TEMPLATE · DOCU

Micro-doc · 5–8 minute

A seven-minute micro-documentary cut: interviewee setup, three thematic chapters, archival inserts, and a contemplative outro.

16:97:005 scenes contemplative-cinematic
MICRO-DOC 00:07:00 REC

WHO IT'S FOR

Built for these creators

Independent journalists

Turn a long-form interview transcript into a watchable short doc.

Mission-driven brands

Tell a customer or founder story with documentary pacing instead of ad pacing.

Non-profits and museums

Ship a polished story per campaign without a video team.

THE STRUCTURE

5-beat skeleton

BEAT 1
hook
12s

Open on a quiet sensory detail — a hand, a sound, a place — then a single line that reframes the detail.

BEAT 2
setup
50s

Introduce the subject through their context, not their title. Establish stakes through environment and ritual.

BEAT 3
rising action
220s

Three acts. Each act ends on a question the subject themselves wrestled with — never a thesis sentence from the narrator.

BEAT 4
reveal
75s

A pivot that recasts everything we just saw. Hold on a single image for at least 4 seconds after the reveal lands.

BEAT 5
cta
23s

No call to action in the marketing sense — a closing reflection that leaves the viewer holding the question.

THE LOOK

Visual style lock

palettemuted earthen with film teal shadowslensanamorphic 35mmlightingavailable light only, embrace shadowcompositionwide environmental, subject small in frameerafeature documentary 2020sgrainon

Never generate

AI-art aestheticcartoonCGIoversaturatedcorporate stockwatermark

THE VOICE

Directing notes

"Read this slowly, almost privately. The narrator is a witness, not a guide. Allow silences."
stability · 0.7 similarity · 0.7 style · 0.15

HOW IT WORKS

From idea to published cut

1

Type your topic

A one-line idea is enough. Drop in extra context in the cue notes if you want tighter control.

2

Cue drafts the script

The narrative skeleton shapes a script tuned to this template — beats, pacing, stat overlays.

3

AI renders the cut

Stills, voiceover, music, captions, and color grade — all rendered in minutes, not hours.

4

Publish or remix

Push to YouTube, Shorts, or TikTok. Or open the timeline and remix any scene.

FAQ

Common questions

RELATED

Templates with the same energy

READY?

Use the Micro-doc · 5–8 minute template

Drop in a topic. Cue handles the rest of the cut.

Use this template →