diff --git a/backend/app/services/render_blender.py b/backend/app/services/render_blender.py
index 7821020..d42e7e5 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/render_blender.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/render_blender.py
@@ -768,9 +768,9 @@ def render_cinematic_to_file(
     template_inputs: dict | None = None,
     log_callback: "Callable[[str], None] | None" = None,
 ) -> dict:
-    """Render a cinematic highlight animation: STEP -> GLB/USD -> 480 frames @ 24fps (Blender) -> mp4 (ffmpeg).
+    """Render a cinematic highlight animation: STEP -> GLB/USD -> 250 frames @ 25fps (Blender) -> mp4 (ffmpeg).
 
-    Fixed at 24fps, 480 frames (20 seconds). Uses cinematic_render.py which
+    Fixed at 25fps, 250 frames (10 seconds). Uses cinematic_render.py which
     creates a procedural 4-segment camera animation with varying focal lengths,
     elevations, and bezier-eased transitions.
 
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ def render_cinematic_to_file(
                                 m = _re.search(r'frame_(\d+)', line)
                                 if m:
                                     fnum = int(m.group(1))
-                                    log_callback(f"[cinematic_render] Frame {fnum}/480 rendered")
+                                    log_callback(f"[cinematic_render] Frame {fnum}/{frame_count} rendered")
                             else:
                                 log_callback(line)
                 else:
@@ -943,10 +943,12 @@ def render_cinematic_to_file(
     proc.wait()
 
     if proc.returncode != 0:
+        stdout_tail = "\n".join(log_lines[-50:]) if log_lines else ""
+        stderr_tail = "\n".join(stderr_lines[-20:]) if stderr_lines else ""
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"cinematic_render.py exited with code {proc.returncode}.\n"
-            f"stdout: {(stdout or '')[-2000:]}\n"
-            f"stderr: {(stderr or '')[-500:]}"
+            f"stdout: {stdout_tail[-2000:]}\n"
+            f"stderr: {stderr_tail[-500:]}"
         )
 
     render_duration_s = round(time.monotonic() - t_render, 2)