Announcing: Zero to Director Challenge!
A weekly challenge open to anybody who wants to make videos with AI Tools.
Hey creators!
The goal of this newsletter has always been to help you make better videos with AI. But reading tips is one thing. Doing it is another.
Let’s be honest: starting is the hardest part. Staring at a blank page, not knowing what to make, or getting stuck on a technical problem.
The trickiest part of AI video is that the workflow is weird. It’s not a straight line. You don’t just “shoot,” then “edit,” then “add sound.” It’s a new, creative, highly iterative and sometimes chaotic loop.
So, let’s do it together.
That’s why I’m launching the Zero to Director Challenge, a 5-week sprint where we’ll build an AI video together, step-by-step.
I’ll be creating a video right alongside you.
Each week, I’ll post the next step of the challenge. And for my paid subscribers, I’ll share a private, behind-the-scenes video of my exact process for that same step.
This is your chance to finally make that piece you’ve been thinking about, with direct feedback from me and a community to back you up.
How the Zero to Director Challenge works
Over the next 5 weeks, we’ll tackle one part of the video creation process:
Week 1: The Script - Crafting a 3-Sentence Pitch and a simple Script
Week 2: The Storyboard - Generate our Character, Location and shot ideas
Week 3: The Rough Cut - Create your Initial Shots and First Edit
Week 4: The Sound Edit - Adding Music, Sound Effects, and/or Dialogue
Week 5: The Final Polish - Wrap up Shots and Sharing your Video
There is no deadline: You can jump in into the Challenge at any time. Just make sure to share at which stage of the process you are.
The Tools: You can use any tool you have access to. Not all have the same features, and I will try to help you make the best out of it. This is the great thing about this Challenge: we can learn how other participants are using other tools, and learn problems and tricks from them.
That said, consider getting access to Nano Banana/Seedream 4.0 for Image Editing. Life is easier with them.
Two Tracks to Participate
You can join this challenge whether you are a free or paid subscriber. Here’s how:
For Free Subscribers: The Public Track:
What you do: Post your submission publicly on Substack Notes.
How: Restack this post (or the weekly challenge post) and tag @The AI Video Creator with your submission.
What you get: You’ll get public feedback from me and the community on your Note. This is a great way to get visibility and free advice!
For Paid Subscribers: The Director’s Cut Track:
You get everything in the free track, PLUS:
Private Feedback: Post your work, questions, and struggles in our subscriber Chat. I will give you more detailed, 1-on-1 feedback there, and help you solve any doubts you may have.
Exclusive How I Did It Video: Every week, you’ll get a paid-only post containing a video of my screen, my process, and commentary as I tackle the exact same challenge.
Creator Spotlight: I will select the best submissions to feature in Creator Spotlight posts, sent to all 2,500+ subscribers.
If you’ve been looking for a reason to upgrade, this is it. You get direct access and a private weekly lesson for the price of a coffee.
🎬 Challenge 1: The 3-Sentence Pitch
Your mission for Week 1 is simple. We are going to nail the idea of our video.
Post your 3-Sentence Pitch that follows this structure:
The Character: Who is your story about?
The Setting & Inciting Incident: Where are they, and what happens to kick off the story?
The Goal/Conflict: What do they want, or what’s in their way?
Use the following template if it helps:
This is the story of... (Insert name and occupation of your main character) who lives in (insert setting).
They are... (Insert their normal activity) when... (Insert the Inciting Incident).
Now, they must... (Insert their new Goal) in order to... (Insert the stakes or resolution).
Once you have this basic idea, translate it into scenes. You can use this template too, or use a different structure. Note how the sequence focuses on something changing:
Establishing Shot - Details the location and shows your character in their daily activities.
Inciting Incident - Describes the event that will trigger change in your scene.
Conflict - Your Character reacts to the Inciting Incident. Can be one or multiple scenes.
Resolution - Shows the new normal after conflict is solved.
Your Mission:
Paid Subscribers: Head to the Chat and post your 3-Sentence Pitch.
Free Subscribers: Head to Notes, restack the challenge announcement, and post your 3-Sentence Pitch (don’t forget to tag me!).
Let’s go.
The Fine Print. By submitting to the challenge on Notes or Chat, you grant me permission to feature your work and Substack profile in future newsletter posts.
Why aren't you allowing free subscribers to participate in week 2? Have you made the challenge paid subscriber only?
is this where we post?