AI Agencies & ServicesSource date: July 18, 2025Last reviewed October 20, 2026

Three filmmakers say their AI-driven film studio Layer8 generates around $50,000 a month

Layer8, based in Lisbon, combines AI production with human filmmaking.

Subject: Layer8 (Ali, Kevin and James Dubec)Client video and film production using AI

Read original source1 source linked below

A monitor showing an automation workflow diagram on a tidy desk

Case Overview & Background

Ali, Kevin and James Dubec are filmmakers who founded Layer8, a studio where AI meets human filmmaking. They say it generates around $50,000 a month through partnerships, referrals and standout work.

How AI Is Used

They use AI in production while keeping human direction, based on their view that AI lacks soul without human input.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 01Combine AI and craft

Human filmmaking with AI production.

Step 02Win partnerships

Growth through partners and referrals.

Step 03Show standout work

Portfolio pieces bring clients.

Customer Acquisition & Distribution

Partnerships, referrals and portfolio work.

Limitations, Risks & Failure Modes

What may not apply to you, and what could go wrong:

The figure is self-reported and was not independently checked
The founders are experienced filmmakers, not beginners
AI video tools change fast

Key Takeaways

Craft skills plus AI can command high fees
Referrals matter in creative services

Sources

Interview SiteJuly 18, 2025

Starter Story: How We Built A $50K/Month AI Filmmaking Studio

Note: Founder interview stating the monthly revenue.

Open Source

Advertising slot availableAdvertise on AI Side Hustles

Category page banner: Reach readers researching one specific AI business model.

One clearly labelled banner on a category page such as Micro-SaaS or AI Agencies, shown next to the documented cases your product is relevant to.

Sponsored placements are always labelled and never change how cases are researched, labelled, or ranked.

See advertising options

Commercial disclosure: We currently have no affiliate or sponsorship relationship with any tool or person on this page. If that changes, affiliate links and sponsored content will be clearly labelled, and evidence labels will never be changed for commercial reasons.

Case ID: cs-layer8-ai-film-studio-50k-a-month

Compare

Related Case Studies

Side Hustle School episode 3075 title card: "First $1,000: Marketing Pro Builds GPT Bots, No Code Needed".

Image: Side Hustle School (episode page)

June 2, 2025

1 source

A marketing consultant who cannot code sells chatbot setups to small businesses

Unnamed marketing consultant (Side Hustle School episode 3075)

A marketing consultant built a chatbot for a skincare client that was spending too long answering the same questions. The client paid $300 to refine and install it. Within a month there were three more clients at $250 to $500 each, then a $50 monthly maintenance fee, and six paying clients by month two.

Read original source

Reported figure

$1,000+ by month two(revenue)

Evidence levelSelf-Reported

Tools:

Inspect Case

Workflows.io social preview: "Go-to-market systems for revenue growth."

Image: Workflows.io

October 15, 2026

1 source

An AI-native go-to-market agency grew from $0 to $3.3 million ARR in about a year

Workflows io (co-founder Fivos Aresti)

Fivos Aresti co-founded Workflows io in July 2025 after helping another agency grow. According to the interview summary, it reached $3.3 million ARR and a team of 21 with no outside money. The team deliberately kept revenue flat for six months.

Read original source

Reported figure

$3.3M ARR(recurring revenue)

Evidence levelSelf-Reported

Tools:none named in the source

Inspect Case

The AI Side Hustles Briefing

Get the free Verified AI Hustles PDF.

Subscribe to get new sourced cases by email and download our PDF of every independently documented case on this site, each with its source link.