> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://doc.autoreach.tech/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://doc.autoreach.tech/ai-video-and-reels/creating-a-reel.md).

# Creating a Reel

Open the **Videos** tab on an account, click **Generate Reel**, and fill in the options below. The reel queues immediately and processes in the background.

## Reel Options

### Offer

Select the offer the reel should speak to. The offer's audience, value proposition, and knowledge base shape the script, so a well-defined offer produces a sharper video. See [Offers and Knowledge Base](/core-concepts/offers-and-knowledge-base.md).

### Topic

Enter the subject of the reel, for example *"Why cold DMs fail before the second follow-up."* If you are not sure what to make, click **Suggest Topics** and AutoReach proposes ideas tailored to your offer and the format you picked.

### Format

The format sets the structure, pacing, and length band of the video:

| Format                 | What it is                                                                      |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Talking Head**       | A presenter speaks to camera. Uses your character photo and voice. The default. |
| **No Person**          | Narrator-only. Voiceover over visuals, with no on-camera presenter.             |
| **Short Motivational** | A punchy, high-energy clip (roughly 8 to 15 seconds).                           |
| **Listicle**           | A "Top N" style rundown.                                                        |
| **UGC**                | A casual, selfie-style first-person take, the look of organic creator content.  |
| **UGC with Inserts**   | The selfie-style take plus cutaway shots that illustrate the point.             |

### Energy Vibe (optional)

Set the delivery tone, or leave it on automatic and AutoReach picks one that fits the format. Options:

* **Calm and authoritative**
* **Urgent and punchy**
* **Vulnerable and personal**
* **Sarcastic and dry**
* **Inspirational and warm**

### Creative Brief (optional)

A free-text box for any extra direction on framing, visuals, or tone that the energy vibe selector does not cover. Optional.

### Include CTA

Toggle whether the reel ends with a call to action that points back to your offer.

### Quality

Choose **Fast** for quicker, cheaper generation or **Full** for higher-fidelity video. Fast is a good default while you are dialing in topics and formats; switch to Full for reels you intend to publish widely.

### Duration Override (optional)

Each format has a natural length range. You can clamp the final video to a specific length within that range if you need it to hit a particular runtime.

### Cost Estimate

Before you generate, AutoReach shows an estimated cost for the reel based on your format, quality, and duration choices. See [Setup, Requirements, and Costs](/ai-video-and-reels/setup-and-costs.md).

## Creative Variation

So your reels do not all feel the same, AutoReach automatically varies the creative direction (the hook style, visual treatment, and opener) from one reel to the next, avoiding choices it used on your recent videos. You do not need to configure this; it happens on every generation.

## The Generation Lifecycle

A reel moves through these statuses:

| Status         | Meaning                                          |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| **Queued**     | Waiting for a worker to pick it up               |
| **Generating** | Being produced (the current step is shown)       |
| **Ready**      | Finished. MP4, caption, and script are available |
| **Failed**     | A step could not complete (the reason is shown)  |

While **Generating**, AutoReach shows the current step so you can see where it is:

1. **Script** - writing the script from your topic and offer
2. **Voice** - generating the voiceover
3. **Captions** - building synchronized on-screen captions
4. **Cuts** - planning the visual cuts and effects
5. **Visuals** - generating the imagery and motion for each cut
6. **Render** - assembling the final video

Generation runs in the background and typically takes several minutes. You can leave the page and come back.

## Retrying a Failed Reel

If a reel fails, the row shows a **Retry** button and a short reason. Retrying re-runs the pipeline but reuses every step that already succeeded, so it resumes from the step that broke instead of starting over. You only pay again for the failed step and the steps after it.

If a worker restarts while a reel is mid-generation, AutoReach automatically recovers it on the next boot and resumes from where it left off; you do not need to do anything.

## Viewing and Managing Reels

The Videos tab lists every reel for the account with its status, duration, and actions:

* **Download** the finished MP4
* **View Script** to read the full script and caption
* **Retry** a failed reel
* **Delete** a reel you no longer need

Remember that finished videos expire after 3 days, so download anything worth keeping.

## Next Steps

* [**Setup, Requirements, and Costs**](/ai-video-and-reels/setup-and-costs.md): API keys, character photos, voices, failures, and pricing
* [**AI Video and Reels Overview**](/ai-video-and-reels/overview.md): How reels fit into your content strategy


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