How To Create Cinematic Video: Tips for Stunning Content

Popular internet memes regularly joke about what is and isn't considered "cinema" — but what is "cinematic video," really?

Cinematic videos look, sound, and flow better than most other video projects, helping you engage viewers and successfully deliver your message. That said, "cinema" isn't defined by a single video element. 

What Is a Cinematic Video?

A cinematic video has a more professional and fine-tuned look than most video content. Imagine your footage playing in a movie theater or on a $5,000 flat-screen TV rather than someone's phone. Every detail, from shadows to background props, should add to the video's narrative for a truly immersive visual experience. 

Cinematic videos generally include the following components:

• Depth of field: Cinematic videos require you to pay attention to more than your subject. Look at everything in the background and consider adding elements to the foreground, such as another actor's shoulder, to create depth. 
• Color palettes: Color can drive your video's narrative and emotional gravity, especially if you use them in props, costumes, backgrounds, and color grading. For example, a scene with desaturated blue colors could establish a somber tone, while an outdoor scene with green grass and trees could create a brighter, more grounded vibe. 
• Compelling narratives: Your video needs to grip viewers on a personal level. An intriguing narrative can get audiences emotionally invested in your message and convince them to keep watching. 

How To Create a Cinematic Video: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these best practices to learn how to create cinematic videos that audiences will love. 

1. Define Your Audience and Goals

First, consider your target audience, including the various demographics you're trying to reach. Your audience should help determine nearly every aspect of your video content, including the focus and the platforms you share on. It can also help you establish clear goals, such as a particular number of YouTube views or link clicks.

Depending on your content, you'll likely need to appeal to multiple demographics for the greatest impact. Key factors to identify your target audience include:

• Age
• Gender
• Location
• Hobbies and habits
• Income and budget
• Most used apps and social media platforms

For professional video marketing, try creating customer personas. These "personas" condense your audience's key motivators and traits, such as their spending and viewing habits, into a single, fictional character. You can then use these personas to visualize the real-life people you want your video to appeal to.

2. Develop a Strong Narrative for Your Cinematic Video

Once you've defined your target audience, create a compelling story arc that motivates them to watch. Your video should resonate with viewers on a personal or primal level, letting them see themselves in your story. 

Strategies for connecting with your audience include:

• Immediate hooks: The internet limits the average viewer's attention span, especially when it comes to short-form videos. Your video must hook viewers in the very first second, such as with animated text or a series of fast cuts, to prevent them from scrolling away.
• Relatable protagonists: Even if you're only making a 15-second ad, consider adding an actor or character to represent your customer persona. For example, if you're marketing to parents, your video could focus on a struggling mother with a lot on her plate.
• Primal needs: Basic human needs — such as survival, love, and freedom — drive many of the best narratives because they connect with us on a universal level. Embracing primal needs can help your video appeal to viewers' emotions and motivations. 

Once you have your idea, begin storyboarding. Write down every idea you have for your project, including the details you must focus on and any specific visual shots. This will help you identify the parts of your video and narrative that need attention.

3. Best Camera Settings for a Cinematic Video

Your exact camera settings will depend on the content and emotions you're trying to capture. For example, bright videos with deep saturation can elicit themes of joy and opportunity, while darker, desaturated shots can establish a thoughtful and dramatic ambiance. 

The best settings for cinematic videos include:

• Saturation: High-saturation videos pop with color, while low-saturation videos look almost grayscale. Consider your video's theme and the colors you're capturing. Bright colors can be effective when used right, but they can be distracting if your video doesn't use a specific pallet. 
• Exposure: Your exposure settings determine how much light your camera captures with each frame. High-exposure videos are better when shooting in daylight, blending your subject with the background, while low exposure is ideal for nighttime and dark spaces. Your best settings will depend on your available lighting and desired tone. 
• Shutter speed: Faster shutter speeds can add details and light exposure to your video, giving it a more refined look. For the best effect, your shutter speed should equal or exceed your frame rate. 
• Focus: Your camera's focus determines what is and isn't blurry in each shot. While your subject should always be in focus, you must consider how blurry or in focus you want the rest of the shot to be. Different camera lenses can blur the background out or make sure viewers see every detail based on your needs. 

4. Optimize Lighting for a Cinematic Look

Shadows can add an interesting element to your cinematic video, establishing uncertainty or drawing attention to specific details. However, they have to be done right. Unintentional shadows on people's faces, key props, or across the background can distract viewers and impair the video's cinematic quality. 

A comprehensive lighting setup will limit shadows and give you more control over your final picture. Most productions generally need at least three lights:

• Key light: This light should be relatively close to the camera and focused directly on your subject and background, lighting everything viewers need to see.
• Fill light: This provides a softer, more diffused light to eliminate noticeable shadows and decrease contrast. 
• Backlight: This light is usually centered behind the subject, erasing the remaining shadows and giving your actor or prop a cinematic glow. 

You may not need to focus much on lighting if you're using natural lighting, such as during an outdoor daytime shoot. However, you should still have a key light ready to make your subject stand out. 

5. Cinematic Video Editor: Post-Production Essentials

Video editing is an essential and often time-consuming part of the production process. While editing one minute of footage usually takes one hour, you may need to allot more time to make your footage more cinematic.

Cinematic video editors focus on the following details:

• Color grading: Color grading can make your footage look more professional and refined, especially when using a particular color palette.
• Juxtaposition: The order of each clip and the timing of each cut can significantly impact your video's final look. To retain viewers' attention, avoid cutting to shots that look too similar and cut to action whenever possible.
• Animation and visual effects (VFX): Graphics, animated text, and other VFX elements can make your video pop even more, whether you add a title or a transition. 
• Sound effects: Background music and audio effects can make your video a more immersive experience, especially when they are timed with your visual elements.

6. Video Upscale: Enhancing Quality for a Professional Finish

Even after you've finished editing your video, you'll still have a lot to consider before publishing or posting it anywhere, including:

• Resolution: Nearly every online platform has different requirements for video sizes. Depending on where you want to publish your video, export it in different aspect ratios and resolutions to maximize its reach on each platform. 
• Test audiences: Consider asking individuals from your target audience to watch your video beforehand to ensure each beat lands how you want it to.
• Analytics: Review your videos' analytics and engagement rates over time to identify what audiences do and don't resonate with.
• Professional consultations: Working with a professional video production company is the best way to avoid mistakes and maximize results. 

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Cinematic Videos

Capturing a cinematic video seems easy in theory, but a lot goes into the process. Be aware of these common mistakes:

• Using sub-par equipment: While filmmakers often brag about "making movies on their phones," phone cameras won't always achieve the cinematic look you want. Investing in essential film equipment — such as high-end cameras, lenses, and lights — will help you capture the best image possible. 
• Recording bad audio: Various factors can impact your audio when filming, such as nearby traffic and noisy household appliances. Your audio team should double-check audio recordings and capture "room tone" editors can use to balance the noise. Additionally, you should be prepared to record automated dialogue replacement (ADR) if any actor's lines are unclear.
• Working alone: Filmmaking is an inherently creative process, so you must be willing to take advice and collaborate with other talented individuals. With years of film experience, a video marketing company can help you capture your vision while maximizing your cinematic aesthetic. 

Why Professional Help Is the Best Option

As an experienced video production company, Charter & Co can help you create engaging and cinematic videos for your unique audience. Our expert team includes producers, writers, camera operators, editors, animators, and more. 

Contact us today to discuss your next video project.