# Create an Explainer Video Produce your first AI-powered explainer video in just a few steps. This walkthrough uses the same `/content/Create` endpoint as podcasts, but switches the payload to `outputType: "video"` so the service renders motion visuals instead of audio-only narration. Video requests support three formats: `explainer`, `brief`, and `cinematic`. ## Step 1: Create Content Request Send a POST request to `/content/Create` with your preferred resources, set `outputType` to `video`, and optionally choose a `format`: ```bash curl -X POST "https://api.autocontentapi.com/content/Create" \ -H "accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "resources": [ { "type": "website", "content": "https://example.com/article-about-ai" }, { "type": "youtube", "content": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" } ], "outputType": "video", "format": "explainer", "text": "Create an engaging explainer about current AI developments" }' ``` ### Example Response ```json { "request_id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "status": 0 } ``` **Important:** Save the `request_id` โ€” you'll use it to poll status and download the final video. ### Choose a format Explainer video requests use `format` to control the output. If you still send the generic `duration` parameter, it is ignored: | Format | Best for | Credits | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------- | | `explainer` | Balanced default for most product, education, and marketing videos | 50 | | `brief` | Tighter, punchier recaps and shorter social-friendly explainers | 50 | | `cinematic` | Premium, more polished storytelling treatment | 100 | If you omit `format`, the API defaults to `explainer`. Use `style` separately when you want to change the visual aesthetic. ### Optional: Guide titles, descriptions, and visuals Use these fields to steer how the service names and presents the video: | Field | What it does | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `title` | Sets an explicit video title. When present, this overrides the auto-generated title. | | `titlePrompt` | Guides the model when auto-generating the title (e.g., ask for concise, listicle-style, or SEO-friendly phrasing). | | `descriptionPrompt` | Steers the generated video description (tone, call-to-action, hashtags, etc.). | | `thumbnailImagePrompt` | Directs the generated thumbnail artwork. | | `introImagePrompt` | Directs the opening frame artwork. | Add any combination of these to the POST body: ```bash curl -X POST "https://api.autocontentapi.com/content/Create" \ -H "accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "resources": [ { "type": "youtube", "content": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ" } ], "outputType": "video", "format": "brief", "text": "Summarize this tutorial into a concise explainer for enterprise buyers", "title": "Modern Identity Security in 90 Seconds", "titlePrompt": "Keep it punchy and benefits-forward", "descriptionPrompt": "Include a one-sentence CTA to download the whitepaper", "thumbnailImagePrompt": "Flat illustration of a secure cloud, teal and navy palette, minimal text", "introImagePrompt": "Logo lockup on gradient with subtle motion trails" }' ``` ### Optional: Apply your brand via `projects` If you have a saved project with brand assets, include the `projects` array (pass one or more IDs) to place your logo on the generated video and thumbnail: ```bash curl -X POST "https://api.autocontentapi.com/content/Create" \ -H "accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "outputType": "video", "format": "cinematic", "projects": ["YOUR_PROJECT_ID"], "topic": "Product launch overview with two customer wins", "text": "Create a polished launch explainer with a strong closing CTA." }' ``` See the [brand logo recipe](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/explainer-videos/brand-with-project-id) for more variations. Need a project first? Follow [Create a Project (Brand Assets)](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/tools/create-project) to save a logo via `imageUrl` or `imageData`. ## Step 2: Poll for Status Use the `request_id` to check the processing status by calling `/content/Status/{id}`: ```bash curl -X GET "https://api.autocontentapi.com/content/Status/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" \ -H "accept: application/json" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN" ``` ### While Processing ```json { "id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "status": 5, "updated_on": "2024-01-15T10:32:00Z", "error_code": 0, "requested_on": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z" } ``` **Status Codes:** * `0` = Pending (queued for processing) * `5` = Processing (generation in progress) * `100` = Completed (video ready!) ## Step 3: Get Your Video When `status` reaches `100`, the payload includes a link to your generated video: Titles or prompts you set in Step 1 flow into `video_title`, and image prompts steer `image_url`/`thumbnail` assets returned here. ```json { "id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "video_title": "AI Developments Discussion", "status": 100, "video_url": "https://storage.autocontentapi.com/video/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000.mp4", "image_url": "https://storage.autocontentapi.com/thumbnails/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000.jpg", "response_text": "Full narration that describes the generated visuals...", "requested_on": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z", "updated_on": "2024-01-15T10:35:00Z", "request_type_id": 1, "error_code": 0, "error_on": null, "citations": [], "file_size": 51234567, "video_duration": 456, "share_url": "https://autocontentapi.com/share/video/550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000/20240115" } ``` **๐ŸŽ‰ Success!** Your explainer video is ready at the `video_url`, and you can grab the thumbnail from `image_url`. ## Resource Types You can mix and match resource types just like you would for a podcast: | Type | Description | Example | | --------- | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | `website` | Any web page URL | `"https://techcrunch.com/article"` | | `youtube` | YouTube video URL | `"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"` | | `text` | Direct text content | `"Your custom instructions or content"` | | `pdf` | PDF document URL | `"https://example.com/document.pdf"` | > Need a specific payload? Check the new [Explainer Video Scenario Examples](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/explainer-videos/explainer-video-examples) for copy-paste `curl` requests covering languages, formats, styles, and every supported resource type. ## Tips for Better Results 1. **Mix resource types** โ€“ Combine websites, videos, and text for richer storytelling. 2. **Provide clear instructions** โ€“ Use the `text` field to direct the pacing, tone, or call-to-action. 3. **Surface thumbnails** โ€“ Store the `image_url` for embedding preview artwork alongside the finished video. 4. **Check status regularly** โ€“ Processing typically takes 2-5 minutes for most requests; `cinematic` can take longer. 5. **Save the request\_id** โ€“ You'll need it to retrieve your video and any associated transcript. ## Error Handling If something goes wrong, the status response will include error details: ```json { "id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "status": 0, "error_code": 400, "error_message": "Invalid resource URL provided", "error_on": "2024-01-15T10:31:00Z", "requested_on": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z" } ``` ## What's Next? * ๐ŸŽจ Pick reusable formats and styles in [Explainer Video Scenario Examples](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/explainer-videos/explainer-video-examples) * ๐Ÿงช Explore language-specific snippets in the [video code samples](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/code-samples/explainer-videos/video-explainer-samples) * ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Add branded voices with [Clone a Voice](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/tools/clone-voice) * ๐Ÿ“ Need captions? Run the final audio track through [Transcribe Audio](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/quick-start/tools/transcribe-audio) * ๐Ÿ”ฎ Check out [Advanced Integrations](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/integrations) for automation ideas * โ“ Have questions? Visit our [FAQ](https://docs.autocontentapi.com/faq)