How to Make an HQ Video

HQ videos are rolling out to select creators to start.

An HQ video is a full scene starring your characters. You choose the cast and the story, and Cantina lays out the script, wardrobe, and locations from your prompt. Then you shape any part of it in the editor.

Start your video

1. Tap Imagine at the bottom of the screen, then Video at the top. You can also tap Make a Video right after you create a character
2. Add your characters. Tap one under Recently Used, or type @ in the prompt.
3. Describe what you want to see. One line is enough.
4. Pick a length, or keep Auto. Videos can run up to 2 minutes.
5. Tap the camera button to build your video.

Templates and themes

• Templates set the format: Podcast, Cinematic Drama, Reality Show, VLog, GRWM (Get Ready With Me), Fantasy Adventure, Microdrama, or Auto.
• Themes set the look. Camera Styles include iPhone Camera, iPhone Selfie, 4K Vlog, Flash Photography, and Cinematic.

Edit your video

The editor has two tabs.

In the Story tab, you can edit:

• Script — edit the actions, dialogue, and sound effects in each clip, and choose who's in each part.
• Cast — add characters, or add extras: extra people who help complete a scene, like a waitress who brings a slice of pie.
• Locations — change a setting, or add a new one by describing it or uploading an image.
• Wardrobe — change what a character wears, for the whole video or for one scene.
• Props — the objects in your scenes.

In the Video tab, you can edit:

• Clips — trim, split, speed up or slow down, duplicate, or delete a clip.
• Captions — the spoken lines, on their own track.
• Text — add text overlays and set the font, color, size, alignment, and position.

Changes to the script, cast, locations, or wardrobe rebuild the clips that use them. Captions, text, and clip edits apply right away. Tap Save to keep your changes.

Each clip holds up to 15 seconds of video, 50 words of dialogue, and 3 dialogue turns.

Share your video

Tap Share to post or send your video, or Edit Video to keep working on it. Finished videos are in My Videos under Complete, and unfinished ones are under Drafts. See How to Share on Cantina.

On web

1. Click Create Video in the left sidebar.
2. Describe your story. Type @ to add your characters as you write.
3. Pick a camera style and a length, or keep Auto.
4. Click the upward arrow to build your story.
5. Review your cast, script, locations, and wardrobe in the editor. Your video isn't made until you generate it, so this is the time to make changes.
6. Click Generate.
7. Click Share to post to your feed, add to Shows or Highlights, copy the link, or download.

Tips

• Start with one or two characters. You can add up to six.
• Tag your characters on each action and line to keep them consistent.
• Direct the frame. Use screen left and screen right to place characters, and on frame and off frame to move them in and out of the shot.
• Review before you generate. Read the script and check your cast, locations, and wardrobe, then make your changes together. Each time you generate, or regenerate a changed scene, it counts toward your daily HQ videos.
• Tell a longer story as a Show. Make each HQ video an episode, and add it to a Show when you share. See What are Shows?

Keep going

• Quick Videos vs HQ Videos — which video to make, and how many HQ videos you can make a day.
• How to Create a Character — make the cast for your videos.
• Prompting 101 — write better prompts.
• Starter Prompt Library — prompts to copy and remix.
• How to Share on Cantina — every way to share.