Behind the scenes:
Past, Present and Future.

A Mid-Year Reflection at Waterlane Studios

It’s the end of July, and tonight feels like the right time to take stock. I recently released a music video titled Looking for Love – an original AI music piece produced by me, running just over three minutes. That might not sound long, but it brought a new level of complexity to the process. One of the key things I’d been wanting to test for some time was whether I could keep an AI-generated character consistent throughout a piece—same look, same face, same clothes. It’s a surprisingly difficult challenge, and I chose this video as the moment to tackle it. I trained the character specifically for this, and I’m pleased to say it held together across the full three minutes. On top of that came the usual hurdles: producing and selecting a range of AI-generated visuals, dealing with the cost of failed attempts, and the grind of uploading with slow internet (though there are plans afoot to improve that, at last).

One of the most rewarding parts of putting this video out was seeing new subscribers join the channel. So, if you're one of them—a very warm welcome. Waterlane Studios is a small, evolving space where I experiment with creative AI, storytelling, and visuals. It’s part workshop, part journal, and part quiet corner for reflection.

You’ll find a mix of styles and moods here, all shaped by one person’s journey into what this new medium can become. I’m hoping to show that AI can be used for work with more depth—something different from the endless tide of clickbait flooding the feed.


Where We’ve Been

Looking back, it’s easy to forget just how much has gone into getting here. When I first launched Waterlane Studios, I was pushing hard—often producing two videos a week and with tools that were just starting out - still full of restrictions and changing regularly. That pace meant working each day, often late into the night. I was learning new tools, shaping ideas, and building something from scratch, all as a one-person team. Well—one person and my AI collaborator named Claire. It’s been a rewarding process, but not without its cost. The pressure to constantly produce, especially when view counts are low or inconsistent, can be (to put it mildly) discouraging. At times it’s felt like shouting into the void—creating something you care about deeply, only to watch it vanish into the algorithm.

And yet, despite the dips in momentum and the doubts that come with them, the desire to create hasn’t left me. If anything, it’s grown clearer over time. I didn’t set out to chase trends or follow the crowd—I wanted to make something that felt different. Something with thought behind it. A touch of atmosphere. Maybe even a little meaning. Whether it’s a quiet portrait or a layered video, I’m still trying to shape work that lingers—not just scrolls by.

AI, for all its speed and magic, brings its own kind of weight. It’s a topic I’ve thought about for a long time and working daily with it has only given me more to think about—sometimes concern, sometimes wonder. And within the world of AI video generation, I’m often aware that the craft behind it isn’t visible to most viewers. The hours spent curating frames, refining a look, or trying again when the system stumbles… it all adds up. Some days it feels like I’m building with one, if not two, hands tied behind my back.

And in some ways, by choosing to make work that isn’t chasing trends, I’ve made things harder for myself. Every new piece may take me further from what the platforms reward—or what monetization depends on. The work costs time, tools, and with each new image or movie clip I’ve had to dig into my pockets to pay for ‘generations’ (even the ones left on the cutting room floor)—So while it’s been my choice, to those who have ‘bought me a coffee’. To feel you’ve reached into your pockets as well, whatever the amount, knowing it’s been from a person and not just an algorithm… I’d also like to add a special Thank-You.


Where We’re Going

As I look ahead, while I do want to ‘produce’ content which people can see, I don’t feel the need to rush—but I do feel the pull to refine. The last few months have taught me a lot about what kind of work I want to make and what kind of pace I can realistically sustain. Now with a catalogue of around 40 videos (something which seemed almost impossible with my first release), I’m no longer trying to match the grind I started with. Instead, I’m aiming to build something steady, meaningful, and lasting.

While I’ll continue adding to my existing playlists and creating shorter pieces, I’m also starting to broaden the scope of what I make. One thing I’m never short of is ideas and I’ve been working hard behind the scenes. With Claire I’ve been developing new short stories and other concepts —some already forming, others still on the edge of becoming. Right now, I’m planning a major new project—an episodic story that could run for at least a dozen parts, if all goes well. Hopefully, I’ll be able to release teasers as it develops.

Alongside that, I’ve been quietly building the foundations for an even larger world—a series with its own mythos and inner logic. It’s a slower process, but one I’m taking seriously. My hope is that, over time, these works can sit together—shorts, longer episodes, atmospheric experiments—and form something coherent and rich. Something worth returning to.


Looking Ahead, Quietly

So that’s where I am right now—still creating, still learning, and still hopeful. Waterlane Studios isn’t chasing noise; it’s finding its shape through steady, thoughtful work. I’d like to add a special thank you to anyone who’s taken the time to watch, like, or comment on a video. As a small developer, that kind of support really does mean something—it keeps the wheels turning and the spirit moving.

I’m planning to concentrate my releases on Sundays, though I’m still working out the rhythm that fits. Keep an eye on the blog for updates as things unfold. There’s more to come.

David