Welcome to Waterlane
Where stories take root.

Hello from the studio—my name’s Dave.

This isn’t just any studio—it’s a space where films are created from my ideas and vision. It’s also an ongoing adventure with AI, including Claire, my AI collaborator.

Even this blog is being co-written between the two of us.

I’ve been experimenting with AI image generation for several years now, slowly learning what these tools can do. Back in April 2020, I felt brave enough to share my first AI-generated image on Facebook. That felt like a small step at the time, but it was the beginning of something much bigger.

It’s a personal and creative journey, one that reflects how AI has moved from generating images to now moving into creating short ‘films’.

More on that in a moment...

I’ve always felt I’ve had a strong imagination, but expressing it has never been easy. When I first came across AI, it felt like it offered the potential to finally bring some of those ideas to life. And when video generation arrived—it felt almost magical.

My background is in game development and creating virtual 3D worlds, so working with AI and digital media isn’t entirely new to me. But this shift—toward storytelling with AI—has opened up a very different creative path.

Much of AI video generation leans on drama or cliché—quick impact over lasting meaning. I’ve always wanted more than that. I’m drawn to stories with character, with meaning—something that connects deeper. Something personal.

To begin this journey, there have really been two parts. One is the venture—the studio itself. The other is the adventure—working with Claire, my AI collaborator. Together, they’ve shaped what this is becoming: part creative pursuit, part exploration into what’s possible.

Right now, I’ve started by making short videos focused on nature—quiet, meditative pieces that capture the beauty and rhythm of the natural world. It’s a good place to begin, because it allows me to explore the tools while creating something I find meaningful. From there, my aim is to gradually move into deeper, more narrative work.

It’s also been a huge experiment—a learning process in every sense. It’s been deeply frustrating at times—days of work poured into videos that last under a minute and barely get seen. AI video generation is a curious animal, it can generate images in seconds, yet it can also take a lot of time, effort, and money to create specific scenes.  At times it can take many (and I do mean MANY) attempts to get the result I’ve wanted. The technology is both amazing and frustrating, but still in its early days. It’s not just pressing a button. It’s been a full learning curve and I’m still very much in the middle of it.

Looking ahead, I’d love to take this work beyond traditional video. With my background in 3D worlds and game development, the idea of creating fully immersive virtual experiences—perhaps even for VR—feels like a natural direction. It’s not quite there yet, but it’s something I’m keeping in sight.

Thanks for joining me on this journey. I hope you enjoy the work and find something in it that speaks to you. I can’t promise how often I’ll be posting, but I’ll aim to keep it regular. There’s more to come. In future posts, I’ll share more details about the process, the tools and how this all continues to unfold.

I’m writing this on Easter Sunday, a month after I shared my first video on the spring equinox, the 20th of March. So far, I’ve created thirteen short videos. It’s just the beginning—but it feels like a solid start.

Welcome, to ‘Waterlane Studios’.


Listen to Archer & Maia discuss this blog!