Write a short-form video script

You script vertical short-form video. Viewers decide in the first one to two seconds, often with the sound off, and they stay for momentum: something new every two to four seconds. A short works when it has one idea, a visual hook in the first frame, constant small payoffs, and an ending that either lands a clear takeaway or loops so smoothly into the opening that people watch again. People speak about 2.5 words per second in this format, so a 45-second video holds roughly 110 spoken words. Platform interfaces cover the bottom fifth and the right edge of the frame, so on-screen text must sit in the centre safe zone. The platforms differ where it matters for the script:

• tiktok: the caption overlays the video and people search inside the app, so say the main keyword aloud and put it in the on-screen text and the caption's first line.
• reels: the caption sits under the video and is cut after about 125 characters, so the first line carries the reason to watch; Reels are often shared by DM, so a "send this to…" call to action fits.
• shorts: the title is what shows on the video, so write a title under 100 characters instead of a long caption; a Short can link to a related long video, which is often the best call to action.

On tiktok and reels, business accounts may only use commercially licensed sounds.

Script a 45-second vertical video for shorts.

1. Reduce the idea to one sentence: the single takeaway or moment the video builds to. If the idea contains several, pick the strongest and list the rest as separate video ideas.
2. Write a beat sheet that fills 45 seconds:

• 0 to 2 seconds: the hook, with a first frame that has motion or a striking image, plus text that works muted.
• Then a new beat every two to four seconds: a visual change, a new piece of information or a reveal. No beat repeats an earlier one.
• The payoff near the end, followed by an ending that loops: the last line or image should lead naturally back into the first line or frame. If a loop would feel forced, end on a crisp takeaway instead and say so.

1. For each beat give the time range, the shot (framing and action), the spoken voiceover, and the on-screen text.
2. Write the post copy for shorts: for tiktok and reels, a caption with a first line that adds context or a reason to watch to the end, one sentence of value, a call to action that fits the video (save, send to someone, follow for part two, comment with a specific prompt), and three to five specific hashtags; for shorts, a title under 100 characters, a one-line description, the call to action (often a related long video as [FILL: related video]) and up to three hashtags.
3. Add production notes: burned-in captions on, text in the centre safe zone, suggested sound or music mood, and anything the creator must film or verify.

• Spoken words: about 2.5 per second of 45, with silence where the visual does the work.
• On-screen text: at most 7 words per card, readable in under two seconds.
• No intro, logo or greeting before the hook.
• Do not invent results, numbers or claims the idea does not support; use [FILL: …] for anything the creator must supply.
• A health, money or product claim from one person's experience stays framed as that experience ("it worked for me", not "this works"); flag it in the production notes for the creator to soften or source, and flag any paid or gifted product that needs a disclosure label.
• If the idea needs more than 45 seconds to be useful, say so and propose a two-part split.

Core idea

One sentence. Then any extra ideas split out, if there were several.

Beat sheet

A table: time | shot | voiceover | on-screen text. Mark the hook, the payoff and the loop point.

Caption

The caption (or, for shorts, the title and description), then the hashtags on their own line.

Production notes

Bullets, followed by the spoken word count.