Create Video
Generate complete videos from a text prompt. Describe what you want and the AI handles script writing, avatar selection, visuals, voiceover, pacing, and captions automatically.
Authentication
All requests require the
header. Set the
environment variable.
bash
curl -X POST "https://api.heygen.com/v1/video_agent/generate" \
-H "X-Api-Key: $HEYGEN_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"prompt": "Create a 60-second product demo video."}'
Tool Selection
If HeyGen MCP tools are available (
),
prefer them over direct HTTP API calls — they handle authentication and request formatting automatically.
| Task | MCP Tool | Fallback (Direct API) |
|---|
| Generate video from prompt | mcp__heygen__generate_video_agent
| POST /v1/video_agent/generate
|
| Check video status / get URL | | GET /v2/videos/{video_id}
|
| List account videos | | |
| Delete a video | mcp__heygen__delete_video
| DELETE /v2/videos/{video_id}
|
If no HeyGen MCP tools are available, use direct HTTP API calls as documented in the reference files.
Default Workflow
Always use prompt-optimizer.md guidelines to structure prompts with scenes, timing, and visual styles.
With MCP tools:
- Write an optimized prompt using prompt-optimizer.md → visual-styles.md
- Call
mcp__heygen__generate_video_agent
with prompt and config (duration_sec, orientation, avatar_id)
- Call with the returned video_id to poll status and get the download URL
Without MCP tools (direct API):
- Write an optimized prompt using prompt-optimizer.md → visual-styles.md
POST /v1/video_agent/generate
— see video-agent.md
- — see video-status.md
Quick Reference
| Task | MCP Tool | Read |
|---|
| Generate video from prompt | mcp__heygen__generate_video_agent
| prompt-optimizer.md → visual-styles.md → video-agent.md |
| Check video status / get download URL | | video-status.md |
| Upload reference files for prompt | — | assets.md |
When to Use This Skill vs Avatar Video
This skill is for prompt-based video creation — describe what you want, and the AI handles the rest.
If the user needs precise control over specific avatars, exact scripts, per-scene voice/background configuration, or multi-scene composition, use the avatar-video skill instead.
| User Says | This Skill | Avatar Video Skill |
|---|
| "Make me a video about X" | ✓ | |
| "Create a product demo" | ✓ | |
| "I want avatar Y to say exactly Z" | | ✓ |
| "Multi-scene video with different backgrounds" | | ✓ |
| "Transparent WebM for compositing" | | ✓ |
Reference Files
Core Workflow
- references/prompt-optimizer.md - Writing effective prompts (core workflow + rules)
- references/visual-styles.md - 20 named visual styles with full specs
- references/prompt-examples.md - Full production prompt example + ready-to-use templates
- references/video-agent.md - Video Agent API endpoint details
Foundation
- references/video-status.md - Polling patterns and download URLs
- references/webhooks.md - Webhook endpoints and events
- references/assets.md - Uploading images, videos, audio as references
- references/dimensions.md - Resolution and aspect ratios
- references/quota.md - Credit system and usage limits
Best Practices
- Optimize your prompt — The difference between mediocre and professional results depends entirely on prompt quality. Always use the prompt optimizer
- Specify duration — Use for predictable length
- Lock avatar if needed — Use for consistency across videos
- Upload reference files — Help the agent understand your brand/product
- Iterate on prompts — Refine based on results; Video Agent is great for quick iterations