From idea to finished film: a simple workflow

The best ACTIE projects follow a rhythm: idea, story, world, sound, storyboard, production, film. Here is how to run each step.

ACTIE’s Auto-Director takes a film through a series of steps, and you approve each one before the next begins. Understanding what each step is for will help you move through them with confidence instead of guessing.

1. Start with an idea worth creating

Write down the core of your story in a sentence or two. Choose the length (15 to 60 seconds), a style — cinematic, documentary, animated or vintage film — and the language, and set a budget limit if you want one. Films are 16:9 widescreen. This is your foundation — everything else builds on it.

2. Build a story worth following

ACTIE writes the story. Read it, ask for changes, and approve it before anything is made.

3. Create your characters and world

Settle the characters, places and props in words, then as reference pictures in World Images. Approve only when the details feel right — these carry through every shot.

4. Shape the sound and the shots

Review the dialogue, voices and sound, then the storyboard: every shot in order, which you can rearrange before production.

5. Produce and finish

ACTIE produces the shots and assembles the film. Open it in the Editor to render the final file, and share it where your audience is already watching.

Follow the steps in order and you will rarely get lost. Skip ahead, and you will usually end up coming back.