Formats · Length 30-60s · 9:16 · beginner
Green screen commentary video: how to shoot, edit, and prompt it
A green screen commentary puts you in front of a screenshot, article, or clip while you react to it, with the source on screen the whole time.
By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24
- Platforms
- TikTok, Reels, Shorts
- Length
- 30-60s
- Aspect
- 9:16
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Gear
- phone, a screenshot or article, plain wall
You don't need an actual green screen. A plain wall works.
At a glance
| Best for | News takes, hot takes, explaining a post, myth-busting |
| Hook style | Point at the source and say your take in 2 seconds |
| Pacing | Fast, 6-10 cuts per 30 seconds |
| Caption style | Word-by-word or short phrases, away from the source text |
| Music | None or very faint |
| Shot list | One take on a plain wall. The source at full resolution. Zoomed crops of the key lines. |
| Common mistakes | Source text too small. You standing over the key line. Reading the whole thing out loud. |
Structure
- 0-2s: source appears, you say the take
- 2-10s: what the source claims, one sentence
- 10-40s: your points, zooming into the relevant part each time
- 40-50s: your conclusion
- 50-55s: a question for the comments
How to shoot it
- Stand against a plain, evenly lit wall.
- Keep your body to one side. Leave the other side for the source.
- Point and gesture at where the source will be.
- One take per point so each cut has a clean start.
- Save the source at native size, not a screenshot of a screenshot.
How to edit it
- Remove the background and put the source full-bleed behind you.
- Zoom the source to the sentence you're on for each point.
- Captions go in the part of the frame that's not you or the key text.
- Cut every pause.
- Box or underline the key line of the source.
Prompt it in Vyra
Remove my background and put the attached screenshot behind me, full frame. Each time I say "here" or "this part", zoom the screenshot into the sentence I'm talking about. Add word-by-word captions on the side I'm not standing on.
Cut my commentary to 45 seconds with no pauses. Keep the article behind me the whole time and highlight the quoted line in yellow when I read it.
Variations
- Clip reaction, a video plays behind you instead of an image.
- Duet style, source on the left, you on the right.
- Chart annotation, the source is a chart you mark up.
FAQ
Do I need a real green screen? No. A plain wall and even light is enough for the background removal. Avoid patterns and anything close to your hair color.
Can I use someone else's post? Commentary on public posts is normal. Keep it attributed and add something the post doesn't say.
Where do captions go? The side you're not on, below the key text. Never over the line you're pointing at.