Case study · AI ad for OpenArt · 2026
Case study · AI ad for OpenArt · 2026
Make It Mightier
Make It Mightier
Make It Mightier
A 30 second vertical ad where the voiceover is a director giving live notes, and the film keeps getting bigger to keep up.
A 30 second vertical ad where the voiceover is a director giving live notes, and the film keeps getting bigger to keep up.
Overview
Overview
OpenArt asked for a 15 to 30 second ad made with AI. I picked short films, and built the whole thing around one idea: a director who keeps asking for more.
OpenArt asked for a 15 to 30 second ad made with AI. I picked short films, and built the whole thing around one idea: a director who keeps asking for more.
Every note changes the film on the spot. The sword gets mightier, three riders become an army, and the warrior becomes a woman without breaking the charge.
Every note changes the film on the spot. The sword gets mightier, three riders become an army, and the warrior becomes a woman without breaking the charge.
2
2
working days
working days
15
15
video takes in the final edit, from 25 saved
video takes in the final edit, from 25 saved
3
3
main edit passes
main edit passes
01 · The numbers
01 · The numbers
What the project files record
What the project files record
What the project files record
Time
Time
2 working days
2 working days
Generation cost
Generation cost
Not tracked this time. More on that below.
Not tracked this time. More on that below.
Stills
Stills
13 saved. More were generated and not kept.
13 saved. More were generated and not kept.
Video
Video
25 saved takes, about 4 minutes of footage. 15 used in the final edit.
25 saved takes, about 4 minutes of footage. 15 used in the final edit.
Revisions
Revisions
3 main edit passes in Premiere Pro, plus shot level fixes
3 main edit passes in Premiere Pro, plus shot level fixes
Tools
Tools
OpenArt with Seedream 5 Pro, Seedance 2.5 and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst. Wan 3.0 tested. ElevenLabs for voice. Premiere Pro to finish.
OpenArt with Seedream 5 Pro, Seedance 2.5 and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst. Wan 3.0 tested. ElevenLabs for voice. Premiere Pro to finish.
02 · The process
02 · The process
Stills first, then motion
Stills first, then motion
Stills first, then motion
1
1
Build the joke around revision
Build the joke around revision
I timed each note so it lands on a visual payoff. Codex helped with prompts and running order. ElevenLabs gave me voice options, and I picked the takes and the timing.
I timed each note so it lands on a visual payoff. Codex helped with prompts and running order. ElevenLabs gave me voice options, and I picked the takes and the timing.
2
2
Cast the hero from my own face
Cast the hero from my own face
My portrait anchored the hero. I built the hair, armour, horse, cape and three sword sizes around it, and kept going back to the references as the framing and action changed. For the switch, I made a female character sheet with the same armour and burgundy cape, so the costume carried across.
My portrait anchored the hero. I built the hair, armour, horse, cape and three sword sizes around it, and kept going back to the references as the framing and action changed. For the switch, I made a female character sheet with the same armour and burgundy cape, so the costume carried across.
Three sword stages, and the female character sheet that carried the costume into the switch.
The final sword escalation.
Her character reference carried into the action.
3
3
Animate in sections
Animate in sections
Approved stills became start frames for Seedance clips: the ride, the sword changes, the army reveal, the switch and the flag. If a section felt stiff, I replaced just that section. The scale gag only works if the three rider frame is clean before the army shows up.
Approved stills became start frames for Seedance clips: the ride, the sword changes, the army reveal, the switch and the flag. If a section felt stiff, I replaced just that section. The scale gag only works if the three rider frame is clean before the army shows up.
The scale gag depended on a clean three-rider frame before the army appeared.
4
4
Cut for the voice
Cut for the voice
Three passes in Premiere. Jump cuts land after "mighty" and "mightier", then the frame opens from three riders to the army. I mixed hoofbeats, wind, armour, flags, voice and music, with a light grade and some film grain.
Three passes in Premiere. Jump cuts land after “mighty” and “mightier”, then the frame opens from three riders to the army. I mixed hoofbeats, wind, armour, flags, voice and music, with a light grade and some film grain.
03 · Looking back
03 · Looking back
What worked, and what I'd change
What worked, and what I’d change
What worked, and what I’d change
What worked
What worked
Stills first. It kept the character and costume consistent and made the jump cuts feel deliberate. And because the ad is about escalating notes, every generated change had a clear job.
Stills first. It kept the character and costume consistent and made the jump cuts feel deliberate. And because the ad is about escalating notes, every generated change had a clear job.
What I'd change
What I’d change
Solve the opening action sooner. The first versions were too slow, so I swapped in closer, faster riding shots. I'd also track cost and selects from day one. It's the one number this page can't give you.
Solve the opening action sooner. The first versions were too slow, so I swapped in closer, faster riding shots. I’d also track cost and selects from day one. It’s the one number this page can’t give you.
Credits
Credits
Direction, concept, edit and finish: Phyo Thu. Production support: Codex. Images and video: OpenArt with Seedream 5 Pro, Seedance 2.5 and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, with Wan 3.0 tested. Voice: ElevenLabs. Finish: Premiere Pro.
Direction, concept, edit and finish: Phyo Thu. Production support: Codex. Images and video: OpenArt with Seedream 5 Pro, Seedance 2.5 and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, with Wan 3.0 tested. Voice: ElevenLabs. Finish: Premiere Pro.
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© 2026 Phyo Thu · @phyofox
Wellington, NZ
© 2026 Phyo Thu · @phyofox
Wellington, NZ