A character finds a letter
Main shot: a woman opens an envelope. Cutaway: a close-up reveals an old photograph. Return: the original scene resumes as she reacts.
Add a Cutaway Scene to Your Video Without Reshooting
Your video already tells the story. Generate the missing reaction, detail, or story-relevant shot.
Step 1 · Footage & Cut Points
1. Upload your video
The selected source interval is replaced by AI-generated footage. This is not an audio-preserving overlay and does not leave every original frame untouched.
The reused example features a cat and teapot. It demonstrates real scene replacement and timing, not an interview cutaway, documentary insert, or audio-preservation workflow.
Show the moment your audience needs to see
A character opens a letter, but viewers never see what was inside. An interview mentions a meaningful object or place, but you have no footage of it. You know which shot would make the edit clearer—you just don't have it. Generate that cutaway and keep working from the sequence you already made.
You don't always discover the missing shot until the edit
It's easy to focus on dialogue, movement, and the central scene while filming or generating footage. In the edit, you may realize viewers need one more piece of information: what the character noticed, what object the speaker described, or what's happening behind the door.
Finding another location, arranging a reshoot, or rebuilding several generated shots can be more work than the missing moment deserves.
Create the specific visual beat your edit needs and continue with the footage that already works.
Let the audience see something beyond the main action
A cutaway briefly shifts attention from the main shot to another relevant subject: a reaction, an important object, a view outside the room, or an event happening elsewhere. It matters because it changes what viewers understand about the scene.
A suspenseful moment
Main shot: a character hears a hallway sound. Cutaway: a door handle begins to turn. Return: the character looks toward the door.
Here, the selected source interval is replaced with generated footage. It is not an overlay track that preserves every original frame.
From reaction shots to important story objects
Reaction cutaway
Show another person's response to the main action, such as a listener pausing and looking surprised.
Object insert
Bring attention to a story object, such as a cracked watch beside an old photograph.
Suspense detail
Reveal a small detail that builds anticipation, such as a shadow beneath a closed door.
Location cutaway
Connect the story to another place, such as rain falling on a street outside a window.
Interview illustration
Show relevant illustrative footage, such as hands opening a worn notebook on a workbench.
Action detail
Clarify an action with a visual close-up, such as a hand reaching for a key.
Off-screen event
Show something happening outside the main frame, like a lamp flickering in an empty room.
Environmental detail
Establish mood with a visual detail, such as a fan turning slowly during a tense conversation.
Do you need supporting footage or a story-relevant reveal?
B-roll: show more of the subject
B-roll adds supporting visuals, coverage, or atmosphere—for example, a wide view of a coastal road in a travel video.
Explore B-rollCutaway: show what the story needs
A cutaway directs attention to a relevant subject or event—for example, a key turning in a door after a character hears a noise.
Generate a cutawayB-roll asks, “What supporting visual would help here?” A cutaway asks, “What does the audience need to see now to understand the story?”
This guided replacement workflow does not automatically detect narrative moments or preserve uninterrupted interview audio.
Six cutaway prompts for your next edit
Mystery object
A cinematic close-up of an antique brass key beside a handwritten letter on a dark wooden desk. Afternoon sunlight moves across the surface as the camera gently pushes toward the key. Quiet mysterious mood, realistic texture, shallow depth of field.
Character reaction
A medium close-up of the woman in the reference images by a window. She hears something unexpected and turns with a subtle worried expression. Soft interior light, natural performance, restrained camera movement.
Suspense at the door
A low-angle close-up of an old apartment door handle slowly turning from the other side. Dim hallway light, soft shadows, subtle push-in, realistic suspense.
Interview illustration
A documentary-style close-up of an artisan's hands examining an old tool at a wooden workbench. Natural workshop light, realistic textures, gentle camera movement.
Off-screen event
A wide shot of an empty hallway at night. A light flickers at the far end as a shadow moves across a wall. Static camera, quiet suspenseful mood.
Story context
Rain runs down an apartment window while city lights glow beyond the glass. Slow camera movement, subdued evening light, calm reflective atmosphere.
Describe one meaningful moment: the subject, action, lighting, camera direction, and any story-critical visual detail.
AI-generated scenes are illustrations or reconstructions. Do not present fictional output as authentic evidence of real people or events.
A cutaway can give your sequence a missing piece
Show what caused a reaction
Generate the object or event that a character reacts to but the main shot never reveals.
Illustrate an interview
Add a related visual for a place or object being discussed, where accuracy and disclosure requirements allow.
Connect two shots
Explore a story-relevant detail that helps a transition feel more meaningful.
Focus on a key object
Create a closer look at an object that appears too briefly; verify critical details.
Build suspense
Use a short visual reveal to raise a question before returning to the main character.
Finish an existing edit
Try an alternate shot without discarding all the footage that already works.
A useful tool for creative editors and filmmakers
Independent filmmakers
Create another story-relevant shot when arranging additional filming is difficult.
Narrative video editors
Add a brief visual detail or reaction to support a sequence.
AI film creators
Fill a missing moment discovered while editing generated scenes.
Interview producers
Create illustrative footage connected to what an interviewee discusses.
Documentary-style creators
Use contextual illustrations while clearly distinguishing generated scenes from real footage.
Short-form storytellers
Add a reveal, detail, or environmental moment between story beats.
The tool does not identify story structure automatically. You choose where to edit and explain what the shot should communicate.
Guide the look of your cutaway
Visual references can help communicate story-critical details, but are not exact reproduction constraints. Faces, props, locations, text, lighting, and motion may change.
Character reference
Guide a familiar character or reaction shot.
Object reference
Show the appearance of a specific prop or story object.
Location reference
Guide the environment toward an established setting.
Motion and visual style
Use a short motion reference, color matching, and prompt direction to guide movement and atmosphere.
A cutaway replaces the section you select
Example: an 18-second source video with Start at 6 seconds and Resume at 9 seconds removes 3 seconds. A 5-second generated cutaway makes the resulting video about 20 seconds, assuming no other timing changes.
A cutaway can change the rhythm of your edit. Review the full sequence and adjust surrounding timing if needed.
Traditional cutaways are often shorter than five seconds. The current model starts at five seconds, so trim the result in another editor if you need a one- or two-second shot.
What if someone is talking during the cutaway?
In a common interview edit, the viewer sees another image while the interviewee keeps talking. This Scene Inserter does not automatically preserve that workflow: it replaces video in the selected interval, and audio there may change.
- Choose an interval without essential dialogue when possible.
- Use a natural edit point or pause, then review the updated sound.
- If narration must continue uninterrupted, restore or mix the original audio in a separate editor.
Transcript recognition, dialogue-preserving overlays, audio ducking, and timeline sound mixing are not part of this scene-replacement workflow.
Four steps to a story-relevant cutaway
Create a new cutaway for your existing video
- 1
Upload your video
Start with the existing clip you want to edit.
- 2
Choose where to cut away
Set Start and Resume around the interval to replace.
- 3
Describe the cutaway
Explain what viewers should see. Add optional references and choose duration and quality.
- 4
Generate and review
Inspect story clarity, visual accuracy, transitions, pacing, and audio in the full result.
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Plan the shot around the story
- Ask what the audience needs to learn or notice.
- Name the specific subject and describe one simple action.
- Choose a natural Start point and plan how the video returns after Resume.
- Consider lighting, composition, camera movement, and visual atmosphere.
- Use references for story-critical characters, objects, or locations.
- Protect irreplaceable dialogue; check faces, objects, action, transitions, and sound.
- Review the full sequence, because a standalone shot can still disrupt pacing.
insertCutaway.limits.eyebrow
Generate a cutaway, then make the editorial decision
What it can do
- Replace a selected interval in an existing video.
- Generate a described reaction, object, environment, action, or visual reveal.
- Use up to three reference images and one motion video up to eight seconds.
- Choose a 5–13 second duration and Standard 480p or High 768p quality.
- Reconnect the generated scene with original footage after Resume.
What it doesn't guarantee
- Automatic jump-cut detection or choosing edit points.
- Continuous interview audio or unchanged sound in the replaced interval.
- Exact character, object, or location consistency; perfect visual continuity.
- A one-second insert or multi-scene editing in one job.
- Authentic documentary footage of real events or people.
Match the workflow to your editing problem
Cutaways, B-roll, character scenes, and new videos
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Generate a magical, sci-fi, action, or surreal moment inside an existing video.
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Insert B-Roll into Video
Supporting footage, atmosphere, establishing shots, and visual variety.
Explore B-roll
Insert Character Scene into Video
A missing character action or performance guided by character reference images.
Generate a character scene
AI Video Scene Inserter
A general scene replacement when you do not need a cutaway-specific workflow.
Explore scene inserter
AI Video Generator
Create a new video when you do not have source footage.
Generate a new video
Generate the shot you actually need
See the cost before you create your cutaway
Cost depends on the duration and quality of the generated scene. Choose 5–13 seconds, select Standard or High, and review the credit amount beside Generate before submission. Each job is charged separately; applicable failed jobs follow the existing refund process.
- Existing video upload and Start / Resume selection
- Cutaway prompt and optional visual references
- Generated duration and output quality controls
- Updated video result and existing download workflow
The output may need manual timing, audio, or visual adjustments.
Generate my cutawayFrequently asked questions
What is an AI cutaway scene generator?
It creates a new shot featuring a related character, object, location, or event. This workflow replaces a selected interval in an existing video with the generated scene.
Can I insert a cutaway into an existing video?
Yes. Upload a clip, choose where the cutaway starts and where the original video resumes, then generate a replacement scene.
Does the tool add the cutaway without removing original footage?
No. Footage between Start and Resume is replaced. Footage outside that interval remains as the surrounding source.
Can I generate a missing reaction shot?
Yes. Describe the character's expression, action, setting, and camera direction. References can guide appearance.
Can I create a close-up of an important story object?
Yes. Describe the insert shot and optionally add a reference image. Fine object details may still vary.
Can I create a suspense cutaway?
Yes. Prompt a relevant suspense detail, such as a turning handle, an empty hallway, or an unusual shadow.
Can I use this tool for interview cutaways?
Yes, for supported interview clips. Original speech inside the replaced interval is not guaranteed to remain unchanged.
Can I keep the interviewee speaking while the cutaway plays?
Not automatically. The tool replaces the selected video interval and may change audio there. Restore or mix original narration in a separate editor if needed.
Does AI automatically find jump cuts?
No. You choose the interval manually; the tool does not analyze the full video or find jump cuts.
Can I use a cutaway to hide a jump cut?
You can replace a chosen interval, but this is not a guaranteed jump-cut repair tool. Timing, transitions, and sound may need editing.
What is the difference between B-roll and a cutaway?
B-roll generally provides supporting visuals or extra coverage. A cutaway shifts attention to a story-relevant subject or event. The ideas can overlap, but the editorial purpose differs.
Can I create a cutaway for an AI-generated short film?
Yes. Use existing AI-generated footage as the source and generate a story-relevant replacement shot.
Can I use reference images for the cutaway?
Yes. Up to three supported images can guide characters, objects, locations, or style, without guaranteeing exact reproduction.
Can I upload a reference video?
Yes. One supported motion reference video up to eight seconds can guide movement or camera behavior.
Will the cutaway match my original video's lighting and style?
You can describe the desired look, add references, and enable color matching. Exact lighting, framing, identity, and continuity are not guaranteed.
How long can the generated cutaway be?
The current workflow generates scenes from 5 to 13 seconds.
Can I create a one- or two-second cutaway?
Not directly. Generate at least five seconds, then trim the result in another editor if you need a shorter shot.
How long can the original video be?
The source must be an MP4 or MOV between 3 and 60 seconds, no larger than 50 MB.
Can I insert a cutaway at the start of my video?
Not from the first frame. Start must be at least 1.625 seconds into the video; the timeline's earliest point is about 1.7 seconds.
Can I add a cutaway after my video's ending?
No. At least one second of original footage must remain after Resume. Adding footage beyond the source ending is a separate extension workflow.
Does the new cutaway have to match the duration of the section I replace?
No. Generated duration is selected independently, so the finished video length can change.
Can I generate multiple cutaways?
Yes, as separate jobs. One generation replaces one selected interval; the Studio does not build a multi-cutaway timeline automatically.
Is AI-generated cutaway footage suitable for documentary work?
It can be used as an illustration or dramatized reconstruction when appropriate. Do not present generated footage as authentic evidence of real people, places, or events if that would mislead viewers; disclose it where needed.
Can I use the generated cutaway commercially?
Use only source footage and references you are authorized to use and follow applicable terms. Ensure you have rights for likenesses, music, and protected material.
How much does a cutaway generation cost?
Cost depends on generated duration and quality. The workspace shows the amount before submission.
What happens if my generation fails?
Applicable failed jobs follow the existing credit-refund process. A completed result needing editorial refinement is not automatically a failed job.
Your story is only missing one shot
Give your video the cutaway that makes the moment clear
You have the main scene and know what viewers need to see next. Choose the section to replace, describe the missing visual, and generate a cutaway that reconnects with the surrounding shots.
MP4 or MOV · 5–13 second scenes · Optional references · Credit cost shown before generation. The selected interval is replaced; review pacing, factual accuracy, transitions, and sound before publishing.