require uploading the downloaded video yourself. Check each platform’s current duration, rights, and AI-disclosure requirements. Sandbox renders may contain a provider watermark.

Make the finished story yours

Add your own expertise, verify the evidence, and label synthetic visuals when viewers could mistake them for recorded events. AI can assist production, but it cannot replace your decision about whether the film is accurate and appropriate to publish.