Generative video
Generative video is footage produced by a model from a text prompt or a still image rather than recorded with a camera. In advertising its best use is filling gaps in real footage, establishing shots, textures, impossible camera moves, rather than producing whole ads.
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Why it matters
It costs meaningfully more than editing footage you already own, and that price difference is real rather than arbitrary. In Genyad a generated second costs 2 credits against 1 credit for an entire variation cut from your library, which is the honest signal about where the compute goes.
How to apply it
| Use | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Establishing or ambience shot under 3s | Good | Peripheral, nobody inspects it |
| Product angle from a real photo | Good | Image to video keeps the product correct |
| Impossible camera move | Good | Cheaper than a rig and stylised anyway |
| Hands using the product | Poor | Artefacts appear exactly where the eye goes |
| Faces and presenters | Poor | Use real footage or a purpose-built avatar tool |
| A whole ad | Poor | Reads as synthetic and tends to underperform |
What people get wrong
- Generating long clips. Cost scales per second and quality drifts.
- Generating the product from a text description instead of animating a real photo of it.
- Judging generative video by showreels. Showreels are the best few seconds out of many attempts.
Frequently asked questions
Is generative video good enough for ads?
For short peripheral shots, yes, and viewers do not scrutinise 2 seconds of ambience. For the product itself, hands and faces, real footage still wins clearly.
Why does generated video cost more than editing?
Because the compute is genuinely more expensive. Genyad charges 2 credits per generated second against 1 credit for a full variation assembled from your own clips.
Can I mix generated and real footage in one ad?
Yes, and that is the intended use. Generated clips are indexed alongside real ones and compete for slots.