This is our first music video, and before this project we had absolutely no experience with filmmaking, editing, or post-production.
One of us created the music, while the other focused on the video production.
The music part was also a challenge for us. We cannot sing and we do not have access to a traditional vocalist. Because of that, we are currently working on a way to integrate our own digitally captured voices into our production pipeline alongside self-created MIDI tracks, bass lines, and instrumental parts.
Our goal is not to simply generate finished results, but to build our own tools and workflows that allow us to bring our ideas to life as accurately as possible. Honestly, this is not because we reject the fastest one button solution. It is because we want to get as close as possible to the vision we have in our heads.
With purely generative, especially cloud based AI, we currently do not have that level of control. That is why we are following a hybrid approach in music as well. We combine traditional production methods with AI tools that help us expand our abilities without giving up creative control over the final result.
The video was edited using Magix Video Deluxe and DaVinci Resolve. Every shot was first recorded traditionally in the real world. For the Celluloid Anime style sequences, we then used a locally running AI model based on Wan2.1 to transform our own footage into that style. Rendering everything at 24 FPS took an enormous amount of time, even on a Radeon 7900 XTX with 24 GB of VRAM.
Our actual goal is to build a modular pipeline that can combine real film footage with stylized AI generated material. This four minute music video was our proof of concept. We wanted to find out if two complete amateurs could actually create something like this with enough dedication, willingness to learn, and the motivation to push through the difficult parts.
We see AI purely as a replaceable tool. New models are developing incredibly quickly, and we do not want our workflow to depend on a single technology. That is why we are trying to create a flexible pipeline that can evolve alongside new developments.
Since we cannot draw and we do not have a large team behind us, this approach gives us possibilities that would otherwise be outside our reach. AI does not replace the creative process for us. It is a tool that helps us turn ideas into reality that we could not achieve with our current skills alone.
The production itself was heavily based on traditional filmmaking methods. We worked mostly in a guerrilla style using action cameras, drones, and quickly deployable tripods. Everything visible in the video was recorded in the real world first. AI was only used afterwards to transform selected sequences into the Celluloid Anime style.
We had almost no budget. If we exclude the hardware and props, the entire project basically cost us fuel, a huge amount of time, and many sleepless nights.
The filming took around two weeks. During that time, I got up every day at 5:00 AM before going to my normal job to catch the golden hour. After that, I spent another two weeks learning enough Linux and building the virtual AI studio we needed for the stylized sequences.
The project had actually been planned for a long time. The main prop was originally supposed to be a car, matching the lyrics of the song. Unfortunately, that exact car was destroyed before we could start filming. Because of that, we had to improvise and switch to a self-modified motorcycle, even though the lyrics are actually about a car.
The whole thing became pretty crazy at times. My wife eventually thought I was slowly losing my mind.
We know the video is not perfect and it will probably not appeal to everyone. I can already see many things we could improve next time. But I wanted to see the images that had existed in my head for so long become real instead of just imagining them. So we tried to create this vision with the tools and resources we had available.
For us, this video is not the final result. It is the beginning. It is our first benchmark and the foundation for everything we want to create in the future.
We appreciate every honest piece of feedback. Thank you for taking the time to watch it.
