AI series maker where the crowd orders the next part

1. 01

   Someone taps Watch more

   It's under every short in the arena. It counts as a vote for that short and opens its series page.

2. 02

   Someone makes the next part

   Anyone signed in can press Make part 2. It costs the same as any short of that length.

3. 03

   The story carries over

   The storyboard for the new part is written from the story so far, so it continues instead of starting over.

4. 04

   The picture carries over

   The new part opens on the exact last frame of the part before: same faces, same room, same light.

5. 05

   It joins the arena

   Part 2 fights other shorts like any short, and its page links back to the parts before.

• One straight line. No branches, so there's always one story to follow.
• One unfinished part at a time. If someone is already making Part 3, the button waits.
• Every part is labelled: Part 2, Part 3 and so on, on its page and in channel lists.
• Parts play one after another on the series page, so new viewers can binge from Part 1.

Keeping characters consistent is the hardest part of AI series. Here it happens on two levels: the story level, because each storyboard reads every part before it, and the picture level, because each part starts on the previous part's last frame. Add reference images to the first part for even tighter control.

• End every part on a hook: a knock at the door, a text that says “I know”.
• Keep the cast small. Two leads and one wild card.
• Pay something off every part, even while you open the next question.
• Borrow from vertical drama: secret identities, revenge, second chances. See vertical drama.