'I created full movie with just an i-phone and AI tools' says Lancashire filmmaker

'I honestly couldn’t be more excited' In his own words, Lancashire independent film-maker James Bates, from Blackpool, explains how his vision to make a World War One short horror-action movie has come true - thanks to 15 years of work - and AI.

Around 15 years ago, I had a vision. I wanted to create a film — a World War One short horror-action movie that would bring the brutal reality of trench warfare to life, with a dark, cinematic twist, says James Bates.

I spent countless hours perfecting the script, developing the storyboard and planning every detail of the production schedule. I knew exactly what I wanted to create, and I was determined to make it happen. But filmmaking, even on a small scale, comes with enormous challenges. At the time, movies required significant budgets, equipment, manpower and resources — things that were far beyond the reach of a small-time independent director like myself.

Despite the limitations, I was ready to go. I planned to shoot the film manually, using equipment I already owned. I had a lineup of re-enactment actors ready, a completed script, a detailed storyboard and a production schedule in place. Everything was prepared. All that remained was to get the cameras rolling.

Then came the setback that changed everything.

The filming permit for my chosen location was refused.

Just like that, the project I had poured so much time, energy and passion into came to a halt. It was incredibly disappointing. It felt as though all those hours of planning had been wasted, and the vision I had worked so hard to bring to life was destined to remain on a shelf.

For years, The Trench remained just that — a dream waiting for its moment.

But sometimes, a project isn’t finished. It is simply waiting for the world to catch up with the vision.

Fast-forward to today, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has changed the creative landscape beyond anything I could have imagined 15 years ago. With the arrival of increasingly realistic AI video models and powerful creative tools, I suddenly had an opportunity to revisit the project that had never left my mind.

This time, I wasn’t going to let the dream go.

I decided to take on the ambitious challenge of creating The Trench using AI tools, bringing my original vision to life in a way that simply wasn’t possible when I first conceived it. Of course, it hasn’t been without its challenges. AI video generation often produces clips of around 10 seconds at a time, meaning that every sequence requires careful planning, countless generations, patience and precision. The cost of generation credits can also quickly add up.

But none of that was going to stop me.

I finally had access to tools that could help me create the film I had envisioned all those years ago, so I set out to push them — and myself — to their limits.

Using Google Flow and its AI creation tools, I’ve been able to build scenes that would once have demanded enormous budgets, specialist crews, practical effects and complex production logistics. From aircraft sweeping across the battlefield while firing machine guns to vast, atmospheric battlefield sequences, the possibilities have opened up an entirely new world of filmmaking.

I can now create the images that once existed only in my imagination, without the huge production costs that would traditionally have made them impossible for an independent filmmaker.

And that, for me, is what makes this project so exciting.

I’m a small independent filmmaker from Blackpool, on the Fylde Coast. I don’t have a Hollywood studio behind me, nor do I have the resources of a major production company. What I do have is a vision, a story I’ve wanted to tell for 15 years, and a determination to see it through.

The Trench has the ambition and cinematic scope of a Hollywood production — but it is being created right here on the Fylde Coast.

And I’ve taken the challenge one step further.

Rather than relying on a traditional filmmaking setup, I’ve deliberately chosen to create, edit and produce the entire film using nothing but my iPhone. From generating the visuals to assembling the sequences and shaping the final production, I’ve made a conscious decision to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with a device that most of us carry in our pockets.

I’ve also written the musical score myself, composing the music to complement the atmosphere, tension and emotion of the film. The editing and audio production have been carried out using a studio application on the same phone.

For me, this has become about more than making a film. It’s about challenging perceptions of independent filmmaking and demonstrating that creativity, determination and modern technology can come together to achieve something extraordinary.

AI hasn’t replaced the vision I had 15 years ago. It has given me the means to finally realise it.

Now, after years on the shelf and countless hours of work bringing it back to life, The Trench is nearing completion — and I honestly couldn’t be more excited.

What began as an idea that I feared might never happen is now becoming a reality. A World War One horror-action film, built from the ground up using AI, driven by an original creative vision, with its script, soundtrack, editing and production shaped by one independent filmmaker.

And to think, it all started with an idea 15 years ago.

The Trench is scheduled for release in January 2027, with a proposed local premiere shortly beforehand. It feels fitting that a film that has travelled such a long road to reach the screen should have its first celebration here, close to home, in the place where I’m bringing it to life.

This project has been a journey of persistence, experimentation, frustration, discovery and, ultimately, belief in an idea that refused to disappear.

I can’t wait to share it with you.