Most AI filmmakers waste credits before they even know what their final scene should look like. The problem isn't always the AI model or your prompt. It's generating expensive videos before planning the shots. Here's a smarter workflow to save credits: → 1. Plan the scene. Break your story into shots. Define the camera angle, action, and ending of each shot. → 2. Create a storyboard. Use AI images to visualize the sequence before generating videos. → 3. Build an animatic. Put those images on a timeline to check pacing and transitions. → 4. Lock your references. Keep characters, locations, and props consistent. → 5. Test cheaply. Use 360p/480p or Draft/Fast modes when they cost less. Check motion before increasing quality. → 6. Fix in editing. Trim, reframe, or correct small issues instead of regenerating everything. → 7. Render the final shots. Spend premium credits only when the action and continuity work. One important thing: Higher resolution won't fix broken movement or bad choreography. Use cheap methods to make creative decisions. Save expensive generations for the final result. . . .