By Focal Machines — 28 Mar 2025

How to Create Your First AI-Generated Movie with Focal

Turn your movie idea into an AI-generated film—just tell Focal what you want to see.

Focal was built for people who have big story ideas and zero interest in spending six months learning professional editing software. It’s your creative command center—write your script, generate visuals, swap models, voice it, tweak it, done. Movie-making without the meltdown.

With Focal, making your first AI-generated film doesn’t feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. And you don’t need a $10K budget to get cinematic. You can experiment, test scenes, try different looks, and actually enjoy the process. No need to wrangle a crew or download twelve plug-ins just to get your opening shot to render.

Because the best way to become a filmmaker… is to just start making films.

Step 1: Start Your AI Film Creation Journey

Before you make magic, you need a place to do it. First, create your free Focal account to start your AI movie journey. Once logged in, enter the app and start a New Project.

Jump Right In—Just Type Your Idea!

The first step is effortless—just type a quick idea, and Focal will handle the rest. No need to map out every detail. A simple prompt like “a scientist discovers time travel” or “a detective with a secret past” is all it takes. Focal’s AI will instantly build a structured plot around your concept, setting the foundation for your movie.

Focal AI prompt interface with a text input field that says 'Ask Focal to make a video about

💡 Pro Tip: The more details you add—like setting, mood, or character traits—the better Focal can shape your story!

Step 2: Develop Your Story & Characters

Your movie needs a backbone—characters, settings, and a storyline that captivates. Once you’ve asked Focal what video to make about, it automatically generates a structured plot.

Customize the Plot & Chapters

Focal breaks down your movie into chapters.
You can edit, tweak, or regenerate the plot until it feels just right.
If you need a different direction, modify the plot by adjusting the prompt to add twists, change genres, or introduce new characters.

Focal AI interface showing customizable plot and chapter options, allowing users to edit or regenerate the storyline

Build Your Cast & Locations

Focal generates:

- Characters – Each with unique traits, appearances, and backstories.
- Locations – Custom AI-generated settings for your movie’s world.
- Objects – Important props and elements to enrich the scenes.

“Create Project” to proceed to the next step!

Focal AI character and location creation, unique characters, custom AI-generated settings, and create project button.

Step 3: Generate Visuals & Audio with AI

Now, this is where the magic happens—Focal turns your script into actual visuals and sound.

Three Ways to Use Focal AI for Movie Creation

Auto-generate from chapters – Click on a chapter, and Focal will generate scenes with images and audio automatically.
Command-K (or Ctrl+K) shortcut – Select a section of your movie, hit Command-K (or Ctrl-K), and type instructions to modify the scene.
Edit existing scenes – Choose an image or audio, and tweak it using AI-powered tools.

With just a few clicks, watch your AI-generated movie take shape before your eyes!

Step 4: Arrange & Edit Like a Pro

Focal isn't just an AI generator—it’s a full video editor. Your timeline works just like any familiar editing tool, but with AI-powered enhancements that make the process faster and more intuitive.

Refining Your AI Video Production

Move and rearrange your AI-generated scenes.
Insert new visuals or dialogue using Command-K (Ctrl+K).
Adjust scene pacing and transitions for smoother storytelling.
Regenerate scenes until it looks just right.

Focal AI easy video editor timeline with multiple media layers, ai-powered tools and features

💡 Pro Tip: Want high-quality AI-generated video? Subscribe for premium credits to unlock more advanced video features.

When you’re happy with everything, click ‘Export’ and download your AI-generated movie! You can then share it with the world: upload it to YouTube, post clips on TikTok, or showcase it on your favorite social media platform. You can also use your AI-generated film for storytelling, marketing, or just as a fun creative project to bring your ideas to life.

You’ve Got the Story—Now Bring It to Life

Every filmmaker starts somewhere. Focal gives you that starting line—without the friction. You can write your scenes, generate visuals with the model that matches your style, drop in AI voiceovers, and bring it all together in a clean, timeline-based editor that actually makes sense. It’s fast, it’s flexible, and it lets you focus on story over software.

The hardest part? Hitting “Export.”

Start Creating AI Movies with Focal

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📧 Got questions? Email us at [email protected] or click the Support button in the top right corner of the app (you must be logged in). We actually respond.