Skip to content
Trending.com Studio logo
Blog Docs Upgrades Login Start free
phone_iphone Apps Updated 2026-03-25

Build a Story Video App

Learn the simplest way to build a Story video app with the Trending API. See the MVP flow, what your app should own, and when to add webhooks.

Not technical? Have your chatbot set this up with you.

Copy this page into your AI assistant: https://trending.com/docs/apps/build-a-story-video-app

Then send: I want to build a simple video app. Read this page and turn it into a step-by-step build plan.

What this page is

This guide is for people who want to build a simple mobile app or web app that creates Story videos. It is the product-builder view of the API, not the raw endpoint reference.

Who this is for

  • founders testing a focused Story video app
  • mobile developers who want one clear video format first
  • teams who want a simple app before adding more templates later

Why Story is a strong first app format

Story is a good first product because it has a clear outcome: a narrated vertical story with scenes, captions, and pacing already handled for the user. That makes the app easy to explain and easy to sell.

What your app should do

  • collect the user prompt and a few simple settings
  • show credits, pricing, or usage limits clearly
  • store your customer data, checkout, and account rules
  • show progress, preview, and final delivery inside your own app

What Trending should do

  • create the Story video job
  • generate the script, voice, visuals, captions, and timing
  • render the final video
  • send status changes back to your app by poll or webhook

The simplest MVP flow

  1. User enters a topic in your app.
  2. Your backend sends POST /api/v1/story/videos.
  3. Your app polls the video status or listens for webhook completion.
  4. Your user reviews the preview.
  5. Your backend starts the final render.
  6. Your app shows the finished download link and stores your own job history.

The first endpoints most app builders need

  • Create preview or final video: POST /api/v1/story/videos
  • Poll status: GET /api/v1/story/videos/{video_id}
  • Render later: POST /api/v1/story/videos/{video_id}/render
  • Abort: POST /api/v1/story/videos/{video_id}/abort

For the full contract, use Video Creation API.

When to add webhooks

Polling is fine for a small MVP. Add webhooks when you want cleaner status updates, background delivery, or more reliable app notifications without repeated polling.

What a good first version looks like

  • one video type only
  • one create form
  • one jobs list with status and preview
  • one render button
  • one final download step

Resist the urge to build every template at once. A focused Story app is easier to launch, explain, test, and improve.

Helpful links