True crime video creator
A true crime video creator on the shorts strip takes one topic sentence and returns a finished vertical documentary Short: researched script, voiceover,
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A true crime video creator on the shorts strip takes one topic sentence and returns a finished vertical documentary Short: researched script, voiceover, real archive footage, word-by-word subtitles, and a thumbnail. ViewMade measured its own output at 1080x1920 with 7 subtitle styles and 5 voiceover languages as of 22 August 2026. The Starter plan costs $29 per month for 50 renders, which works out to $0.58 per Short.
What you give it
You give the shorts strip one thing: a topic. A case name, an event, a question about a crime or investigation. That is the entire input. You do not supply footage, a script, a voice recording, or an editing timeline. If you already have those and want to edit them yourself, this is not the tool for that job; CapCut or Descript fit that workflow instead.
What comes back
Each render returns:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080x1920 vertical |
| Subtitles | Word-by-word, burned into the image, 7 styles |
| Voiceover | 5 languages |
| Media credits file | Source named for every clip |
| Upload package | Title, description, tags, background music |
The thumbnail is included. The media credits file lists where every clip came from.
How it works
- Research. The strip researches the topic you gave it before writing anything.
- Script. It writes a documentary script from that research.
- Assembly. It cuts the script against real archive footage, maps, and charts, then adds voiceover and subtitles.
- Package. It renders the finished Short with a thumbnail, title, description, tags, and the media credits file.
Where the footage comes from
The footage is real. The shorts strip pulls clips from actual archives, plus maps and charts, rather than generating frames with a video model. This matters in true crime more than in most niches: viewers notice when a case about a real event plays over invented imagery, and platforms increasingly label synthetic video. Every render ships with a media credits file that names the source of each clip, so you can check what appears on screen and answer viewers who ask. StoryShort also uses web-sourced imagery but provides only partial source attribution; InVideo, Revid, Pictory, and AutoShorts generate their visuals and provide no credit file. If your channel's credibility depends on showing what actually happened, the credit file is the difference between a defensible video and a guess.
What it costs
There are two plans, both monthly only. There is no free tier and no signup credit; production starts after payment succeeds.
| Plan | Price | Renders | Per Short |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $29/month | 50/month | $0.58 |
| Pro | $59/month, or $29.50/month billed annually ($354/year, 50% off) | 150/month | $0.20 |
Pro adds 10 AI child videos per month, priority render queue, and API plus MCP access. Agency pricing is custom. For comparison, Revid's entry Hobby plan reads at $39 per month (23 August 2026 measurement) and Crayo's annual-rate plans run $13 to $55 per month equivalent.
When this is not the right fit
This strip makes documentaries about real events from a topic sentence. It does not take your footage, and it does not publish for you. If you have a long video and want clips pulled out of it, Opus Clip does that, and it has a free tier (Starter $15, Pro $29 monthly). If you want to caption and polish a clip you already shot, Submagic is built for that. If you need a presenter on camera without a camera, HeyGen starts at $29 per month. If you want scheduled hands-off publishing from a topic, AutoShorts covers that. And if you want full manual control over a recording, Descript gives the most editing control, from $16 per person per month billed annually. ViewMade downloads a file; you upload it yourself.
<!-- faq -->Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost?
Starter is $29 per month for 50 renders, $0.58 per Short. Pro is $59 monthly or $29.50 per month on the annual plan at $354 per year, $0.20 per Short. No free tier, no signup credit.
Is the footage AI-generated?
No. Clips come from real archives, maps, and charts. Each render includes a media credits file naming the source of every clip.
What access does it need to my YouTube account?
Read-only (youtube.readonly). The access token is discarded after import and no refresh token is stored. ViewMade cannot upload, edit, delete, or comment on your channel.
Can I publish directly from the tool?
No. You download the finished Short, thumbnail, metadata, and credits file, then upload them yourself.