Plan a short-form video the way top creators do: pick a hook style, break the script into beats, and pair each line with the b-roll it needs. Download PDF to bring on set.
| Time | Beat | Script (say) | B-roll (show) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Hook | You've been eating oatmeal wrong your whole life. | Extreme close-up of dry oats |
| 0:03 | Setup | I used to make it in the microwave until a chef showed me this. | B-roll: bad microwave bowl |
| 0:07 | Payoff | Toast the oats in butter first, then add liquid. Game over. | Cast iron, sizzling oats |
| 0:15 | Proof | Look at that texture — nutty, creamy, nothing gluey. | Spoon pull-back shot |
| 0:22 | CTA | Follow for one cooking tip a day. | Direct-to-camera |
For 20–40s videos, aim for 60–100 words total. Shorter beats = tighter edit = better retention.
The hook determines whether anyone watches past 2 seconds. Picking a proven style is the highest-leverage decision you'll make.
Yes — the format is identical across TikTok, Reels and Shorts.