My cinematic travel short is flopping – is it the pacing or the algorithm?

Hey! I feel your pain – it's frustrating when a video you put effort into doesn't perform. Looking at your retention graph, the sharp drop at 5s is a red flag. For shorts, the first 2-3 seconds are crucial. Your opening shot of the temple gate with a slow zoom might be too calm. Have you considered starting with a quick cut of the most dynamic shot – maybe the one with the train crossing or the lantern alley – and then doing a match cut to the gate? Also, check if your thumbnail in the shorts feed is compelling enough; sometimes a bright, high-contrast frame grabs attention. I'd also suggest adding a text overlay in the first second that says 'You won't believe this hidden gem in Kyoto' – even if it's cheesy, it works. Also, make sure you're using trending audio – that can boost initial impressions. What audio did you use?

I agree with the audio point. For shorts, the algorithm heavily favors videos that use popular songs from the Shorts audio library. If you used a copyrighted track, it might be getting limited or even muted in some regions. Check your video's monetization status – if there's a copyright claim, that can suppress distribution. Also, I noticed you said you graded in teal-orange – that's great for cinematic look, but for shorts, sometimes a more vibrant, contrasty grade (like a LUT from Peter McKinnon) performs better because it stands out on mobile screens. Also, consider the aspect ratio – are you sure you exported in 9:16? I've seen people accidentally export in 16:9 and it gets letterboxed, which kills retention. Double-check your export settings in Resolve: timeline resolution should be 1080x1920 or 2160x3840, and make sure you're using the 'Shorts' preset if available.

Hey! I've had similar issues. One thing that helped me was to analyze the first 3 seconds frame by frame. I bet your opening is a wide shot of the street – that's a classic mistake. For shorts, you need an immediate subject or action. Try adding a quick zoom-in or a whip pan transition from the first shot to the second. Also, consider the pacing – you said you have speed ramps; are they too slow? For a 45-second short, you want about 10-12 cuts, so an average shot length of 3-4 seconds. Your retention drop at 15s might be because you have a slow section around the temple interior. Cut that down to 1.5 seconds or remove it entirely. Also, check your end screen – if you have a 'Subscribe' button that pops up too early, it can cause drops. I usually add mine at the last 2 seconds. And don't forget to add a description with relevant hashtags like #shorts #travel #kyoto – that helps discovery.

Absolutely. But also, consider your upload time. For travel content targeting the US audience, posting at 11am EST is ideal. Also, have you tried sharing your short on other platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels? Sometimes the algorithm picks up on cross-platform engagement. More importantly, check your audience retention curve – if the drop at 5s is severe, it might be that your intro is misleading. For example, if your thumbnail shows a neon street but the video starts with a temple, viewers will leave. Make sure your opening matches the visual promise of the thumbnail. Also, I'd recommend using a hook like a question or a bold statement in the first second – like 'This is why Kyoto is overrated' – but then subvert it. That creates curiosity. And for the algorithm, engagement signals (likes, comments, shares) matter more than views. So ask a question in the video or in the description to encourage comments. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I took your advice and made some changes:
- I re-cut the opening to start with a fast-paced shot of the train crossing (the one I had at 12s) and added a text overlay saying 'This is NOT what I expected in Kyoto'.
- I switched to a trending audio track from the Shorts library (the one that's been viral this week).
- I shortened the temple interior sequence to 1 second and added more dynamic transitions.
- I also fixed my export settings – I realized I had accidentally set the timeline to 1920x1080 instead of 1080x1920, which was causing letterboxing! That was a huge issue.
- I re-uploaded it and now it's at 12k views in 6 hours with a 92% retention at 30 seconds. Thank you so much for the tips – you saved my short!