Cf video script

Video Script Production

Transform a topic or existing article into a production-ready video script with timestamps, scene directions, B-roll shot lists, on-screen text, and music recommendations -- optimized for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels, or explainer video formats.

When to Use

Use /contentforge:cf-video-script when you need:

• YouTube scripts (3-10 min) with SEO-optimized titles, descriptions, and chapter timestamps
• TikTok scripts (30-60s) with fast-cut pacing and trending audio hooks
• Instagram Reels scripts (30-60s) with vertical format and caption-driven storytelling
• Explainer videos (3-5 min) with clear visual directions and professional pacing
• Video adaptations of existing ContentForge articles, blogs, or whitepapers

Not for: Raw creative brainstorming (use /contentforge:create-content first for research), live stream outlines, podcast scripts.

Supported Platforms & Lengths

Platform	Supported Lengths	Aspect Ratio	Key Characteristics
YouTube	3min, 5min, 10min	16:9 landscape	SEO titles, end screens, mid-roll breaks
YouTube Shorts	15s, 30s, 60s, up to 3min	9:16 vertical	Hook in 1-2s, loopable ending, feed-native captions
TikTok	30s, 60s, long-form 3min-10min	9:16 vertical	Hook in 1s, fast cuts, trending audio; long-form uses chaptered storytelling
Instagram Reels	30s, 60s	9:16 vertical	Captions required, visual-first storytelling
Explainer	3min, 5min	16:9 landscape	Slower pace, professional graphics, clear narration

Required Inputs

Minimum Required:

• Topic or Source -- Either a topic string ("AI in Healthcare 2026") or a ContentForge article URL/path
• Platform -- youtube, youtube-shorts, tiktok, instagram, or explainer
• Video Length -- 15s, 30s, 60s, 3min, 5min, or 10min (platform-dependent; see table above)

Optional:

• Tone -- educational, entertaining, promotional, or storytelling (defaults to platform standard)
• Brand -- Brand profile for voice consistency (recommended)
• Target Audience -- Who this video is for (e.g., "Marketing managers, 25-45")
• Primary Keyword -- For YouTube SEO optimization
• CTA -- Specific call-to-action (defaults to platform-appropriate CTA)
• Speaker -- On-camera host name, or "voiceover only"

How to Use

Interactive Mode

/contentforge:cf-video-script

Prompts you for:

1. Topic or source article URL
2. Platform (YouTube / TikTok / Instagram / Explainer)
3. Video length
4. Tone
5. Brand profile (optional)

Quick Mode

/contentforge:cf-video-script "AI in Healthcare: 2026 Trends" --platform=youtube --length=5min --tone=educational --brand=AcmeMed

From Existing Article

/contentforge:cf-video-script --source="https://drive.google.com/file/d/ABC123" --platform=tiktok --length=60s --tone=entertaining

Extracts key points from the article and restructures for video format.

What Happens

Phase 1: Content Research & Extraction (2-4 minutes)

• If topic provided: Research Agent gathers video-friendly data points, statistics, examples, and competitor video analysis
• If source article provided: Extracts key messages, data points, quotes, and visual opportunities
• Identifies the single strongest hook (statistic, question, or bold claim)
• Maps content to target video length (word count budget based on 120-150 words/minute dialogue)
• Quality Gate: Hook identified, word budget calculated, key points mapped to scenes

Phase 2: Script Structure (2-3 minutes)

• Content Drafter builds script following templates/content-types/video-script-structure.md
• Allocates time to each section:
  • HOOK: First 3 seconds (TikTok: 1 second)
  • INTRO: 10-15% of total length
  • MAIN CONTENT: 60-70% split across scenes
  • CTA: 10-15% of total length
  • OUTRO: 5-10% (YouTube only)
• Creates scene breakdown with timestamps
• Quality Gate: All sections allocated, timestamps continuous, word count within budget

Phase 3: Scene Writing (3-5 minutes)

• Writes each scene with:
  • Dialogue/Narration: What the speaker says (timed to 120-150 words/min)
  • On-Screen Text: Key phrases, statistics, bullet points viewers see
  • B-Roll Directions: Specific visual descriptions for each segment
  • Music/SFX: Mood, tempo, and transition sound suggestions
• Applies platform-specific style:
  • YouTube: Conversational, direct address, pattern interrupts every 30-60s
  • TikTok: Punchy, fast-paced, text-heavy, trending audio references
  • Instagram: Visual-first, caption storytelling, aesthetic emphasis
  • Explainer: Clear, measured pace, professional graphics focus
• Quality Gate: Every scene has all 4 elements, dialogue word count matches timestamps

Phase 4: Structuring & Optimization (1-2 minutes)

• Structurer Agent reviews flow, pacing, and transitions between scenes
• Verifies hook strength (would you stop scrolling for this?)
• Checks CTA clarity and placement
• Platform-specific optimization:
  • YouTube: End screen directions, mid-roll break points (for 8+ min), chapter timestamps
  • TikTok: Ensures hook in first 1 second, audio sync points, loop potential
  • Instagram: Caption overlay timing, visual consistency
  • Explainer: Pacing check (not too fast for complex topics)
• Quality Gate: Pacing feels natural when read aloud, transitions smooth, CTA actionable

Phase 5: Output Assembly (1 minute)

• Compiles final script document
• Generates supplementary materials:
  • B-roll shot list (consolidated)
  • On-screen text list (for graphic designer)
  • Music recommendations with mood/tempo
  • YouTube metadata (title, description, tags, chapters) if applicable
• Uploads to Google Drive

Output Example

SYNTHETIC EXAMPLE — fabricated for illustration. YouTube 5-Minute Script: "AI in Healthcare: 2026 Trends"

Video Script Complete: "AI in Healthcare: 2026 Trends"

Platform: YouTube
Length: 5:00 (target) / 4:52 (actual)
Tone: Educational
Dialogue Word Count: 682 words (136 words/min)

Script Sections:
- HOOK (0:00-0:03): Bold statistic opener
- INTRO (0:03-0:30): Topic framing + what viewers will learn
- SCENE 1 (0:30-1:30): Current state of AI in healthcare
- SCENE 2 (1:30-2:45): 3 breakthrough applications
- SCENE 3 (2:45-3:45): Real-world case study
- SCENE 4 (3:45-4:20): What this means for the industry
- CTA (4:20-4:40): Subscribe + resource link
- OUTRO (4:40-4:52): End screen directions

Supplementary Materials:
- B-Roll Shot List: 14 shots
- On-Screen Text: 9 text overlays
- Music Recommendations: 3 tracks (upbeat electronic, 120 BPM)
- YouTube SEO: Title, description (with timestamps), 15 tags

Output Location (follows the brand's tracking backend):
<Drive folder / Airtable attachment / ~/Documents/ContentForge/AcmeMed/video/AI-Healthcare-2026_youtube-5min_v1.0.docx>

Platform-Specific Guidelines

YouTube (3min / 5min / 10min)

Pacing:

• Hook in first 3 seconds (bold claim, surprising stat, or question)
• Pattern interrupt every 30-60 seconds (new visual, topic shift, question)
• Mid-roll break point at ~8:00 for 10-minute videos
• End screen: 20 seconds with subscribe CTA and related video

SEO Requirements:

• Title: <= 60 characters, includes primary keyword, triggers curiosity
• Description: 200-300 words, timestamps (chapters), links, keywords
• Tags: 10-15 relevant tags
• Thumbnail suggestion (text overlay + visual concept)

Dialogue Style:

• Direct address ("you") throughout
• Conversational but authoritative
• Questions to maintain engagement ("But here's what most people miss...")
• Data points with context, not just numbers

YouTube Shorts (15s / 30s / 60s / up to 3min)

Pacing:

• Hook in first 1-2 seconds (text overlay + visual jolt)
• Loopable ending (last beat flows back into the hook — Shorts feed rewards rewatches)
• One idea per Short; for 2-3min Shorts, use a 3-beat structure (hook → payoff steps → loop/CTA)

Style:

• 9:16 vertical, burned-in captions (assume sound-off starts)
• Title-safe zone: keep text clear of the bottom UI overlay
• CTA: "subscribe" works better than external links (Shorts don't support link cards)

TikTok (30s / 60s / long-form 3-10min)

Pacing:

• Hook in first 1 second (text overlay + audio hook)
• New visual or text every 2-3 seconds
• Fast cuts between points (no lingering shots)
• End with loop potential (last frame connects to first)
• Long-form (3-10min): open with a payoff promise, break content into on-screen chapters, re-hook every 45-60 seconds; TikTok promotes watch-time on longer videos

Style:

• Text-heavy: Every key point has on-screen text
• Audio: Reference trending sounds or use voiceover with background music
• Casual, high-energy tone (even for educational content)
• Bold, simple language (no complex sentences)

Format:

• 9:16 vertical
• Captions auto-generated but script should assume sound-off viewing
• Green screen / talking head + B-roll intercuts

Instagram Reels (30s / 60s)

Pacing:

• Hook in first 2 seconds (visual + caption)
• Caption-driven storytelling (assume sound-off for 60% of viewers)
• Smooth transitions (no hard cuts like TikTok)
• Aesthetic consistency with brand visual identity

Style:

• Visual-first: Every scene needs a strong visual concept
• Captions: Required, styled to brand fonts/colors
• Music: Background mood music, lower energy than TikTok
• Professional but approachable

Explainer Video (3min / 5min)

Pacing:

• Hook in first 5 seconds (problem statement)
• Slower, measured delivery (120 words/min max)
• Pause after key points for viewer absorption
• Clear section transitions with visual markers

Style:

• Professional voiceover (no on-camera unless specified)
• Motion graphics and animated diagrams as primary visuals
• Data visualizations for statistics
• Clean, branded color palette throughout

Dialogue Word Count Targets

Length	Target Words	Words/Min	Notes
15s	30-38	120-150	Shorts-only; single point + loop
30s	60-75	120-150	Tight, every word counts
60s	120-150	120-150	Room for one key point + CTA
3min	360-450	120-150	3-4 main scenes (also max Shorts length)
5min	600-750	120-150	4-5 main scenes
10min	1,200-1,500	120-150	6-8 main scenes + mid-roll break (YouTube) or chapters (TikTok long-form)

MCP Integrations

Optional (none required)

• Google Drive -- Only needed if the brand's tracking backend is Google Sheets + Drive, or when running in Cowork. Local and Airtable backends deliver the script without it.
• Google Sheets -- Tracking updates with video script metadata
• Notion -- Alternative output destination for video production teams

Limitations

• No video production -- This produces scripts, not finished videos
• Music is suggestive -- Recommendations for mood/tempo, not licensed track names
• B-roll is descriptive -- Shot list describes what to film/source, not actual footage
• Platform algorithms change -- SEO and pacing recommendations based on current best practices
• Branded visuals -- Script describes visual concepts but does not produce graphics

Troubleshooting

"Source article too long for target video length"

Cause: Article has more content than the video length can accommodate. Solution: Script automatically selects the highest-impact points. Override with --focus="section 2, section 4" to prioritize specific sections.

"Hook score below threshold"

Cause: Opening 3 seconds lack a strong enough attention grabber. Solution: Script loops back and regenerates hooks (up to 3 attempts). If persistent, provide a specific hook with --hook="Did you know 73% of...".

"Word count exceeds time budget"

Cause: Dialogue written at > 150 words/minute pace. Solution: Structurer Agent trims sections to fit. Review trimmed content in the script notes.

Related Skills

• /contentforge:create-content -- Research and produce source content first
• /contentforge:cf-social-adapt -- Adapt video descriptions for social platforms
• /contentforge:batch-process -- Batch produce scripts for a content series
• /contentforge:cf-translate -- Translate scripts for international markets

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Agents: Researcher (01-researcher), Content Drafter (03-content-drafter), Structurer (05-structurer-proofreader) Quality Guarantee: Hook in first 3s (1-2s for Shorts/TikTok), dialogue paced at 120-150 wpm, B-roll for every major point, platform-specific optimization