Shorts Factory
Q4 2025 learning project that moved a topic through research, script, storyboard, images, and clips.
Overview
A Next.js 16 app with seven pipeline steps: topic research, narrative, script, voiceover, storyboard, images, and clips. Gemini handles cited briefs and image generation, while Veo 3.1 animates approved frames.
Problem
Making one high-production educational video takes a full day across research, narrative, script, voiceover, storyboard, visuals, and assembly.
Solution
A structured production pipeline with approval gates. AI handles repeatable production work while a human keeps narrative and creative control.
Lessons learned
- Made three videos manually before writing code. The workflow became the spec.
- Style transfer via example swipe files beats generic prompts.
- Locking approved steps prevents cascading inconsistencies through the pipeline.
- AI handles tedious work; humans make creative decisions.