The John Gruber Experience

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AI Content Blog Feature Social Media

AI Collaborator: The New Intern

This proof-of-concept video demonstrates how AI tools can be harnessed to create compelling corporate content—from visuals to sound. All video clips were generated using AI, then edited and polished in Final Cut Pro. The music was composed and mixed entirely in Logic Pro, giving the final piece a clean, professional finish.

How AI + Final Cut Pro + Logic Pro = The Future of Corporate Video Production

How I Used AI, Final Cut Pro, and Logic Pro to Create a Corporate Video

AI is a college intern

I’ve been exploring new ways to make video content faster and more creatively. For this project, I decided to try something different. I created a short corporate video using AI-generated clips, edited everything in Final Cut Pro, and made the music using Logic Pro.

This was a proof-of-concept—a way to show what’s possible when we mix creativity with smart tools.

🎥 I Let AI Handle the Video Clips

Instead of filming anything, I used AI tools to generate all the video clips. The results were surprisingly professional. The AI gave me clean, on-brand visuals that looked like they came from a real video shoot. It saved me a lot of time and effort.

✂️ Final Cut Pro Helped Me Shape the Story

Once I had the clips, I brought them into Final Cut Pro. That’s where I pieced everything together—adding transitions, text, and a few visual effects. It felt like I had a whole editing team in one app.

🎵 I Composed the Music in Logic Pro

For the music, I used Logic Pro. I built a short, original track that fits the video’s tone. Logic gave me all the tools to make something clean and professional without hiring a composer or using stock music.

💡 Why This Matters to Me

This project showed me just how powerful today’s creative tools can be. I was able to create a high-quality corporate video—start to finish—on my own, using AI and a couple of pro-level apps. It saved time, lowered costs, and opened up new creative options.

This approach is worth exploring if you’re a content creator, a small business owner, or just someone curious about AI and video.

 

📬 Let's Connect

Feel free to reach out if you're curious about using AI to create your own videos or want help starting a project. I'd love to share what I've learned.

Contact John
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AI Content Blog Feature Social Media

AI or Stock Footage Which To Use?

Social Media Post for TNN
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Social Media Promotion for TNN Beauty School. Clips AI Generated

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AI or Stock Footage Which To Use?

Think AI Generated Content Will Replace
Your Content Creator?

Think again

Using AI tools.

I used a video AI tool to generate the video. I made the music. It took me most of my 1200 credits to get the model to do what I wanted—sort of. It took two days to assemble this, and I’m still unhappy with the dialog. In comparison, I took about a day to do my last video post using stock footage. 

Here are the takeaways:

  1. It cost me $10 for 1200 credits; it took 30 credits to make a 5-second video.
  2. Some things it never could generate. The model blowing a kiss to the camera made her vape. I altered the prompt to say, “Blow a kiss to the camera, “she brought a camera lens, wearing sunglasses up to her mouth, and kissed it. I altered the prompt again to say blow a kiss to me (the viewer), and she gave a very erotic kiss to a woman who walked up to her on the street.
  3. The AI tool wouldn’t allow me to use a short video of the model turning right and then looking back over her shoulder, citing it was inappropriate. Really, you create a scene where she molests a woman’s mouth with her tongue on the street, but this is inappropriate? What happens if you’re making a horror movie trailer?
  4. The text-to-voice feature didn’t really speak naturally. Using punctuation did help, but guess what? There was more rendering and credit burning. 
  5. Your videos must be short (5 or 8 seconds with the tool I used). Tools are getting better but it will cost you.

In short, AI is good for the following:

  • Better results than Google for search. 
  • A good starting point when you’re staring at a blank page. 
  • If you are not working with a brand identity or style guidelines, you can use AI for quick graphics and short videos for Social Media.
  • Commenting computer code. I used this on code I did years ago and forgot what the code did.
  • Coding, but you better check it. I suggest you add a comment code to your programming prompt. 
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Case Study Feature

The Fox Network at Comic-Con

Fox Network Comic–Con 2018 Campaign The Orville

Information

Fox Network launched a Comic–Con campaign for the new season of The Orville. We created a unique Out of Home marketing strategy: customized rickshaws.

The Opportunity

Fox turned to VIP Outdoor Media to create a unique Out of Home marketing experience for Comic-Con 2018.

My Responsibilities

  • Photo editing and enhancement of publicity photos

  • Creating rider’s flyer handouts 

  • Edited case study’s copy to have a higher reading score and SEO ranking.

  • Created Case Study’s landing page

Result

We created fully wrapped, branded, and customized Pedicabs during Comic-Con 2018, promoting Fox’s new TV series The Orville.

Objective

Like many companies with a robust Comic-Con International presence, Fox wanted to make a splash to promote the return of their science fiction comedy-drama series, The Orville. To ensure they had a creative way to stand out with OOH Advertising during San Diego’s busiest season, Fox enlisted the help of VIP Outdoor Media to craft a customized mobile media campaign sure to turn heads.

The Solution

Upon finishing the campaign, we wanted to use the photos taken during the guerrilla photoshoots for promotional material. I enhanced the images using Photoshop and utilized them in various digital outlets.

For other examples of Comic-Con case studies, go to my case study for CBS 

Fox Networks Orville Pedicab
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Case Study Feature

CBS Takes Comic-Con to a New Level

cbs-star-trek-hero

CBS Comes to Comic–Con San Diego

Custom Pedicab: Comic-Con 2017-2018

Information

Year after Year, CBS relies on VIP Pedicab and partners VIP Outdoor Media and Elite Pedicabs for unique and innovative Comic-Con solutions

The CBS Star Trek Captains Chair

My Roles:

Social media content strategy
Social media project management
Photoshop image enhancements
Case Study creation
SEO for case study
User Experience for case study

Markets:

San Diego, Gaslamp District, San Diego Comic-Con, SD Convention Center
Duration:
5 days during SD Comic-Con 2017-2018

Objective:

Once again, CBS turned to VIP Pedicab, VIP Outdoor Media and Elite Pedicab. This time, to promote their reboot of the iconic classic Star Trek at San Diego Comic-Con. Again, the week of Comic-Con is insanely hectic, with masses of people crowding downtown San Diego and many brands vying to compete with each other. The added challenge is, how do you top a dome pedicab and a mobile media center? CBS knew they needed to come up with a campaign that would boldly go where no campaign had gone before! (sorry, it had to be said)

Solution:

What is the most coveted chair in the Star Trek universe: The captain’s chair. Let them have their thrones of swords; this chair commanded the Enterprise. Ten pedicabs were customized to look like the iconic captain’s chair of James T Kirk. VIP drivers wore more than T-shirts; they wore the most iconic uniform ever: Star Fleet.
As always, VIP Pedicab keeps production costs down with our in-house fabrication team, which stepped up its creativeness to pay homage to the immortal chair. These helped the campaign meet Comic-Con’s sheer magnitude. They were such a hit, CBS saved the Star Trek Pedicabs for future Comic-Cons in San Diego.

Campaign Details:

Ten pedicabs, specially designed to look like Captain Kirk captain’s chair from Star Trek, offering free rides up to 10 hours per day, all week during Comic-Con. The recurring campaign, 2011-2015, and counting.

Campaign Results:

Over 800,000 impressions generated over five days. (and counting) Thousands of organic shares and likes across social media platforms.
The CBS Under The Dome Custom Pedicab: Comic-Con 2013-2015

CBS custom pedicab for the Under the Dome TV series. One of several custom projects made for Comic Con.
CBS custom pedicab for the Under the Dome TV series. One of several custom projects made for Comic Con.

CBS Under The Dome Custom Pedicab

My Roles:

Social media content strategy
Social media project management
Photoshop image enhancements
Case Study creation
SEO for case study
User Experience for case study

Markets:

San Diego, Gaslamp District, San Diego Comic-Con, SD Convention Center

Duration:

5 days during SD Comic-Con 2013-2015

CBS Under The Dome custom pedicab

Objective:

CBS wanted to promote their new show Under The Dome at San Diego Comic-Con. The week of Comic-Con is insanely hectic, with masses of people crowding downtown San Diego and many brands vying to compete with each other, so CBS knew they needed to come up with a campaign that was unique, exciting and memorable.

Solution:

With the insanely hectic and illuminating Comic-Con, driving hundreds of thousands of visitors, annually, to San Diego, 10 VIP Pedicabs swarmed around downtown and the waterfront, offering free rides to anyone—compliments of CBS!

VIP Pedicabs at Comic-Con were no ordinary Pedicabs! The cabs we under a dome inspired by the series, echoing the Under The Dome brand, and VIP drivers wore Under The Dome T-shirts.

VIP Pedicab keeps production costs down with our in-house fabrication team, which stepped up its creative touch with stunning Under The Dome pedicabs. These helped the campaign meet Comic—Con’s sheer magnitude. For a cost-efficiency,

CBS used the dedicated creative pedicabs for future Comic—Cons in San Diego.

Campaign Details:

Ten specially designed Under The Dome pedicabs, offering free rides up to 10 hours per day, all week during Comic-Con. The recurring campaign, 2013-2015.

Campaign Results:

Over 80,000 impressions generated over five days. (per year) Thousands of organic shares and likes across social media platforms.

CBS bike bar. All patrons had to petal.
CBS bike bar. All patrons had to petal.

The CBS Mobile Screening Room: Comic-Con 2015

My Roles:

Social media content strategy
Social media project management
Photoshop image enhancements
Case Study creation
SEO for case study
User Experience for case study

Markets:

San Diego, Gaslamp District, San Diego Comic-Con, SD Convention Center

Duration:

5 days during SD Comic-Con 2015

Objective:

CBS came to us merely two weeks before Comic-Con 2015 with a specific project in mind. They wanted us to transform one of our bar bikes into an interactive, multi-media mobile screening room to promote their new Late Show host Stephen Colbert. We had never done anything of this nature, especially with such short notice, but that did not stop us. We accepted.

Solution:

We worked day and night to make modifications to the bar bike. Ultimately, we decided to add black vinyl strips as well as a metallic chrome finish around the exterior of the bike for aesthetic detail. Then we added a functional LED TV and display strip on the sides of the bike, which played snippets from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, as well as seven other CBS shows, including Scorpion, Limitless, Under the Dome, Cordan, and Zoo.

During Comic-Con, We allowed patrons to ride around on the bike and experience the media bike firsthand, which proved to generate extraordinary social media impressions.

Campaign Details:

One modified bar bike equipped with a functional LED display around the perimeter, interactive rides around downtown San Diego during Comic-Con week.

Campaign Results:

Over 80,000 impressions generated over five days.

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Feature Social Media

Real Estate Marketing

Del Mar Video
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The Heart of The Golden Triangle:
Del Mar San Diego

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In Real Estate, the term “time is money” is a given. Property that sits unrented or for sale is a money pit.  All production schedules have a very short timeline. Although projects have to be completed quickly they also have to be good. 

Online Marketing Real Estate Social Media & Web Design

Managing A Company’s Online Presence

The Opportunity

Top Notch needed someone to manage their Internet presents. Their social media was getting no interest. Also, their websites, being controlled by strict proprietary CMS systems, needed to be more user-friendly and have an update to the design.

Top Notch’s Social Media, websites, and blog needed constant content updates. Social Media Feed, websites/blog post had to be created. Additionally, paid media campaigns had to be managed for Zillow and affiliate websites. All the assets had to be created and distributed quickly as soon as the listing was added to the MLS.

Images,

The images (anywhere from 20 to over 90) and copy were provided by Top Notch. Not only did the images need to be enhanced but they also needed to be copied and cropped for the required 4×5 format.

Videos

Virtual walkthrough videos needed to be made from the still images. The videos not only needed to inform the customer but sell the dream.

My Responsibilities

    1. Manage Social Media Feed
    2. Produced Videos
      • Animated photos
      • Composed background music
      • Created Templates
    3. Photo Enhancement
      • Cropped to 4×5
      • Noise reduction
      • Edited multiple images at once in Adobe Bridge

Objective

Top Notch and I discussed what they needed. We decided to focus on the following:

  1. Create engaging Social Media Post for Facebook and Instagram
  2. Create virtual walkthrough videos from still images taken by the Realtor. Videos needed to be optimized for YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and websites.
  3. Manage Social Media accounts.
  4. Manage paid media campaigns
  5. Manage CMS and content for websites and blog.
  6. Research Analytics for Social Content and websites to enhance UX, SEO, and hashtag performance
  7. Fast turn–around

The Solution

Since the Real Estate Market is fast-paced, we used an agile project management method. Weekly sprints consisted of tasks from multiple projects based on ROI. Since quality and time were constants, the scope was the variable. Our Minimum Viable Product (MVP) was based on the budget for the listing, dictated by the ROI, and the current workload.

Using in-house-made templates for video graphics and video scenes, we were able to streamline the video production resulting in a 50% reduction in production time. By creating the background music in-house we were able to tailor the music to our needs. By making our unique music, we also eliminated copyright issues and concerns that stock music may associate our brand with another company.

 

Results

Since implementing new campaigns, 150% increase in both impressions and interactions. The new campaigns boosted sales/rentals.

Top Notch Social Media Feeds

Facebook Page

Top Notch Instagram

Top Notch YouTube Channel

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Feature Social Media

HBO Game of Thrones

HBO – Game of Thrones Pedicab Sponsorship

Information


10 Pedicabs, Specially Designed To Look Like The Iron Throne From Game Of Thrones, Offering Free Rides Up To 10 Hours Per Day, All Week During Comic-Con. Recurring Campaign, 2011-2016

My Responsibilities

  • Photo editing and enhancement of publicity photos
  • Creating case study for websites. Adjusted content to enhance SEO and reading score.
  • Social Media Campaign

Objective

HBO wanted to promote their new hit show Game of Thrones at San Diego Comic-Con. The week of Comic-Con is insanely hectic, with masses of people crowding downtown San Diego and countless brands vying to compete with each other, so HBO knew they needed to come up with a campaign that was unique, exciting and memorable.

The Solution

VIP Pedicab Outdoor Media offered 10 pedicabs to swarm the downtown San Diego area and offer free rides to anyone who needed, compliments of HBO. However, these pedicabs were no ordinary pedicab; they were specially designed to look like the “iron throne,” an iconic aspect of the Game of Thrones brand. Drivers were also outfitted with Game of Thrones t-shirts.
Most of our production can be kept in-house, but for a project of this magnitude we hired a 3rd-party graphics company based in Florida. The “iron throne” cut-outs were an expensive initial investment for HBO, however we were able to preserve them and reuse them for the following Comic-Cons, making them a frugal and worthwhile investment for HBO.
To this day, the Game of Thrones pedicabs are one of the most talked-about and popular marketing campaigns of Comic-Con, and one of the most successful campaigns in VIP Pedicab Outdoor Media’s career. HBO eventually bought the pedicabs and shipped them to events all over the world.

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Feature Social Media

Bud Light Seltzer Social Media Campaign

Endless Seltzer graphic meme
Endless Seltzer graphic meme

Endless Seltzer Bud Light Meme Campaign

Information


Anheuser-Busch wanted a series of social media memes for their new product, Bud Light Seltzer. While these memes needed to be eye-catching and fun. They also need to stand out from their competition: White Claw.

The Light Seltzer Idea and Concept

We’re all stressed out. And we’re stuck in these Brady Bunch Zoom Boxes. But all we want to do is have a beer on the beach. Well, we could get a beer. But we all know how that ends. The COVID 15 becomes the COVID 20, 25, 30. Wouldn’t be nice if we could bring the beer. And leave the calories? Well, grab your longboard dude. Because surf’s up.

Challenge

Healthy, cool, beer drinkers? These things don’t go together. Unless you’re talking about surfers. So, how do you bring home the beach? But leave the calories behind? By bringing home the Seltzer. However, White Claw already has a cool seltzer campaign. But they don’t have the fun.

Target Audience

  • 20 to 50 age group
  • Outdoor Enthusiasts
  • Social Drinkers
  • Health-conscious but still wanting to be cool

Tools Used to Create the Bud Light Design

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Final Cut Pro
  • Compressor
  • Daz 3d Studio

Seltzer Solution

The Bud Light Seltzer project was a series of memes. Each meme was part of a Zoom Meeting with ten participants—each doing something embarrassing. A can of Seltzer was then open, and it was turned into a party with a classic surfer’s theme. This submission was one of the party cells. The meme references “The Endless Summer,” a classic surfer movie. 

After researching Bud Light’s marketing online, it seems their customers are 20-50 somethings who are into sports. They wanted a fun approach. My meme replaces the dominant male figure of the original “The Endless Summer” movie poster with a female surfer. Female longboard surfers still get flack about being on the surf, so Bud Light “says we think you have just as much right to be out on a longboard as the guys.” This is in contrast to White Claw. They are trying to be the cool (mostly male) surfers. They are too cool to have fun—Bud Light is cool and fun.

For more examples, please visit my work page

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Feature Print

Illustrator Rady School Billboard

Rady School of Management Billboard Layout
Although Rady School Of Business Management is part of UCSD, they are trying to establish their own identity. Using Rady’s unique building along with the tagline, the billboard would capture the attention of I5 freeway travelers.
Rady School of Management Billboard Layout

Rady School of Management Billboard

Idea and Concept

Although Rady School Of Business Management is part of UCSD, they are trying to establish their own identity. Using Rady’s unique building along with the tagline, the billboard would capture the attention of I5 freeway travelers.

Target Audience

  • Educated 18—40-year-old
  • Perspective Graduate Business Degree students
  • Perspective UCSD Undergraduate students looking for a business minor
  • Parents of Students

Tools Used to Create Design

  • Freehand Gradient 
  • Gradient Mesh Tool
  • Clipping Masks
  • Pen Tool
  • Rectangle Tool
  • Eyedropper Tool

Key Tools and Techniques Used 

Finding a picture of the Rady Wells Fargo Building in Wiki Commons, I traced the building. While in outline mode, I selected the actual colors from the image to use in the gradient.  Although not traced, I took other pictures to use for reference in areas block by trees.

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