---
title: "What a scene will cost to render, in frames, pixels and units."
method: POST
path: "/api/agents/run/video_cost"
tags: ["Production engines"]
---

# What a scene will cost to render, in frames, pixels and units.

`POST /api/agents/run/video_cost`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://tomorrowlives.com`
- URL: `https://tomorrowlives.com/api/agents/run/video_cost`
- Auth: HTTP bearer

Reads a scene and reports what rendering it takes (frames, size, design renders, shot frames, audio seconds) and what it costs here: units, and whether it is within this service's limits (60 seconds, 1920 by 1080, 30 frames a second, 600 units a job). Renders nothing. A shot costs most, because every frame of it is drawn from geometry: the nine-second two-person chase in video_examples is 130 units at 1280 by 720, the eleven-second talking card 7, and the two-second street in a world 30; a street with its crowd drawn costs far more (see video_schema). Costs no units.

## Request body

- object
  - `scene` object, required: A scene document written inline: output (size, frame rate, length), tracks of clips, optional cast and lines, audio and subtitles. Start from video_examples and read video_schema for every key.

## Response `200`

The job's result and files

- Job
  - `job` string
  - `verb` string
  - `units` integer
  - `ms` integer
  - `result` unknown
  - `files` object[]
    - `name` string
    - `bytes` integer
    - `content_type` string
    - `url` string
    - `url_expires_at` string, date-time

## Other responses

- `400`: The input is not valid
- `401`: No valid API key
- `402`: A pass or a payment is needed: a queued render on the free plan, a unit pack on the free plan (pass_required), a card plan's past-due renewal, or, on the free plan, an owner who has not confirmed their email yet (owner_unconfirmed; a pass needs no confirmation); or a payment did not go through (payment_failed, payment_token_unusable), and nothing was charged
- `403`: The account is suspended, the paying card is not from the United States (region_not_supported), or the address named as its owner said it is not theirs and costed runs are paused until a new owner is named (owner_removed)
- `413`: The input or the output is over its cap; a job stopped by the output cap is not charged
- `422`: The engine refused the input, a limit of the service's refused it (error: video_limit or pull_limit) or stopped the job, or the content policy refused the input (error: content_policy)
- `429`: A limit was hit; reset_at says when it lifts (also in Retry-After)
- `503`: The engines are busy or not installed
- `504`: The job ran past its time and was stopped

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/tomorrowlives/apis/tomorrow-lives-engines.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/tomorrowlives/apis/tomorrow-lives-engines/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/tomorrowlives/apis/tomorrow-lives-engines/revisions/afc3d67322ac?raw)