"A one-minute AI video" sounds like one unit of work, but it's really "make a dozen or more shots and join them". This page explains how AI videos are made and how length, shot count and production time relate, so you can plan while writing the script.
AI videos are made one shot at a time
Current video generation tools produce a few seconds per output. A video is a set of these clips, and every clip goes through: writing the description, generating, selecting, sometimes regenerating, then post-production. So the workload is the shot count, not just the total length.
Deciding the length
- Paid ads and social feeds: 15 to 30 seconds, one message.
- Website, product explainer, service introduction: 45 to 90 seconds.
- Presentation opener, trade show loop: 30 to 60 seconds.
- Tutorials and process explanations: as needed, but split into several short videos rather than one long one.
Purpose decides length. If unsure, make the full version first and cut a short one from it; that's easier than the reverse.
How many shots
At 4 to 8 seconds per shot, a 30-second video is about 5 to 8 shots and a 60-second video about 8 to 15. Too few is monotonous, too many feels rushed. Segments with a lot of narration can hold a shot longer; picture-only segments can cut faster.
Segmenting the script
- One picture and one point per segment.
- A logic between segments, such as problem, solution, result, action.
- Frames that need to stay (logo, contact details, QR code) hold at least 5 seconds.
- Match the narration word count to the seconds: about 130 to 150 English words per minute. See how to do a voice-over for a video.
What affects production time
- Shot count: more shots, more time.
- Realism: realistic people and complex motion usually need more regeneration.
- Storyboard approval speed: generation starts after approval; the faster and more complete the approval, the smoother the rest.
- Revisions: regenerating a picture takes longer than a post-production change; see how AI video revisions differ from editing.
The estimated timeline is written in the quote.
To save time
Finalise the script, find reference videos, and prepare the real material (product photos, logo) in advance. Projects with these three ready usually run smoothest.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AI video be longer than three minutes?
Yes, but the shot count becomes large. First check whether the content really needs that length, or split it into a series.
Can the same video come in different lengths?
Yes; full version first, then the short cut, is most efficient. The short version is separate work and is explained separately.
With many shots, will the video feel choppy?
That's the editing's job. A consistent style, the rhythm of the music and the transitions make many shots read as one video.
