Byte-Sized Businesses: My A.I. Assisted Biz Blitz - 22
Edition 22 - AI Video Content
Recap: At first, I challenged myself to launch two micro-businesses per month with the help of AI. Now I am shifting towards building on top of those micro-businesses. You can get caught up on the details of the challenge in my original post here.
For new readers, you can scroll to the bottom of this post to see a full list and summary of the micro-businesses that have been launched. Not each one will be covered in every weekly edition, but I will be sure to keep you up to date on all of the key points as things progress.
Today, I want to share some of the AI video content that I am working on for Nordic Jo’s Coffee. This is a work in progress, but I think it is at a great spot to show some of the early work. I will share the final version in a later issue when it is ready.
Getting Started - ChatGPT
The idea for this video came from the same place that all great ideas come from, scrolling through TikTok. I stumbled across a video featuring a speech from the fantasy series Oathbringer. You can see it here. As you can see, the speech is a character monologue filled with emotion and philosophy. I thought that it would be funny to make a speech like this one, but make it about a Viking’s pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee.
I started by getting a transcript of that original speech. TikTok makes this easy. If you open the video on desktop there is an option to get the transcription there. The next step was to use ChatGPT to take the elements of that speech and use them to craft the new one.
Here was my first prompt:
I'm going to ask you to help me write a speech. To get started, I'm going to give you the transcript of another speech. I would like you to analyze it to understand the tone, structure and emotions behind this speech so that we can apply it to the one that we are going to write. Do you understand?
ChatGPT then confirmed that it understood and I gave it the transcription.
Here is the analysis that it produced. I was quite impressed with it’s ability to identify the emotions in the speech so well.
This speech possesses a deeply introspective and confessional tone, blending elements of personal revelation with philosophical insights. The structure follows a reflective and somewhat circular narrative, beginning with a personal resolution, exploring the philosophical underpinnings of that resolution, and then returning to the personal with a broader and more inclusive perspective. It is emotive and somber, punctuated by moments of earnestness and a plea for understanding.
Key elements to note for your speech:
1. **Tone**: The tone is solemn and reflective. There's a clear undercurrent of regret but also of resolve. It is philosophical, introspective, and almost meditative.
2. **Structure**: The speech begins with a personal declaration, expands into the philosophical, and then comes back to the personal, tying in broader implications. The structure flows from the internal (personal resolutions) to the external (implications for others and broader truths).
3. **Emotion**: The speech is laden with emotions like regret, resolve, and a somber sense of enlightenment. The speaker has accepted their flaws and failures and sees them as integral parts of the journey.
4. **Themes**: Important themes include the journey of life, acceptance of failure, the importance of continuing despite setbacks, self-reflection, and the pursuit of truth.
5. **Imagery and Metaphors**: The use of metaphorical language (like "journey before destination," "taste of a spice," and being "hung between realms") provides depth and relatability, helping the audience to connect more deeply with the abstract concepts presented.
6. **Purpose**: The purpose is to share a personal journey with the hope that it will serve as a lesson or inspiration to others. The speaker does not seek forgiveness or understanding, but simply to be heard.
7. **Appeal**: There's a direct appeal to the audience to engage with the content not just intellectually but emotionally, to not only hear but to experience the message.
When crafting a new speech with similar qualities, it’s essential to:
- Start with a strong, personal statement that sets the tone for the speech.
- Weave in philosophical or universal truths that resonate on a personal level.
- Ensure that the speech follows an ebb and flow between personal narrative and broader insights.
- Keep the emotions raw and genuine; don't shy away from vulnerability.
- Use metaphors and imagery to illustrate abstract concepts and engage the audience's imagination.
- Close on a note that calls back to the beginning, reinforcing the central message and the speaker's journey.
With these points in mind, we can proceed to craft a new speech that resonates on the same frequency.
It took a few iterations to get the speech that I wanted. The first version followed to closely to the original, so I asked it to change it further from the original while keeping the same emotions and elements. I also had it increase the amount that coffee was talked about, and I asked it to add a line introducing the coffee as my brand, Nordic Jo’s.
You will be able to hear the final speech in the video.
Getting the Voice - Eleven Labs
There are two text to voice programs that I love. In a previous edition I featured Revoicer, but Eleven Labs is no doubt the best product to use for something like this where a long piece of audio is being created. Eleven Labs has a massive library of voice options, and the results that it produces sounds extremely real and natural.
For this, I selected the voice of an older British man. It’ probably not the perfect fit for a Viking from a historical perspective, but it felt like a good fit for the speech and character. I may end up experimenting further though.
Video Creation - D-ID vs RunwayML
I started with Midjourney for my base image, but from there, I had a couple of options in turning that into my video.
The first option is the one that I had previously discussed, using D-ID to animate the character to the audio. This is definitely the quickest and easiest method. The downside though is that the only motion you get is in the face and head.
The other option that I like is much more tedious, but can create some really interesting results. This option starts with RunwayML’s image to video tool. I generally just start with a four second video. Depending on the results you are getting, you might try extending the time, but I have found that four seconds is usually enough and generally works out to have the best results in the end.
I will create multiple generations to come up with the video that looks the closest to the character talking, while also watching for movements that I don’t want repeated in the background.
Once I have my four second clip selected, I go to a video editing program. I just used CapCut myself because it is easy for this step. I start with my four second clip, then copy it to place it immediately after the first. Then I reverse the video on that second clip giving me an eight second clip that is fluid and repeating. From here, you just copy and past that eight second clip over and over until you have a long enough repeating motion video for your audio. This pattern works great for a speech scene.
The next step is adding the lip movement to match the audio. I use a tool called Wav2Lip for this. Rather than going through the specific details on where you can find this tool and how you use it, I will just share the YouTube video that I found it through. You can view this video here.
Please note, Wav2Lip only works for clips that are under a minute, so if the scene is longer than a minute, you will have to break it up and put them back together later. This is what I am having to do and is also why I only have a partial clip to share of this version today.
This method also has it’s pros and cons. On the plus side, you have a lot more motion in the video. The full body of the character moves, and you even get some background motion. On the downside though, the resolution isn’t nearly as good, and the result can be a little fuzzy.
See both versions below.
D-ID Version
RunwayML + CapCut +Wav2Lip Version
Both of these require some more work. I will likely add in some traditional editing effects like slowly zooming in. I’ll be sure to share both finished versions when they are ready.
Dough Control - Dough Control was a blog on cash management for small businesses that I originally started a couple years ago, but hadn’t maintained. I decided to revitalize that blog with the help of AI tools like ChatGPT. This will be a longer duration project, with the goal of developing a following before monetizing.
Canvas and Quirk (originally PleasurePrinted) - This was the first Etsy shop that I launched. It features captivating nature scenes on canvas or metal prints for home or office decor. The images are generated by Midjourney and enlarged with VanceAI. The product descriptions are drafted through ChatGPT. This shop has now been transitioned into a general store through which I will be launching all of my Etsy oriented micro-businesses / product categories.
LittleDreamersDen - A second Etsy shop that also focuses on wall art, but on the other side of the pricing spectrum. The same tools are used to create the works, but the finished products are posters rather than the more expensive canvas or metal prints. The focus of this shop is nursery room decor.
The Consulting Gig - I received a request for some costing and supply chain help. To start, I’ll provide as much value as I can up front. The hope is that the potential client will find it worth hiring me for consulting/coaching on an on-going basis. I plan on using AI to boost my speed in compiling research such as lists of potential supply chain partners.
CozyGifted (originally FlickersOfFantasy) - The third Etsy shop. This shop was originally planned to be as a candle shop, but I have pivoted to also use it for other physical items that work well as gifts.
Wirestock - Selling stock images generated with Midjourney. Wirestock is easy to use right in Discord and allows you to list your images for sale across multiple platforms at once.
Tumbler Wrap Designs (Digital Files) - Digital files of designs to be printed for tumbler wraps. These are sold through Etsy to hobbyists and vendors that sell tumblers in which the print designs on.
Personalized Enamel Coated Camping Mugs - The products are items that I am fulfilling through print on demand services with personalization enabled through HelloCustom, an AI software that streamlines the personalization process between Etsy and Printify.
Personalized Blankets - Similar to the mugs mentioned above, these are fulfilled through the print on demand services of Printify with the personalization being enabled through HelloCustom.
Nordic Jo’s Coffee - Not a new launch, but actually my first business. I will be sharing how I am using AI to produce some of my content for Nordic Jo’s.