AI LAB

I Spent $120 Trying to Make an AI Vertical Drama About Cats. It Was a Disaster.

Streaming Radar · 2026-04-05

What happens when you try to produce a 90-second AI-generated vertical drama? Armed with $120 and six generative AI tools, Ludovic Bostral attempted to create a cat-themed micro-drama. The result: character inconsistency, safety filter blocks, and zero narrative coherence. A hands-on stress test of where AI video stands in 2026.

Tool	Cost	Verdict
Seedance 1.5 Pro	~€10	Inconsistent
Veo 3.1	$3.20/clip	Best quality
fal.ai / FLUX	~€50	Static only
ElevenLabs	~€5	Good voice
Gemini / Imagen 4	~$10	Storyboard OK

$120

→ 90 seconds / 14 shots

Key Takeaways

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Character consistency remains the #1 unsolved problem

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Safety filters block ~30% of creative shots without explanation

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AI video needs a director, not just a prompter

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Total cost 50% over budget despite minimal ambition

Originally published on Streaming Radar

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