The fastest way to add a cinema opening

A cinema opening — the black bars that slide in from the sides while sound plays — takes about two minutes to build in Premiere Pro once you know the steps. You create a black adjustment layer, add a crop effect to it, and keyframe the crop values so the bars animate in. The sound plays on a separate audio track underneath.

The effect works because Premiere Pro layers stack on top of each other. Your video stays full-frame at the bottom. The black bars live on a layer above it, starting at full width and shrinking to reveal your footage as the opening plays. You control the timing by setting keyframes at different points on the timeline.

This method works for any video length and any opening duration. You can make the bars slide in over two seconds or ten seconds. You can add the sound before or after you build the effect — the timing is separate.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a new black adjustment layer above your video, then use the crop effect to animate the bars sliding in from the sides.
  • Set your first keyframe at the start of the timeline with crop values at maximum, then set a second keyframe where you want the bars to stop shrinking.
  • Add your cinema opening audio on a separate track below your video so it plays while the bars animate.
  • You can adjust the speed of the animation, the width of the bars, and the timing of the sound independently after the effect is built.

Creating the black adjustment layer

Start by opening your sequence in Premiere Pro with your video already on the timeline. Right-click in the empty space above your video track and select New Item, then Black Video. Drag this black video onto the track directly above your footage. Make it as long as your opening — if your opening is five seconds, make the black video five seconds long.

The black layer now covers your entire video. You will not see your footage yet. That is correct. The crop effect will reveal it by shrinking the black bars from the sides. If your black video is shorter than your sequence, your original video will show underneath once the black layer ends.

Adding and keyframing the crop effect

Click on the black video layer to select it. Open the Effects panel (if it is not visible, go to Window > Effects). Search for Crop in the effects list. Drag the Crop effect onto your black video layer.

The Effect Controls panel will open on the left side of your screen. You will see four crop values: Left, Right, Top, and Bottom. These control how much of the black layer is cut away. To create side bars that shrink inward, you will keyframe the Left and Right values.

Move your playhead to the very first frame of your black video layer. In the Effect Controls panel, click the stopwatch icon next to the Crop effect name to enable keyframing. Set Left and Right to values that cover most of your frame — try 40 to 45 percent each. This creates the initial black bars on both sides. Click the keyframe diamond that appears to lock this as your starting point.

Now move your playhead to where you want the bars to finish opening — usually where your cinema opening sound ends. Change the Left and Right crop values to 0. Premiere Pro automatically creates a second keyframe. The bars will now animate from their starting width down to nothing over the duration you set.

Adjusting the animation speed and bar width

If the bars open too fast or too slow, you can adjust the keyframe timing without rebuilding the effect. Click and drag the second keyframe left or right on the timeline to speed up or slow down the animation. Moving it left makes the bars open faster. Moving it right stretches the animation over more time.

If the bars are too wide or too narrow at the start, click on the first keyframe in the Effect Controls panel and change the Left and Right values. A higher percentage creates wider bars. A lower percentage creates narrower bars. The animation will update automatically.

You can also make the bars asymmetrical — wider on one side than the other — by setting different Left and Right values. This is less common but works if your opening design calls for it.

Adding your cinema opening audio

Import your cinema opening sound file into your project. Go to File > Import and select your audio file. Drag it onto an audio track below your video tracks. Position it so it starts at the same point as your black video layer.

The audio and the animation do not have to be exactly the same length. Your sound might be four seconds while your bars take five seconds to open. Adjust the timing of either element independently until they feel right together. Most cinema openings have the bars finish opening just as the sound ends or slightly before.

You can adjust the audio level by clicking on the audio track and dragging the volume line up or down in the track itself. Right-click on the audio track for additional options like panning or audio effects if you need them.

Exporting your sequence with the cinema opening

Once your effect is built and timed, export your sequence as you normally would. Go to File > Export > Media. Choose your format and codec. The cinema opening will render as part of your final video — the black bars and audio will both be included in the exported file.

If you are exporting to multiple formats, the effect will work the same way in each one. The crop effect is a standard Premiere Pro effect and will render correctly in H.264, ProRes, or any other codec you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different color instead of black for the opening bars?

Yes. Instead of using a Black Video, create a new adjustment layer and add a solid color effect to it. Set the color to whatever you want, then explore the crop effect the same way. You can also use a gradient or an image as your opening layer if you want something more complex.

What if I want the bars to come from the top and bottom instead of the sides?

Use the Top and Bottom crop values instead of Left and Right. Set them to your starting percentage in the first keyframe, then change them to 0 in the second keyframe. The animation works exactly the same way — only the direction changes.

Can I add text or a logo to the opening bars?

Yes. Create your text or import your logo on a layer above the black video layer but below any other content. The text will sit on top of the bars as they animate. You can also keyframe the text opacity or position to make it fade in or move during the opening.

How do I make the bars open at different speeds on each side?

You cannot animate Left and Right at different speeds with a single crop effect. Create two separate black video layers — one for the left side and one for the right side — and explore crop effects to each independently. Keyframe them separately to control their timing.

Will the cinema opening work if my video is a different aspect ratio?

Yes. The crop effect works on any aspect ratio. The percentage values adjust automatically based on your sequence settings. A 40 percent crop on a 16:9 sequence will look different than a 40 percent crop on a 4:3 sequence, so adjust the percentages to match your aspect ratio.