Two very different things share one word

When an author says 'turn my book into a video', they mean one of two things, and the price gap between them is enormous.

The first is a film book: the entire text, performed and scored, cut to moving picture, delivered as a watchable edition that runs as long as the audio edition would. That is a production, measured in hours of finished runtime.

The second is a trailer: sixty to ninety seconds meant to make a stranger curious. That is marketing, measured in seconds, and no amount of care makes it a substitute for the book.

What the full edition costs here

A film book is 12% of the word count — about $0.12 a word. 30,000 words is $3,600. 60,000 words is $7,200. 90,000 words is $10,800, and runs near 9h 41m finished.

Voices beyond the reader, sound effects and score are added by count rather than guessed: voices at 1% of the word count per two, effects at 1% per five, and a music fee of $1,500 for selection, cutting and mixing of licensed score.

The matching audio edition can ride with the film build rather than being commissioned twice.

Why a percentage and not an hourly rate

Your word count is the only honest measure of the work. It sets the runtime, the recording hours, the edit, the picture cut and the number of passes. An hourly rate hides all of that behind an estimate that can move after you have signed.

A published percentage means you can price your own book before you speak to anyone — including this house — and check the figure against any quote you are given anywhere.

Asked and answered

Is a cheaper 'AI video' version of my book worth it?

It is worth what it looks like. A machine-assembled slideshow over synthetic narration reads as one, and it attaches to your name permanently. This house performs and scores the work; the arithmetic above is what that costs.

Can I do one chapter first?

Yes. A single chapter is the honest way to hear and see what the full build will be before committing the whole word count.

Do I keep the rights?

Yes. You keep every right you came in with; the house is paid for production and takes no share of your earnings.