Character consistency in AI video: the Character Lock guide
A face that changes between two shots is the most recognisable sign of a sloppy AI film. It is not a technical fate, it is a method failure. Here is how to keep one character identical across 50 shots.
Why the face changes Every generation starts from a random seed and a text prompt. If the prompt only says "a dark-haired woman", the engine invents a different dark-haired woman each time. The model has no memory between shots.
Build a reusable character sheet Save once: name, age, build, face, hair, clothing, accessories and a reference image. The studio re-injects that description into every prompt as a CHARACTER LOCK block.
The set matters as much as the face Location Lock fixes architecture, materials, time of day and weather. Without it your apartment changes windows between two shots and the viewer disengages before knowing why.
Anchor with an image, not only with text The most reliable method stays image-to-video: the first frame comes from an approved image of the character. The engine no longer has to imagine the face, it animates it.
Check continuity before you edit The continuity check compares the shots of a sequence and flags wardrobe, lighting and axis inconsistencies. Fixing three shots before the edit is far cheaper than re-cutting the sequence.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reuse the same character across projects? Yes, the character library is global: one locked character can carry a whole series.
Does Character Lock work with every engine? The text block works everywhere; image anchoring needs an image-to-video engine, which every main studio engine supports.
How many shots before consistency degrades? With text lock alone, drift appears around the tenth shot. With image anchoring it becomes negligible.
Studio Movies IA gives you 50 credits at sign-up — one free 5-second shot, no card required. You can test the method described here in under ten minutes.