Video Generation Skill

Overview

This skill generates high-quality videos using structured prompts and a Python script. The workflow includes creating JSON-formatted prompts and executing video generation with optional reference image.

Core Capabilities

• Create structured JSON prompts for AIGC video generation
• Support reference image as guidance or the first/last frame of the video
• Generate videos through automated Python script execution

Workflow

Step 1: Understand Requirements

When a user requests video generation, identify:

• Subject/content: What should be in the image
• Style preferences: Art style, mood, color palette
• Technical specs: Aspect ratio, composition, lighting
• Reference image: Any image to guide generation
• You don't need to check the folder under /mnt/user-data

Step 2: Create Structured Prompt

Generate a structured JSON file in /mnt/user-data/workspace/ with naming pattern: {descriptive-name}.json

Step 3: Create Reference Image (Optional when image-generation skill is available)

Generate reference image for the video generation.

• If only 1 image is provided, use it as the guided frame of the video

Step 3: Execute Generation

Call the Python script:

python /mnt/skills/public/video-generation/scripts/generate.py \
  --prompt-file /mnt/user-data/workspace/prompt-file.json \
  --reference-images /path/to/ref1.jpg \
  --output-file /mnt/user-data/outputs/generated-video.mp4 \
  --aspect-ratio 16:9

Parameters:

• --prompt-file: Absolute path to JSON prompt file (required)
• --reference-images: Absolute paths to reference images (optional). Images used by the provider must have a recognized filename extension: .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .webp, or .gif (case-insensitive). Missing or other extensions are rejected before submission. Filenames must match their contents: the script neither validates image contents nor converts bytes. Recognizing an extension does not guarantee that the selected provider accepts that format.
• --output-file: Absolute path to output image file (required)
• --aspect-ratio sets the video aspect ratio for Gemini (optional, defaults to 16:9).

[!NOTE] Do NOT read the python file, instead just call it with the parameters.

Video Generation Example

User request: "Generate a short video clip depicting the opening scene from "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

Step 1: Search for the opening scene of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" online

Step 2: Create a JSON prompt file with the following content:

{
  "title": "The Chronicles of Narnia - Train Station Farewell",
  "background": {
    "description": "World War II evacuation scene at a crowded London train station. Steam and smoke fill the air as children are being sent to the countryside to escape the Blitz.",
    "era": "1940s wartime Britain",
    "location": "London railway station platform"
  },
  "characters": ["Mrs. Pevensie", "Lucy Pevensie"],
  "camera": {
    "type": "Close-up two-shot",
    "movement": "Static with subtle handheld movement",
    "angle": "Profile view, intimate framing",
    "focus": "Both faces in focus, background soft bokeh"
  },
  "dialogue": [
    {
      "character": "Mrs. Pevensie",
      "text": "You must be brave for me, darling. I'll come for you... I promise."
    },
    {
      "character": "Lucy Pevensie",
      "text": "I will be, mother. I promise."
    }
  ],
  "audio": [
    {
      "type": "Train whistle blows (signaling departure)",
      "volume": 1
    },
    {
      "type": "Strings swell emotionally, then fade",
      "volume": 0.5
    },
    {
      "type": "Ambient sound of the train station",
      "volume": 0.5
    }
  ]
}

Step 3: Use the image-generation skill to generate the reference image

Load the image-generation skill and generate a single reference image narnia-farewell-scene-01.jpg according to the skill.

Step 4: Use the generate.py script to generate the video

With Gemini, set the aspect ratio on the command line.

python /mnt/skills/public/video-generation/scripts/generate.py \
  --prompt-file /mnt/user-data/workspace/narnia-farewell-scene.json \
  --reference-images /mnt/user-data/outputs/narnia-farewell-scene-01.jpg \
  --output-file /mnt/user-data/outputs/narnia-farewell-scene-01.mp4 \
  --aspect-ratio 16:9

With MiniMax, set resolution and duration on the same command that runs the script.

VIDEO_GENERATION_PROVIDER=minimax MINIMAX_VIDEO_RESOLUTION=1080P MINIMAX_VIDEO_DURATION=6 \
  python /mnt/skills/public/video-generation/scripts/generate.py \
  --prompt-file /mnt/user-data/workspace/narnia-farewell-scene.json \
  --reference-images /mnt/user-data/outputs/narnia-farewell-scene-01.jpg \
  --output-file /mnt/user-data/outputs/narnia-farewell-scene-01.mp4

Do NOT read the python file, just call it with the parameters.

Output Handling

The generation command exits with status 1 and writes errors to stderr when generation fails, including missing provider credentials. Only present the video after the command succeeds; a file left by an earlier run is not a new result.

After generation:

• Videos are typically saved in /mnt/user-data/outputs/
• Share generated videos (come first) with user as well as generated image if applicable, using present_files tool
• Provide brief description of the generation result
• Offer to iterate if adjustments needed

Notes

• Always use English for prompts regardless of user's language
• JSON format ensures structured, parsable prompts
• Reference image enhance generation quality significantly
• Iterative refinement is normal for optimal results

Providers (Gemini / MiniMax)

Provider credentials are read from the runtime environment, not embedded in the script. Do not put their values in prompt files or command-line arguments.

Auto-selected by environment variables (CLI unchanged):

• GEMINI_API_KEY set → Gemini Veo (default, unchanged).
• Only MINIMAX_API_KEY set → MiniMax video (/v1/video_generation, async 3-step poll/download).
• Force with VIDEO_GENERATION_PROVIDER=gemini|minimax.

MiniMax uses MINIMAX_API_HOST (default https://api.minimaxi.com) and MINIMAX_VIDEO_MODEL (default MiniMax-Hailuo-2.3). It uses the first reference image as first_frame_image.

Set MINIMAX_VIDEO_RESOLUTION and MINIMAX_VIDEO_DURATION (integer seconds) to override the API defaults. With Hailuo 2.3, use 768P at 6 or 10 seconds, or 1080P at 6 seconds. For a draft and final pass, start at 768P and switch to 1080P for the final 6-second clip.