Multi-Shot Video

The Multi-Shot Video recipe generates videos composed of multiple shots that cut between scenes, reusing Runway’s multi-shot workflow. Use it when a single continuous take isn’t enough — product narratives, brand spots, and sequences that need variety and pacing.

How it works

Choose a mode. In auto mode, you provide a single story prompt and the recipe decomposes it into a set of shots for you. In custom mode, you provide your own shot list of 3–5 shots and the recipe polishes and assembles them. Either way, the recipe returns a task id you poll for the finished output.

Inputs

Input	Required	Description
mode	Yes	auto decomposes a story prompt into shots; custom polishes a shot list you provide.
version	Yes	Workflow version. Use a dated version like 2026-06 to pin behavior, or unsafe-latest to track the newest stable version.
prompt	auto only	Story prompt to decompose into shots (max 2500 characters).
shots	custom only	An ordered list of 3–5 shots, each with a prompt (3–512 characters) and a duration in seconds. Per-shot durations must sum to duration.
firstFrame	No	Optional image used as the first frame of the output video, as { uri }.
ratio	No	Output dimensions. 720p ratios (1280:720, 720:1280, 960:960) use the standard tier; 1080p ratios (1920:1080, 1080:1920, 1440:1440) use the pro tier. Defaults to 1280:720.
duration	No	Total output length in seconds: 5, 10, or 15. Defaults to 10.
audio	No	Whether to generate audio. Defaults to true.

Example

Auto mode decomposes a single story prompt into shots:

Node

import RunwayML from '@runwayml/sdk';

const client = new RunwayML();

const task = await client.recipes.multiShotVideo({
  version: '2026-06',
  mode: 'auto',
  prompt: 'A lone astronaut discovers a glowing forest on a distant planet',
  duration: 10,
  ratio: '1280:720',
});

console.log(task);

Python

from runwayml import RunwayML

client = RunwayML()

task = client.recipes.multi_shot_video(
  version='2026-06',
  mode='auto',
  prompt='A lone astronaut discovers a glowing forest on a distant planet',
  duration=10,
  ratio='1280:720',
)

print(task)

cURL

curl -X POST https://api.dev.runwayml.com/v1/recipes/multi_shot_video \
  -d '{
    "version": "2026-06",
    "mode": "auto",
    "prompt": "A lone astronaut discovers a glowing forest on a distant planet",
    "duration": 10,
    "ratio": "1280:720"
  }' \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RUNWAYML_API_SECRET" \
  -H "X-Runway-Version: 2024-11-06"

Custom mode polishes and assembles a shot list you provide. Per-shot durations must sum to duration:

Node

import RunwayML from '@runwayml/sdk';

const client = new RunwayML();

const task = await client.recipes.multiShotVideo({
  version: '2026-06',
  mode: 'custom',
  duration: 10,
  ratio: '1280:720',
  shots: [
    { prompt: 'Wide establishing shot of the product on a kitchen counter at sunrise', duration: 3 },
    { prompt: 'Close-up of a hand picking up the product', duration: 3 },
    { prompt: 'Product hero shot rotating against a clean background', duration: 4 },
  ],
});

console.log(task);

Python

from runwayml import RunwayML

client = RunwayML()

task = client.recipes.multi_shot_video(
  version='2026-06',
  mode='custom',
  duration=10,
  ratio='1280:720',
  shots=[
    {'prompt': 'Wide establishing shot of the product on a kitchen counter at sunrise', 'duration': 3},
    {'prompt': 'Close-up of a hand picking up the product', 'duration': 3},
    {'prompt': 'Product hero shot rotating against a clean background', 'duration': 4},
  ],
)

print(task)

cURL

curl -X POST https://api.dev.runwayml.com/v1/recipes/multi_shot_video \
  -d '{
    "version": "2026-06",
    "mode": "custom",
    "duration": 10,
    "ratio": "1280:720",
    "shots": [
      { "prompt": "Wide establishing shot of the product on a kitchen counter at sunrise", "duration": 3 },
      { "prompt": "Close-up of a hand picking up the product", "duration": 3 },
      { "prompt": "Product hero shot rotating against a clean background", "duration": 4 }
    ]
  }' \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RUNWAYML_API_SECRET" \
  -H "X-Runway-Version: 2024-11-06"

The recipe returns a task id. Poll GET /v1/tasks/{id} for status and the output video URL — see Using the API for the task workflow.

Tips for best results

• Write one clear idea per shot — keep each shot’s prompt focused on a single scene.
• In custom mode, order shots the way you want them to play; the recipe preserves sequence.
• In custom mode, make sure each shot’s duration adds up to the total duration.
• Reuse the same product or style language across shots for visual consistency.
• See Reference media guidelines for more.

Reference

Multi-Shot Video API Reference See the full request and response schema in the interactive explorer.

Related

• Product Ad
• Product Swap