How to put yourself in any place, from an explosion to a red carpet

Updated October 21, 2026 · Reviewed by The Rift team

Short answer

Open Rift, add one clear photo of yourself, and tell Spark the place, for example a nightclub, a waterfall or space. Spark plans the shots and shows a Draft. Tap Make and you appear in that setting in a video up to 15 seconds long. Rift is an iPhone app; you can also share a video that already has the place.

Tell Spark the place and show it who is going there, and it builds the shot, whether that is the front of an explosion, a gala red carpet or the inside of a spaceship.

What you need

An iPhone with Rift.
One photo of you. Stand upright, face the camera, and choose a photo where your outline is clear.
A place in mind. A short phrase is enough, or share a video of a place you like.

Step by step

Open Rift and start with Spark. Or share a video of the place you like into Rift.
Add your photo. Spark asks who the star is. Pick or add yourself.
Say the place. Write it plainly: “walking away from an explosion”, “front row at a packed nightclub”.
Look at the Draft. Spark shows the shots and the price on the Make button. Add a detail if you want a different mood.
Make. Tap Make. Spark tells you when it’s ready, and the video is saved in your Library.

Lines to try with Spark

“Me walking toward the camera as a building explodes behind me.”
“My mum on a red carpet, flashbulbs going off” (use her photo with her say-so).
“Me dancing in a neon nightclub, smoke and lasers.”
“My dog sitting under a waterfall in a jungle.”
“My new car parked on the surface of Mars.”

Tips

Name the light. “Golden hour”, “neon”, “overcast” and “night” make a more convincing place than the place alone.
Choose action that fits the setting. Walking, turning, looking up and smiling all travel well to new places. Complex hand movements are harder.
Match your photo to the setting. A sunlit selfie in a dark club can look pasted in. A photo with soft, even light adapts better.
Keep one idea per video. “An explosion behind me” beats “an explosion, a dragon and a snowstorm”.
Think about the end frame. A held pose or a slow look at the camera gives a clean finish at 15 seconds.

Beyond people

The same approach works for products on a mountain peak, pets at a beach party, or your home as a film set. Place the subject, name the light and Make.

Questions people ask

Do I need to film myself?

No. One photo is enough, and you can describe the place in words or share a video that already shows it.

Can I choose the weather or the time of day?

Yes. Say it in your line, for example "at dusk, in light rain".

Will it look like a real place?

It looks like a believable video, but the setting is made by Spark. Don't present it as footage of an actual event.

Can I move through the place?

Ask for a camera move, like "slow walk toward the camera" or "turn and look back". A video is one shot, up to 15 seconds.

Can I put my pet or my car there?

Yes. Use a photo of your pet, your car or your product instead of yourself.