AI short dramas are becoming the next big thing in content creation — top creators earning nearly a million a month is no longer just a rumor. But newcomers usually run into four big obstacles: how to write the script, how to choose the models, how to write the prompts, and how to keep characters consistent.

This article gives you a complete workflow from zero to finished film. Every tool has a free or low-cost plan, and no design background is required.

Before You Start

You only need the following tools:

• Doubao (free): generate the script and storyboard prompts
• Xiaoyunque: character consistency management + video generation (based on Seedance 2.0)
• Vidu (56 RMB/month, up to 200 videos): cost-effective video generation
• Jimeng app: backup video generation (powered by Seedance 2.0) + cover typography

Expect a full production cycle of 2-4 hours for a 1-minute short drama, with tool costs kept under 100 RMB.

Step 1: Generate the Script and Storyboard with Doubao

Open Doubao and enter your story setup. A good prompt template should include:

• Story background and character settings
• How many acts in total and how many shots per act
• The shot size, character actions, and dialogue for each shot

Doubao outputs a complete storyboard script within 5 seconds, with a video-generation prompt attached to every shot.

Tip: The more detailed the storyboard script, the higher the success rate of the later video generation. Make sure Doubao spells out the camera movements (push, pull, pan, tilt), shot sizes (close-up/medium/wide), and the characters' expressions and actions.

Step 2: Keep Characters Consistent

This is the step where AI short drama production most often goes wrong. Characters “changing faces” between shots is a common problem.

The workflow:

1. Upload the script to Xiaoyunque; it automatically generates prompts for the corresponding characters and scenes based on the script
2. Click generate image to create the character reference images
3. If you are not happy with the results, generate images individually with Doubao or Nano Banana and swap them in

Xiaoyunque builds a unified visual profile for each character, and every later shot is generated from that profile, which prevents face-changing.

Tip: Simple shots can be generated with Vidu; for complex camera moves and multi-character scenes, Xiaoyunque is recommended — better results, but it burns more credits.

Step 3: Generate Videos in Bulk

Xiaoyunque can automatically generate complete video prompts from the script — covering camera movement, shot size, and character actions and expressions — and produce the video in one click.

Recommended cost allocation strategy:

• Simple shots (single character, fixed camera): generate with Vidu — 56 RMB/month for up to 200 videos, the best value
• Complex shots (multi-character interactions, effects scenes): use Xiaoyunque, the most reliable results
• Rescue shots (buggy frames that keep failing to generate): try Jimeng's Seedance 2.0, which has a built-in “director's mindset” and a high one-pass success rate

The chart above compares the prices of mainstream AI video generation tools — worth bookmarking for later.

Step 4: Create the Short Drama Cover

You don't need any design background for the cover — the Jimeng app handles it:

1. Open the Jimeng mobile app
2. Search “short drama fonts” and find a style that fits
3. Tap “make one like this” and remove the background
4. Combine it with the AI-generated background image from earlier to finish the layout

Tool Cost Overview

FAQ

• What if the character changes face across shots? Use Xiaoyunque first to build the character profile and run all generation against that same profile. You can pair it with standalone image generation in Doubao for fine-tuning.
• A shot keeps failing to generate? Try switching models — Jimeng's Seedance 2.0 has a relatively high one-pass success rate on complex scenes.
• How do you control the overall budget? Go with the “Doubao writes the script for free + Xiaoyunque manages characters + Vidu mass-produces footage” route, and tool costs for a 1-minute short drama stay under 100 RMB.