> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tavus.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Video to Face

> Create a Phoenix face from a training video using the Create Face and Get Face APIs.

<Note>
  This guide is for **training a face through the API** with video URLs. If you prefer a guided flow with upload checks and inline validation, use the [PAL Maker](https://maker.tavus.io/dev/faces/create).
</Note>

## Outcome

You will `POST /v2/faces` with `train_video_url` then poll `GET /v2/faces/{face_id}` until training finishes.

## Prerequisites

* Publicly downloadable URLs for each asset you send (for example presigned S3 GET URLs). Keep them valid for at least **24 hours** after submission.

## 1. Create the face

Default model is **`phoenix-4`**. To request **`phoenix-3`**, include `"model_name": "phoenix-3"` in the JSON body.

**Personal face (training video):**

```bash theme={null}
curl --request POST \
  --url https://tavusapi.com/v2/faces \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header "x-api-key: $TAVUS_API_KEY" \
  --data '{
    "callback_url": "",
    "face_name": "my_replica",
    "train_video_url": "https://example.com/training-video.mp4",
  }'
```

**Synthetic / non-human:** send `train_video_url`

```bash theme={null}
curl --request POST \
  --url https://tavusapi.com/v2/faces \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header "x-api-key: $TAVUS_API_KEY" \
  --data '{
    "callback_url": "",
    "face_name": "synthetic_replica",
    "train_video_url": "https://example.com/training-video.mp4"
  }'
```

## 2. Poll face status

Use [Get Face](/api-reference/faces/get-face):

```bash theme={null}
curl --request GET \
  --url "https://tavusapi.com/v2/faces/$REPLICA_ID" \
  --header "x-api-key: $TAVUS_API_KEY"
```

<Note>
  Training usually takes **3–4 hours**. Optional: set `callback_url` to receive status webhooks.
</Note>

## 3. Start a conversation

Generate a conversation with your face using [Create Conversation](https://docs.tavus.io/api-reference/conversations/create-conversation)

```bash theme={null}
curl --request POST \
  --url https://tavusapi.com/v2/conversations \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'x-api-key: $TAVUS_API_KEY" \
  --data '
{
  "face_id": $REPLICA_ID" 
}
'
```

## Related

* [Create Face](/api-reference/faces/create-face) (full parameter reference)
* [Image to Face](/sections/faces/image-to-face-quickstart) if you switch to headshot-based training