Formats · Length 15-60s · 9:16 or 16:9 (often 2.39:1 letterboxed) · advanced
Cinematic b-roll video: how to shoot, edit, and prompt it
A cinematic b-roll video is a slow run of composed shots with controlled movement, shallow depth, and one grade, made for mood rather than information.
By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24
- Platforms
- Reels, TikTok, YouTube
- Length
- 15-60s
- Aspect
- 9:16 or 16:9 (often 2.39:1 letterboxed)
- Difficulty
- advanced
- Gear
- phone with cinematic mode or a camera, gimbal or steady hands, ND filter
Slower than you think. Cut on music phrases, not on every beat.
At a glance
| Best for | Brand films, product mood pieces, travel, portfolio |
| Hook style | The single best shot, 2-3 seconds, no text |
| Pacing | 2-4 seconds per shot, even |
| Caption style | None, or one line of type at the end |
| Music | Ambient, cinematic, or a slow track |
| Shot list | Establishing wide. Slow push-ins. Details in portrait mode. Silhouettes, reflections, light through things. Someone walking away. |
| Common mistakes | Too fast. Shaky. Over-graded. Random shots with no thread. |
Structure
- 0-3s: hero shot, held
- 3-20s: the place, wide to medium
- 20-40s: details and the subject
- 40-55s: the widest or most emotional shot
- 55-60s: fade to black, one line of type
How to shoot it
- 24fps, shutter at 1/48 or 1/50, ND filter outside.
- One slow move per shot. Push, slide, tilt, or a static with the subject moving.
- Shallow depth on details, deep focus on wides.
- Golden hour or soft shade.
- Hold each shot 8-10 seconds so you can trim.
How to edit it
- 2-4 second cuts. Longer than feels natural.
- Cut at the end of a move or on a music phrase.
- One grade for everything.
- Letterbox only if you framed for it.
- Ambient sound layers, a swell before the last shot.
- Type at the end only, small.
Prompt it in Vyra
Build a 45-second cinematic piece from the beach clips. Slow cuts, 2-4 seconds each, cut on the music phrases not every beat. Open on the wide sunset shot and hold it. Apply a warm, slightly desaturated grade to everything. No captions, just the words "summer, 2026" small at the end.
Match the grade and cut pace of the attached reference. Keep my footage order roughly wide to detail to wide.
Add ambient wave sound under the music and a slow fade to black at the end.
Variations
- Product cinematic, the object is the subject, macro and light.
- Travel cinematic, one location per section.
- Hybrid, cinematic b-roll with a short voiceover.
FAQ
Can I do this on a phone? Yes. Cinematic or portrait video mode, lock exposure, move slowly. Steady matters more than the camera.
How do I keep the grade consistent? Shoot in the same light and grade the whole timeline at once. Ask Vyra to grade all clips together.
Any text? Almost none. One line at the end if it needs a name.