Storytelling & creative direction

Storytelling frameworks that work for short-form AI films instead of formulas for feature length films.

Prompting for film

Forget prompt engineering. Learn to see scenes in your mind and describe them clearly like a filmmaker.

Consistent characters & style

The hardest problem in AI filmmaking, tackled head-on using techniques that actually work.

Camera motion & framing

Move the camera with intention. Learn to frame shots that make audiences feel something — not just see something.

Scene building & transitions

AI-native transitions that feel like a new form of cinema. Breakdowns from real films showcasing storytelling and dialogue strategies.

Voice, music & sound

Design character voices, dub them into different languages, generate soundtracks, and layer Foley that makes your scenes feel present and alive.

An updated version of this course is coming in 2027!

A lot happened in 2026 and even though the fundamentals haven't changed, there are new fundamentals, better models, improved workflows, and AI assisted video editing. The updated course will be free to everyone who has already purchased it!

Try a free lesson before you commit

AI Video School is known for practical instruction and inventive AI filmmaking workflows. See for yourself with two free lessons: Lesson 1 (Meet your instructor) and Lesson 9 (Consistent Style & Color).

$97.00

Enroll now Free preview: Lesson 1 & Lesson 9

Curriculum

16 Chapters · 60 Lessons

    1. Meet your instructor, Mike Free preview

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Generating and Iterating with a Beginner's Mindset

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      New Ways to Tell Stories in Movies

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: One Idea in 4 Storytelling Styles

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson: Models vs All-in-One Tools Explained

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Kling, Google Flow, Runway, Higgsfield, Leonardo, OpenArt, Fal

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Links: AI Tools & Resources

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Links: Local Generation and Node Workflow

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Filming with Words

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Small Cabin in Lush Forest

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Consistent Character Basics

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Prompts for prompt iteration exercise

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Observation Exercise: Stranger

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Observation Exercise: Charade

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Prompt Sidekicks and Iterating

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Model Optimized Prompts with Claude and ChatGPT in Veo and Kling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Go Deeper: Prompt Sidekicks

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Go Deeper: Time-stamped Prompts

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Modes of Generating Video and Images

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Text-to-Image

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Text-to-Video

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Image-to-Video

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Video-to-Video

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Reference-to-Video

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Text-to-Audio

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Seeds, LoRAs, Visual Prompting, Character Reference Sheets

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Character Reference Sheets in Veo

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Character Elements in Kling

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Character Sheets in Grok

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Prompts for Character Sheets

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Go Deeper: Consistent Character Sheets

    1. Color Grading for Cinematic Results Free preview
    2. Hands-on: Color Grade Prompts in Adobe Firefly Free preview
    3. Color Grade Prompt Free preview

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Inpainting, Outpainting, Upscaling, Semantic Editing

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Editing in Midjourney, Google Flow, Higgsfield

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Camera Motion and Framing

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Camera control in Google Flow

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Camera control in Runway

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Camera control in Kling

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Camera control in Higgsfield

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Optical Zoom-in vs Push-in

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Optical Zoom and Pan Prompts (Kling)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Using the AI's Strengths to Create Scenes

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Scene Breakdown: When I Sleep I Leave My Body

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Scene Breakdown: Time Dispatch 4

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Scene Breakdown: Discarded Companion

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Scene Breakdown: Calamity

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Short Film: When I Sleep I Leave My Body (2024)

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Short Film: Discarded Companion (2026)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Get Your Characters Talking

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Creating and Cloning Voices in ElevenLabs, WAN, Kling

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Go Deeper: Consistent Voice Prompts

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Go Deeper: ElevenLabs for AI Filmmakers

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Short Film with Dubbed Voice: Wonderful Dream (2025)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Music, Sound Effects, Foley

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Music

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: Sound Effects & Foley

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Hands-on: CapCut editing with video, music, sound effects, voice over

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Congratulations and Thank You!

What people are saying

Real reviews from people who have taken the Fundamentals of AI Filmmaking

”
By the conclusion of the course, you are left with a robust foundation and a comprehensive understanding of AI video creation. Furthermore, the course offers outstanding value and affordability. Having completed several AI filmmaking programs over the past 18 months, I can confidently state that this course delivers the highest return on investment.
Tony C.

AI Filmmaker

”
I really enjoyed the advanced prompt iteration section. Most people try a prompt once, it sucks, they get frustrated and bail. Mike teaches you to push through that wall. That alone is the difference between people who finish stuff and people who don't.
Colin C.

AI Filmmaker

”
I feel like I have a much better understanding now and creative capabilities.
Juan C.

AI Filmmaker

”
A truly wonderful course that provides added value, mainly due to the opportunity to get to know the way of thinking of a true filmmaker and creator.
Rami N.

AI Filmmaker

”
This is the best AI video course I have done. Well worth the money!
Philip Q.

AI Filmmaker

”
This is a great course. I'm learning a lot! The instructor creates great AI films so I really respect his opinion as to what the best tools and methods are.
Amanda 

AI Filmmaker

”
Like the best guides to traditional film production, this course not only introduces the viewer to the techniques of AI filmmaking, but also how we might think about the new medium. For anyone who cares about storytelling in a brave new world of AI generated images and sounds this course is a must.
Gregory O.

AI Filmmaker

”
This course has been invaluable to me as I am mostly self-taught in AI production. Get this course!
Jackie B.

AI Filmmaker

Made for storytellers

AI can generate impressive shots in seconds. But making a movie still requires human creative decisions about storytelling, direction, and craft. Whether you're a total beginner, a video professional expanding your skills, or a natural storyteller curious about making narrative films with AI, this course was designed for you. I'll give you the knowledge to go beyond generating clips to directing your own movies.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Will this course be outdated in six weeks?

Unlike tutorials that show how to use specific tools, this course is designed to give you the fundamental knowledge needed to make AI films. There are hands-on demos for a variety of tools, but the goal of this course is to give you a deeper level of knowledge so you'll feel comfortable using any AI creation tool.

Why should I pay for a course if you make free AI video tutorials?

This course came from a need I noticed by reading thousands of comments on my YouTube tutorials: people want a start-to-finish, zero-to-hero, A-to-Z approach for making AI films. If you want to spend more time making movies and less time learning how to make movies, the Fundamentals of AI Filmmaking is your fast track to becoming an AI director.

How does the course work?

This is a self-paced course that you complete on your own, using the same browser you're using now. No wait-lists. No fake sales. No filmmaking experience needed. Each lesson builds on the last, covering everything needed to develop an idea into a finished film.

Be the filmmaker you were meant to be

Start making your movie

$97.00

Enroll now Free preview