Video Generation with Gemini (Veo 3.1)

Use this skill when the user asks to generate or extend videos with Gemini using the Python SDK. Default to veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview, resolution="720p", and duration_seconds=4, unless the user asks otherwise or the task requires different settings (e.g., extension, interpolation, reference images, 1080p/4k).

Workflow

1. Identify the task type: text-to-video, image-to-video, reference images, first/last frames (interpolation), or video extension.
2. Ensure GEMINI_API_KEY is available (env or local .env), then use the Python SDK.
3. When using images, pass types.Image(imageBytes=..., mimeType=...) (not PIL.Image or types.Part) to avoid input type errors.
4. Call client.models.generate_videos(...) with the correct inputs/config (see references).
5. Poll the operation until done, then download and save the video.
6. If no videos are returned, surface a clear error and suggest checking the API key, model, and config.

Use these references (by task type)

• Common setup and workflow: references/overview.md
• Parameters and constraints: references/parameters.md
• Model versions and limits: references/model-versions-and-limitations.md
• Prompting guidance: references/prompt-guide.md

Task types

• Text-to-video: examples/text-to-video.md
• Image-to-video: examples/image-to-video.md
• Reference images: examples/reference-images.md
• First/last frames (interpolation): examples/first-last-frames.md
• Video extension: examples/video-extension.md

Tuning examples

• Aspect ratio: examples/aspect-ratio.md
• Resolution (4k): examples/resolution.md
• Negative prompt: examples/negative-prompt.md

Defaults and notes

• Default model: veo-3.1-fast-generate-preview.
• Default output: 720p, 4 seconds.
• For image inputs, always provide imageBytes + mimeType via types.Image to prevent INVALID_ARGUMENT errors.
• 1080p/4k, reference images, interpolation, and video extension require duration_seconds=8.
• Video extension is limited to 720p inputs and requires a video from a previous Veo generation.
• Video generation can take minutes; allow longer timeouts when running commands.