Want to make a hit short video? Learn to write a good script first

A good script can not only provide clear shooting ideas, but also facilitate the division of labor and cooperation in various links, and improve production efficiency. In this article, the author will share with us what a script is and how to create it with high quality. There are also 3 general principles for popular videos, which short video operators should not miss! Let's take a look.

Nowadays, short videos are not only a hot topic, but also a trend. Both companies and individuals have entered the short video market, hoping to get a piece of the pie. However, in the actual operation of short videos, the following problems are often encountered: the lines are always revised repeatedly during recording, resulting in too long shooting time; the topic is found to be off during shooting, or there is a problem with the scene props; ...

Most of the reasons are because the script is not well written. Although short videos are only a few dozen seconds long, if you want to make a hit, every shot and every line needs to be carefully considered and carefully designed. As more and more creators enter the short video industry, the threshold for video quality is also constantly rising, so the importance of scripts is becoming more and more prominent.

A good script can not only provide clear shooting ideas, but also facilitate the division of labor and collaboration in various links, thereby improving production efficiency.

Let me share with you what a script is and how to create it with high quality.

01 Script components

First of all, we need to have a basic understanding of the script. A complete short video script usually contains the following 7 elements: duration, shot size, picture content, shooting method, subtitles, and music.

1. Duration

Duration refers to the length of a single shot. Marking it clearly in advance will help you quickly find the key points during post-editing and improve the efficiency of editing.

2. Scenery

The lens range is divided into: long shot, panoramic shot, medium shot, close shot, and close-up . The functions of these shooting methods are also different:
Long shot: Long shot can show the macro environment, used to explain the background or scene switching Panorama: Show the complete environment and characters, used to show the relationship between characters Mid-shot: Highlight the subject, usually plays a transitional role Close-up: Further highlight the subject, used to show the shape and emotions of the character Close-up: A part of the subject, suitable for showing details that need to be highlighted

3. Screen content

The content of the picture refers to what we want to express in the lens, presented one by one through various scenes. Specifically, it is to disassemble the script and divide the content into each shot.

4. Shooting method

The shooting methods of the lens include push, pull, shake, move, follow and other forms. Each shooting method presents different effects.

Clarifying the shooting method can reduce the communication time with the staff responsible for shooting and ensure that each scene achieves the desired effect.

5. Subtitles

Subtitles can be regarded as lines or narrations, and are also the most important part of the video, especially for knowledge-based content.

6. Props

In addition to the characters appearing in the video, corresponding props also need to be prepared so that the video shooting can proceed smoothly.

7. Music

Music and sound effects are also important components of short videos. Without these elements, no matter how good the content is, it will appear boring.

02 How to write a script?

After understanding the basic elements of the script, many newcomers still don't know how to get started. So, how to write a video script? Usually there are 5 steps to writing a script:

1. Clarify the topic/viewpoint

The first step in writing a script is to determine the deeper meaning behind the video you want to present, what theme and content you want to reflect, and what form of expression you want to choose.

For example: operational knowledge, 1-minute workplace knowledge...

2. Build the framework

With a basic theme, the next step is to build the framework of the content. By drawing up an outline, designing the relationship between characters and environments in advance, determining the roles, scenes, time and props needed, and then starting to create.

The way to write a good outline is to increase the specificity and importance of the story. You can refer to two dimensions: one is to consider the plot, and the other is to consider the characters.

3. Scene design

The characteristics of short videos are that they are short, flat, and fast, with low production costs. They have to express a theme in just a few minutes or even less than a minute, and the use of real scenes can make people feel more involved.

For example, if you want to shoot an office story, the shooting scene must be in the office to make the user feel involved.

4. Time control

There are two main aspects: the first is the control of video length. For example, for a 1-minute video, the script content should not exceed this time. The second is the design in the content, such as setting a hot spot or reversal in the first 15 seconds or so to retain users.

5. Theme sublimation

Many people only pay attention to the beginning and not the end when making short videos. The ending of the video is also very important and plays a role in finishing touches. We can summarize some content and sublimate the theme, or we can also introduce the content of the next issue to make users feel expected and attract attention.

Or we can guide users to interact and leave messages in the comment area, which also allows us to find inspiration for the theme of the next short video from users' messages.

03 General principles of popular videos

Although short video platforms are now actively pushing "content that users like" to them, the essence behind the popular content is still users' love for high-quality content.

I have summarized three "followable" principles for popular videos, which should also be taken into consideration when designing the script:

1. Golden Time Principle

According to statistics, most users decide whether to continue watching or swipe away within the first few seconds of the video (3 seconds for horizontal videos and 7 seconds for vertical videos).

Therefore, in the first few seconds of the video, you must let users know what the video is about, what problems it can help them solve, or make them curious, so that they will be interested in watching your video.

2. Hook Law

An excellent short video script must have a "hook". After a short video initially retains users through the "golden three seconds", the next thing to consider is how to ensure that users do not "slip away" midway.

Consciously embedding "hooks" in short video scripts can improve the completion rate of short videos. Reversals, suspense, easter eggs and other techniques can all serve as "hooks" in short video scripts.

3. Labeling principles

It’s the same when creating any content. You need to form your own label and focus on the same type of content. Don’t create one type of content today and change to another type tomorrow. Users will never remember you.

Therefore, when making short video content, you should also consciously embed your own personal tags in the video to differentiate yourself from other accounts and deepen the impression of your fans.

Here are some tips for different types of short videos that I have summarized for your reference:

1) Knowledge teaching : The main purpose of this type of short video is to solve problems and let users learn something. Many creators lay too much groundwork in the first half and too little essence, which makes users feel that there is too much nonsense and it is difficult to attract fans.

The script formula is: raise a problem + solution + show summary

2) Funny jokes : If a short video with a plot wants to attract users’ attention, reversal is very important, at least twice, to arouse users’ interest in watching it.

The formula for a script is: scene + unexpected turn + unexpected turn

3) Soul-stirring/Inspirational videos: This type of short video may seem easy, but if you want to make it interesting, you still need to blend the scene with the context, and it’s best if it can move the users, which is not an easy task.

The script formula is: story scenario + highlights + summary

04 Do a good job of benchmarking

After reading the above methods, if you still feel that you can't write a script, or feel that you always lack ideas and inspiration for creation, you can first find your own benchmark account, learn and imitate the other party's copywriting routines and styles, and quickly absorb successful experiences.

After finding and screening benchmark accounts, you cannot just focus on the other party's copywriting style, but also need to break down and analyze them from multiple aspects, from topic selection direction, script structure, shooting techniques, video editing packaging, video titles and message area interactions, etc. Every section must be analyzed.

On the one hand, it is to learn the copywriting skills of the other party, and on the other hand, it is to find the points of differentiation that can be surpassed. The next step is to do a good job of video data analysis and make timely adjustments based on the indicators.

Author: Yan Tao Sanshou

Source: WeChat public account "Yan Tao Sanshou (ID: yantao-219)"