Adding Shots to Your Movie One at a Time
How adding a shot works
You build a Movie one shot at a time, which gives you a chance to review each result before paying for the next. Here's how to add a shot to your AI Movie.
Step by step
1. Choose a duration
Pick how long the shot should be. The available durations depend on your Movie's resolution and aspect ratio. A shot also has to fit within the Movie's total length limit.
2. Choose fresh or continue
- Fresh starts a new scene. If you've attached reference photos, a fresh shot uses them. Pick this for a cut to a new location or moment.
- Continue starts from the last frame of the previous shot, so the action flows on. It needs a previous shot, and that shot must be finished first.
3. Check the estimate
Before anything is charged, you see what the shot will cost and how much of your budget remains. If it doesn't fit your budget cap, you'll be told, and a shorter duration may fit. The quote is only valid for a short time, so if you wait too long, request it again.
4. Write your prompt
Describe what happens in the shot. Prompts can be up to 2,000 characters, but clear and focused usually beats long. Our guide to writing prompts for video covers motion, camera and scene description.
For a continuing shot, describe what changes from the last frame instead of re-describing the whole scene.
5. Confirm
Confirming places a hold on your wallet for the shot and starts it. Your Movie's settings apply automatically.
Why one shot at a time
Only one shot per Movie can generate at once. This keeps spending predictable and lets you check each result. Your account also has a limit on how many videos can generate at the same time, and that includes Studio videos. If you hit it, wait for one to finish and try again.
While a shot generates
Video takes a while. You can leave the page. See understanding generation status and wait times. When it completes, review it, then add the next shot.
Tips for better Movies
- Plan a shot list first. A rough list of scenes saves money.
- Use continue for flow, fresh for cuts. Mixing them gives a more natural film.
- Keep shots short while testing. Short shots are cheaper to redo.
- Review before continuing. A continuing shot starts from the last frame, so a flawed ending carries into the next shot.
If a shot fails
A failed shot is refunded, and its amount returns to your budget. You can try again, and what to do if a video generation stalls or fails explains your options.
Related guides
Try it yourself: add a short first shot to your Movie, then follow it with a continue shot.