How to create video from script using AI

Turning a written script into a polished video used to mean crews, cameras, and calendar chaos. Not anymore. With modern AI, you can go from drafted words → finished video in hours (sometimes minutes) — as long as you follow a clean workflow and pick the right tools for each step.

This guide walks you through a battle-tested, modular pipeline: writing (or optimizing) your script, structuring scenes, generating footage, creating voiceovers, assembling edits, and shipping platform-ready exports. You’ll also get guerrilla hacks for speed and control, and answers to the questions people actually search.

Along the way, we call out the latest capabilities from leading AI video and audio players — so your process stays future-proof. For example: Runway’s Gen-3 control tools, Pika’s Pikaframes, Luma’s Dream Machine improvements, and Google’s new Veo 3 vertical-video support for Shorts/Reels workflows.

The 10-step workflow (steal this)

1) Start with a tight script (write for watching, not reading)

• Hook first (0–3s): state the outcome or curiosity gap.
  
  
  

• Beats, not paragraphs: 1–2 sentences per shot/beat.
  
  
  

• Spoken style: contractions, short clauses, present tense.
  
  
  

• Scene notes inline: (B-roll: typing at laptop), (On-screen text: 3 tips).
  
  
  

• CTA: one action only.
  
  
  

Pro tip: If you drafted the idea in long-form, run a “speak-ify” pass: shorten sentences, add beats, and mark moments for text overlays and cutaways.

2) Break the script into a shot list

Create a two-column table: Line of script ↔ Visual.
Examples of visuals: stock B-roll, generated clip (e.g., Lucent / Runway / Pika), avatar presenter (HeyGen / Synthesia), screens, charts, or simple kinetic text. (More on tools shortly.)

3) Choose the right creation mode per section

There are three dominant ways to turn text into video today:

1. Template/assembly tools (fast social edits) — e.g., Lucent's Script to Video AI, Kapwing’s Script-to-Video for auto B-roll, captions, music, ratios. Great for Shorts/Reels/TikTok sprints. Superside
   
   
   

2. Avatar presenters (corporate/educational clarity) — e.g., Lucent/HeyGen for talking-head delivery in 100+ languages.
   
   
   

3. Generative text-to-video (cinematic/creative clips) — e.g., Lucent, Runway Gen-3 controls; Pika’s Pikaframes for first/last-frame control; Luma Dream Machine for physics-aware motion.
   
   
   

Mix them: open with an avatar hook, cut to generative B-roll, then back to captions + kinetic text for the CTA.

4) Generate your voiceover (TTS that doesn’t sound robotic)

Modern TTS is good enough for prime time:

• ElevenLabs supports expressive, multilingual narration and fine emotion control; free tier exists with paid scale. ElevenLabs+1
  
  
  

• Google Vids (Workspace) now adds AI voiceovers if your team already lives in Google Docs/Slides. Android Central
  
  
  

Hacks:

• Write VO in breath groups (5–8 words) so pacing feels human.
  
  
  

• Put emphasis tags or bracketed stage directions in your script (many TTS models respect punctuation and SSML-like hints).
  
  
  

• Record your guide VO first if you’re picky about pacing, then match the AI VO cadence to it.
  
  
  

5) Generate (or collect) your visuals

• Runway Gen-3: use Motion Brush, Advanced Camera Controls, and Director Mode to steer motion, framing, and style.
  
  
  

• Pika: try Pikaframes (upload first/last frame to guide motion) or Pikaswaps/Pikadditions for iterative refinements.
  
  
  

• Luma Dream Machine: quick 5–10s clips with realistic physics and camera moves; great cutaways. TechRadar
  
  
  

• Stock + overlays: when speed matters, combine free/paid stock (Pexels/Videvo/etc.) with on-screen text.
  
  
  

Aspect-ratio reality in 2025: Google’s Veo 3 now supports vertical 9:16 generation via the Gemini API (big for Shorts/Reels). If you’re API-driving workflows or want clean vertical masters, this matters. The Verge

6) Assemble fast

• Kapwing (web) is great for auto-captions, music beds, and platform ratios in one pass. Superside
  
  
  

• Prefer a desktop NLE? DaVinci Resolve (free) for color + audio polish; Premiere if your team already uses it.
  
  
  

Timeline hack: Build a 60- or 90-second master first, then slice out 3–5 shorts.

7) Captions & accessibility (non-negotiable)

• Always burn-in captions on vertical videos; keep 4–6 words per line.
  
  
  

• Put keywords on-screen at the moment you say them.
  
  
  

• Include alt text when platforms support it.
  
  
  

8) Export with intent

• Shorts/Reels/TikTok: 1080×1920 (9:16), 23.976/30fps, loudness around –14 LUFS, h.264 high profile, 10–16 Mbps.
  
  
  

• YouTube long-form: 1920×1080 or 3840×2160, 23.976/30fps, 16–40 Mbps depending on length.
  
  
  

9) Thumbnails & hooks

First frame matters in feeds. Export a poster frame (or generate an image) featuring: face/eyes, bold promise, high contrast, no clutter.

10) Measure, iterate, batch

Batch scripts by topic cluster. Test two hooks per script. Keep a prompt log (what prompt → what result) so your generative clips improve over time.

Prompt patterns that work (copy/paste)

For generative B-roll (Runway/Luma/Pika):

“Handheld shot, sunlit co-working space, founder presenting to a small team. Natural camera sway, shallow depth of field, soft contrast, 24fps look, subtle parallax as the camera pushes in.”

For pacing-aware TTS:

“Conversational, confident, 105–110 wpm, slight up-inflection on questions, 150ms pauses after commas, 250ms after periods.”

For avatar delivery (corporate explainer):

“Warm, inclusive tone. Short sentences. Callouts appear as on-screen text when introduced. End with a one-line summary + CTA.”

Pro hacks & guerrilla tips

• Storyboard with stills, then animate: Use Pikaframes to set first/last frames (brand colors, layout, etc.), then generate the in-between motion. Cuts your iteration time dramatically. Pika
  
  
  

• Pre-visualize camera moves: In Runway, set camera intent (dolly, pan, roll) before you lock the script timing. You’ll write to the movement you can actually get. Runway
  
  
  

• Vertical first: If your main channels are Shorts/Reels, generate native 9:16 (Veo 3 or vertical projects in your editor) instead of cropping 16:9 later. Better type size & composition. The Verge
  
  
  

• Hybrid approach for longer videos: Use AI clips for cutaways and keep your A-roll as avatar or recorded camera — avoids uncanny fatigue, maintains authority.
  
  
  

• Voice quality > everything: If budget allows, use ElevenLabs for lead VO and keep a cheaper engine for drafts. Multilingual? Check model/language coverage and export rate limits. ElevenLabs+1
  
  
  

• Batch day: Write 5 scripts → generate all VOs → generate 2–3 gen-video clips per script → assemble in one sitting. Context switching is your real bottleneck.
  
  
  

• Safety & provenance: If you’re publishing professionally, prefer tools with C2PA provenance tags and content moderation — Runway calls this out for Gen-3.
  
  
  

Tool mini-map (when to use what)

• Runway Gen-3 — controlled, cinematic clips; motion brush + camera controls for more “directing.”
  
  
  

• Pika — quick creative shots + Pikaframes/Pikaswaps for iterative control.
  
  
  

• Luma Dream Machine — fast, realistic 5–10s cutaways; physics & camera feel. TechRadar
  
  
  

• Google Veo 3 (Gemini API) — now supports vertical generation; handy if you automate content for Shorts/Reels. The Verge
  
  
  

• ElevenLabs — expressive TTS, multilingual, commercial use; generous roadmap and clear tiers.
  
  
  

• Lucent — lightning assembly for social; auto B-roll/captions/ratios.
  
  
  

• Synthesia/HeyGen — avatar presenters in many languages; corporate and educational clarity.
  
  
  

• Google Vids — script → narrated slides/video for Workspace teams. Android Central
  
  
  

Example: a 60-second explainer (recipe)

1. Script beats (8–10 lines) with on-screen text notes.
   
   
   

2. VO in ElevenLabs (105 wpm, warm/confident). ElevenLabs
   
   
   

3. Clips: 2 x generative B-roll (Runway/Pika/Luma), 1 x avatar line for authority.
   
   
   

4. Assemble in Kapwing; auto-captions; export 9:16 for Shorts and 1:1 for IG feed.
   
   
   

5. Thumbnail: export a crisp frame with the promise on text.
   
   
   

6. Upload with keyworded title/desc, chapters (00:00 Hook, 00:08 Problem, 00:25 Solution, 00:45 CTA).
   
   
   

Common pitfalls (and how to dodge them)

• Over-written VO: If your video feels rushed, it is. Cut 15–25% of words, increase pause durations.
  
  
  

• Unclear visual grammar: Keep a consistent rule: avatars speak; generative shots show; kinetic text emphasizes terms.
  
  
  

• Mismatched aspect ratio: Design for native 9:16 if vertical is the goal; don’t crop late. The Verge
  
  
  

• Too many effects: Let one thing move at a time. Motion + text + camera drift = cognitive overload.
  
  
  

Advanced: building a scalable pipeline

• Scripts at scale: Keep a script template (Hook → Problem → Steps → CTA). Use an LLM to draft, then human-edit for voice.
  
  
  

• Asset library: Save your best prompts (Runway/Pika/Luma), brand lower-thirds, caption styles, music beds.
  
  
  

• API automation: If you’re engineering a pipeline, Veo 3’s API with vertical aspect ratio is clutch for Shorts production; pair with a TTS API and a captioning service for full automation. The Verge
  
  
  

• Localization: Avatar tools (Synthesia/HeyGen) and ElevenLabs dubbing can multiply reach — but rewrite idiomatically, don’t just translate. ElevenLabs
  
  
  

FAQ

Q1: What’s the fastest way to create a video from a script using AI?
Use a template/assembly tool (e.g., Lucent) for auto captions/B-roll, then swap in 1–2 generative shots for flavor. Many pros ship Shorts in under an hour this way.

Q2: Should I generate vertical (9:16) or crop later?
Generate native vertical whenever possible (now supported by Google Veo 3 via Gemini API). Text is larger, framing cleaner, and you won’t fight crops. The Verge

Q3: Which AI is best for realistic motion B-roll?
Runway Gen-3 for directed motion; Luma Dream Machine for physics-aware realism; Pika for quick ideation and iterative control (Pikaframes).

Q4: What about voiceovers — are AI voices “good enough”?
Yes. ElevenLabs offers expressive, multilingual TTS with strong control. Use punctuation and short sentences for natural pacing.

Q5: Can I do everything in one tool?
Yes, but the modular approach (separate VO, generative clips, and assembly) gives better quality and control — and lets you swap tools as the landscape evolves.

Q6: How do I avoid uncanny valley with AI video?
Use avatars sparingly (for key lines) and rely on generative B-roll + kinetic text for the rest. Keep edits purposeful and performance-driven.

Q7: What about rights and ethics?
Prefer tools that implement moderation and provenance (e.g., Runway’s safeguards/C2PA). Use licensed or self-generated assets; credit where required.