Beyond The Sleigh

Inspiration I've been thinking about the huge tech gap between generations. It sparked an idea: What if Santa, the most 'analogue' guy ever, had to deal with algorithms and NFTs? I also just wanted to make it with that dry, gritty Aussie sense of humour.

What it does It’s an AI-made mockumentary. It's about a bitter, old-timer Santa trying to stay relevant. It’s a short, character-driven comedy about an old-school hero being left behind by technology.

How I built it I pushed a few tools to get this done.

Veo 3.1: I used its 'extend shot' feature to create the long, 30-second interview takes, which was crucial.

ElevenLabs: I used its Voice Changer to find that perfect, gravelly, world-weary Aussie voice for Santa.

Kling, Nano Banana, & Adobe: I used these to generate the gritty B-roll and get the final look right.

Challenges I ran into The main problem was getting AI to make long shots. Most AI video is just 5-second montages. I needed 30-second interview shots that could breathe. Getting the AI to hold a consistent character and shot for that long without it wigging out was the hardest part.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of I’m just proud I actually pulled off those long, stable interview shots with AI. It feels like using it for real storytelling, not just quick cuts. I also like the irony of using this brand new tech to tell a story about being left behind by it.

What I learned The biggest lesson was that you have to find one specific feature, like Veo's 'extend shot', and build the whole idea around it. You also can't just use one tool. The character only felt real once I stacked Veo (visuals), ElevenLabs (voice), and Kling (B-roll) together.

What's next for Beyond The Sleigh Right now, I'm just focused on getting it out there and sharing how I made it. If people like it, this could easily be a pilot for a mini-series. I'm already thinking about what would happen to the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy in the digital age.

Built With

• adobe
• elevenlabs
• flow
• freepik