How I Built an AI System to Reframe Movies into Vertical Clips — and What It Means for Creators

It all started when I stumbled across a YouTube channel that had amassed an astonishing 457 million views across its 200-plus videos. Their secret? Reframing popular movies into bite-sized vertical clips. The scenes you know and love, condensed into formats tailor-made for today’s short-form social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Given that this particular channel has nearly 600,000 followers and their recent videos still rake in hundreds of thousands of views, I couldn’t help but think about the opportunities that lie in this approach. What if I could automate this entire process? What if I could set up a system to churn out these clips regularly, maximizing reach and engagement? That’s where the journey into AI automation began.

The Vision: Automating Content Production

Imagine this: every hour, a new clip is generated and uploaded to your social channels. The moment I realized this could be done using AI, it felt like striking gold. The power of technology was at my fingertips, ready to turn the lengthy horizontal videos that often grace our feeds into eye-catching vertical clips. With such a system, the barriers to reaching wider audiences would slowly fade away.

When I started building this automation using a low-code platform called N8N, I was motivated by a simple truth: anyone can use these tools, even if they’re a beginner. I personally resonated with the fear of feeling overwhelmed by technology. But armed with new tools like AI and some guidance, anyone can step into this world.

Getting Started with Automation

• Input Region: This is where you’ll feed in your horizontal video. You upload once, and the system handles the rest.

• Magic Happens Here: The core of the process calls on an AI model designed for reframing.

• Output Tracking: The final clips are logged into Google Sheets for future reference.

With N8N, you can create this system without having to be a coding whiz. You’re not just weeding through endless lines of code; you’re shaping a workflow that does it for you.

A Simple Walkthrough

1. Set Up N8N: After registering, the first step I took was creating a workflow.

2. Choose Your Trigger: I opted for a scheduled trigger, which runs every day at midnight. This was my foundation for automation.

3. Integrate with Google Sheets: It was vital to pull in the horizontal video links stored within a Google Sheet. This step involved merely naming the action, which made everything straightforward.

4. AI Reframing: The magic really began here. Connecting to an AI model (specifically File.AI for video reframing) took some exploration, but once I’d mastered it, the results were extraordinary.

5. Updating Google Sheets: Finally, the workflow logs the newly created video back into the Google Sheet.

Realizations Along the Way

What stood out to me during this process was how seamless automation can liberate content creators from burnout. Instead of constantly worrying about generating engaging content, you can focus on your core message and strategy while AI takes care of the repetitive tasks.

One moment that struck me was seeing the first fully reframed video pop out of the workflow. I marveled at how far technology has come, allowing those of us who may not be technically inclined to harness its power in meaningful ways.

What I’d Do If I Started Today

If I were to start this journey again, I’d focus even more on community. Sharing tips, mistakes, and wins with fellow creators drives innovation and growth. Collaborating with others who are navigating the same journey would accelerate my learning curve.

• Engage with AI Communities: Join forums or platforms where AI enthusiasts share insights.

• Experiment with Templates: Leverage existing workflows from communities like RoboNuggets to jumpstart your automation.

• Keep Learning: Stay updated on trends and new tools to remain flexible in your approach.

Conclusion: Embrace the Future of AI in Content Creation

Building this AI-driven system has added a new layer of excitement to my work. The realization that I could automate the production of engaging content has transformed my perspective on what’s possible in the creative landscape.

There’s a growing demand for AI literacy, and investing time into understanding these tools can be one of the best decisions you make. Each moment spent learning is a moment invested in your future, where creativity meets technology.

If you’re curious about building systems that save you from burnout and free up your time, I created something that might help. It’s a small online course called Automation by RoboNuggets, where I share the exact tools and workflows I wish I knew earlier. You can check it out here, only if it feels right for you.

Together, let’s explore the intersection of creativity and automation. The future is bright, and I can’t wait to see what you create!