Budget from the number of accepted shots. Keep attempts and acceptance rate visible, then connect usage cost to the finished-video budget.
01Define the accepted-shot unit
Start with the finished duration and average shot length. Divide the timeline into shots that must survive review, then estimate attempts per accepted shot. This produces a more useful unit than cost per generated minute because rejected motion, continuity failures, and unusable text remain part of the production bill.
02Keep model access and credits separate
A subscription price does not prove that every model, resolution, duration, or commercial-use option is included. Record the plan fee, included credits, credit cost per generation, overage rules, and expiry separately. Unknown or conflicting values should stay unknown rather than being converted to zero.
03Measure your own acceptance rate
Use a small batch of representative prompts and record every attempt. Mark whether each result is accepted, revised, or rejected and note the reason. Repeat after a model or workflow change. This creates an independent production record without pretending that one test predicts every style or subject.
04Connect generation to the finished deliverable
Generation is only one line in the budget. Add editing, upscaling, voice, music, storage, review, and labor before comparing with stock footage or live production. The AI video calculator estimates generation; the finished-video calculator shows whether that saving survives the rest of the workflow.