Python AI video API

Requires Python 3.9+ and requests. Copy also lives at /examples/python/generate.py. Longer tutorial: blog post.

#!/usr/bin/env python3
"""Minimal VideoGenAPI client: generate + poll status.

Last executed pattern: 16 August 2026. Set VIDEOGENAPI_KEY in the environment.
"""
import os
import sys
import time
import requests

BASE = "https://videogenapi.com/api/v1"
KEY = os.environ.get("VIDEOGENAPI_KEY", "")


def generate(prompt: str, model: str = "kling-3", duration: int = 5) -> dict:
    r = requests.post(
        f"{BASE}/generate",
        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {KEY}", "Content-Type": "application/json"},
        json={"model": model, "prompt": prompt, "duration": duration},
        timeout=30,
    )
    r.raise_for_status()
    return r.json()


def wait(generation_id: str, timeout: int = 300) -> dict:
    deadline = time.time() + timeout
    while time.time() < deadline:
        r = requests.get(
            f"{BASE}/status/{generation_id}",
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {KEY}"},
            timeout=30,
        )
        r.raise_for_status()
        data = r.json()
        status = (data.get("status") or data.get("data", {}).get("status") or "").lower()
        if status in {"completed", "success", "failed", "error"}:
            return data
        time.sleep(3)
    raise TimeoutError("generation did not finish before timeout")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    if not KEY:
        sys.exit("Set VIDEOGENAPI_KEY")
    prompt = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "A ceramic mug on a sunlit table, slow camera push-in"
    job = generate(prompt)
    gid = job.get("generation_id") or job.get("id") or job.get("data", {}).get("id")
    print("queued", gid)
    print(wait(gid))

Errors to expect

• 401 — missing or invalid API key
• 429 — rate limit or monthly allowance, see rate limits
• failed status — content policy or provider error; read error on the status payload