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Video script writing 101: How-to steps + templates and examples

It’s no secret: v ideo gets more engagement  and drives more growth than any other type of media.

But you’ll only reap the benefits if your marketing videos are at least decently produced.

That doesn’t mean every video needs a Hollywood budget, but you  do  need to put time into planning your video and writing a video script (or asking AI to write one for you).

The good news? Learning how to write a good video script is easier than it looks. This guide covers the basics of writing a script and gives you examples to help you write your own.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How to script a video with AI .
• How to plan your script.
• Best practices for writing a script.
• Tips for choosing the “right” kind of script.
• Example video scripts to jog your creativity.

Stay tuned until the end and we’ll also walk you through our favorite ready-to-edit presentation, promo, and explainer video script templates available from  Biteable .

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Video scripts made easy: Start with a Biteable template

You don’t have to write your own video script from scratch. Video script templates are the busy video maker’s secret weapon.

Biteable’s online video-making software offers hundreds of  video templates  to jump-start your script-writing creativity.

• Fully customizable.
• One-click editing.
• Ready-made content. (24+ million clips, images, animations, music tracks).
• Free 7-day trial

How to script a video with AI

The easiest way to script and create videos is with a little help from your newest assistant: AI. Biteable’s AI-powered Automated Video Assistant (AVA) scripts and creates your video with the click of a button.

Read your complete guide to scripting and creating videos with AI for the step-by-step details.

How to write a video script

Before we go anywhere with video, let’s be clear about this: keep it simple. As you plan your video and write your script, it’s all too easy to start throwing all sorts of cool ideas out. After all, you can do anything in a video, right?

With an unlimited budget, sure. But we’re willing to bet your budget is limited. So keep your videos as simple as possible. You’d be surprised how much work it takes to produce very minimal on-screen effects.

Planning your video script

With all that in mind, start planning your script. Some writers call this “ prewriting ”.

1. Identify your audience.

This is a staple in any sort of marketing or copywriting. You need to address a very specific customer with your content, otherwise it won’t resonate. It can be tempting to make it as broad as possible in order to address every potential customer. Avoid this temptation. Something that’s for everybody appeals to nobody.

If you need help identifying who you want to reach, go through the exercises on this  worksheet  from digitalmarketer.com.

2. Choose a goal

Next you need to know what the point of the video is. This will depend on where your audience will see the video, what stage of the marketing funnel the video will be used at, and what you want viewers to do after they watch the video, and the  key performance indicators  you use to track your success.

But if you want viewers to do something specific after seeing the video, you’ll need a call to action. Just make sure your call to action aligns with the purpose of the video. Have a look at this video for FreshBooks. The purpose of the video is quite clear, even if it’s not explicitly stated.

3. Decide on a central character

If your video features too many people, it will be difficult to follow and the focus will stray from the main point. Identifying the primary character does two things:

• It simplifies and focuses your video.
• It pushes you toward creating a story (if your video needs it).

Some videos, like a product overview, have very little story in them. However, it’s still best if a single person does most of the talking. If you’re producing a video with a narrative arc, it’s best to focus on the main character.

In either case, you need to know who’s going to be on screen most of the time. If you need two or more people in the video, choose one person to show for a majority of the screen time.

Bonus tip: If you can, use the same person as the spokesperson in all your videos. This creates continuity and familiarity in your video content. That’s why brands often create characters that almost function as mascots, like Flo from Progressive.

4. Identify the main point of the video

This boils down to a very simple exercise: tell someone why they should watch this video in one sentence.

When you start writing your script, put the answer to this question as close to the beginning as possible. Let viewers know what they’re going to get right up front, and you’ll retain more viewers.

As a bonus, identifying the point of the video will also tell you what sort of video you need.

Writing your video script

If your planning is good, the writing will be fairly easy. You’ve already created your map. Just follow it.

5. Write out visual and audio elements.

This is super important if you’re doing any sort of voiceover with visuals that cut to different shots. But even if your video is a single shot of someone talking, write the visual and audio aspects into your script.

The script is a set of directions for whoever is shooting the video, and you want the video team to know, without a doubt, what’s supposed to be happening with both the visual and audio elements.

A simple table with two columns is an easy way to format your script. It’s easy to read and see how the video will look and sound. This is a brief two-column video script example:

Add as many boxes as you need to cover all the shots in your video.

6. Write your script, then trim to fit

Depending on the sort of video you’re making, you may need to cram everything into 15 or 30 seconds, or you could have a full three minutes or more to work with.

Either way, plan for 125 to 150 words of dialogue per minute.

But when you start writing, focus on saying everything you want to say. Once you’ve got all the dialogue written, check your word count, then start axing and rewording until it fits your time limit.

This method makes your script clear and concise. It forces you to keep only the dialogue you  need .

Here are a few brief tips for writing dialogue:

Speak directly to the audience.  Use “you” and talk to your viewers. It’s more personable, and people prefer being spoken to rather than being spoken at.

Write it the way you would say it.  Your audience isn’t going to read your script. So write what you would actually say, not what looks best on paper.

• Read your script out loud.  This is the only way to find out if your dialogue sounds natural. If you make changes, read it out loud again.

Once the dialogue is clean, you’ll know roughly how much footage you need to shoot and what shots you need. If you’re using a voiceover, be sure to shoot some extra footage to account for pauses in the dialogue and visuals that don’t make the cut.

Bonus tip: Use AI to get the first draft of your script. Use a chatbot like ChatGPT , or skip to the finished video with AVA — Biteable’s AI-powered Automated Video Assistant.

7. Stick to the video script (mostly)

This is technically not part of writing the script. But it’s related to writing your script. It boils down to one question: why bother writing the script if you’re not going to follow it? That’s like paying an architect to draw a floor plan, then just building your house all willy-nilly.

Once you start filming, follow your script as much as possible. Some minor changes are fine, and professional actors or voice actors can contribute some flair. Or, if you find you don’t have the resources to do what you planned, you may need to make changes or go back and rewrite the script.

But avoid making major changes to the script on the fly just because you think of something cool. Ad hoc changes and ad-libbing rarely turn out for the best. Explosions are cool, but don’t blow everything up just to have some fun.

How to write the right kind of video script

Marketing videos accomplish two things:

• They educate viewers.
• They persuade viewers.

Some videos only do one of the two and some do both, but we’re going to split the various types into one of these two categories to keep things simple.

Educational videos: Presentation and explainer video scripts (+ templates)

Presentation and explainer videos fall into the educational category.

These videos are usually for:

• Demonstrating how to do something.
• Explaining how your product or service works.
• Introducing what your brand does.

The keys to success with educational videos are brevity and visuals.

Concise information is easier to remember. That’s why phone numbers are seven digits long. So keep your video short and break it up into manageable blocks of information to help viewers retain what you’ve shown them.

Also, include relevant visuals to show and tell the viewer what you’re explaining, which will increase retention even more. Here’s an excellent explainer video from Mint:

It’s short (1:32), the visuals are relevant, and the dialogue is broken up into separate statements.

This explainer video from Dollar Shave Club is legendary:

Watch this one more than once, because it’s hilarious. But once you stop spitting coffee, notice how the dialogue is broken up into 10-15 second chunks, which are separated by funny visuals. Distinct, memorable blocks of information.

And just for giggles, here’s a bonus videos to get your inspired.

To help you create your own explainer or presentation video, Biteable offers  video templates  you can edit yourself. Here are a few presentation and explainer video script templates to get you started:

Persuasive videos: Promotional and commercial video scripts (+ templates)

Promotional and commercial videos are for getting people to do things. The action you’re after isn’t always an immediate purchase. You could use a persuasive video to get people to consume additional promotional content.

But, most often, promotional and commercial videos are for:

• Showing the benefits and features of your product or service.
• Demonstrating what separates your brand from competitors.
• Showcasing how your product or service will  improve your customer’s life .

Customers will often view these videos on social media or in a sidebar on a website. Getting to the point and keeping it short are non-negotiable. A call to action is mandatory as well.

These videos usually get watched with the sound off, so write your script and plan your visuals to work without sound. Including subtitles is also a good idea.

You might be thinking “great! I’ll save myself time and create a video with no dialogue!” That’s a perfectly good idea, but even if your video has no dialogue, don’t skip the script. Write a script for the visuals so you have a plan to work from.

Here are some examples of commercial videos that work well on multiple platforms:

Notice how short these are. Also note that all of them are consumable without sound. But the main takeaway from these videos is that you need to get attention, deliver your message, and get out before your viewer swipes you off their screen.

Video templates starter pack

We know that can be challenging, so we created a starter pack of video template collections you can use and edit yourself:

• Social media video templates .
• Video ad templates .
• Promotional video templates .
• Explainer video script templates .

Make your first video with Biteable

So you’ve got the knowledge. You’ve got the templates. You’ve got the video editor ( Biteable, of course ) and you’ve got the power. Now go forth and make some awesome videos.

Make stunning videos with ease.

Take the struggle out of team communication.

Try Biteable now.

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How to Write a Video Script [Template + Video]

Published: March 15, 2024

Videos tell a story. According to 92% of marketers, video is essential to their approach. So, the storyline should be effective, whether creating video scripts from scratch or using a template.

Although creating, organizing, and editing compelling videos can be lengthy and scary, a good script can make or break the success of your video.

So, why don’t we take you through the steps on how you can start your scriptwriting process?

What is a video script?

A video script contains the dialogue, plans, and action for your video. It's a crucial tool that gives you and your team cues and reminders about the goal, timeline, and results you want for your video.

Any basic video is elevated with a script, but there’s more to creating a video . You’ll need proper equipment, sound, lighting, sets, and the cast and crew. When combining these, it can be challenging to make sure there are no mistakes.

A strong video script can seamlessly bring it all together. Plus, having an in-depth script will boost your team's confidence and result in a better video outcome.

How to Write a Video Script

Video script template, video script example.

• Choose your target audience.
• Set a goal for your video script.
• Choose the main character for your video.
• Create a brief.
• Use your brief to write an outline.
• Start writing your script, section by section.
• Edit your video script.
• Do a verbal run-through off-camera.

1. Choose your target audience.

Any marketing project is better with the right buyer persona . This is especially true with video.

Because videos often take more time and investment than an online ad or blog, your video must speak to a specific audience.

So, before you start developing characters or a brief for your video, you need to figure out who your video is for. Your target audience for your video script can impact:

• The length and format of your video.
• Where you post your video.
• Setting, costume, and lighting.

If your video is for brand awareness, you may broadcast to a large and diverse audience. But what if you‘re introducing a product or feature?

In that case, you’ll want to focus your audience on the buyers who are most likely to feel the pain point your product solves.

You might want a different approach if your video is for employee or customer retention. You'll want to review data, reviews, and testimonials before you begin your script brief.

This will help you create the story and dialogue your audience will respond to.

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The Ultimate Video Marketing Starter Kit

Access everything you need to get started with video marketing.

• Video Script Templates
• Video Best Practices
• Example Videos

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

2. Set a goal for your video script.

Videos are usually team projects. Without a single focus, every person could come to the video with their idea of what it's about. As the project continues, this can turn a simple video into a convoluted mess.

That's why starting your video script is essential by just thinking about your goal. So, before you jump into a storyline, character, or setting, figure out the why.

Why are you making this video?

Do you want to teach people about your product? Are you introducing a new pricing structure? Are you trying to expand into a new niche?

If you‘re not sure about your goal, think about the problem you’re hoping this video will solve.

For example, say you're struggling with conversions for a new product.

• Is it because you're breaking into a new niche? A product video on the right social media platform for this niche might be right.
• Do users need better instructions? You might want to add a product tour or instructional video to your website.
• Are you getting good reviews? You may want to partner with influencers to build a reputation for this product.

Don't jump into your video script without deciding on a single goal.

Then, use your goal to set the metrics you‘ll use to measure the video’s performance once it goes live.

3. Choose the main character for your video.

Video marketing helps you show your viewers what your product can do instead of telling them. And characters are essential to storytelling.

Choosing the main character for your video before you begin your script will help you focus on telling a story, not just selling an idea. This will help your audience connect and engage with your video.

You may already know that your main character is your ideal customer or your CEO. They could be a celebrity, a cartoon of your product, or a narrator who speaks in your brand voice.

But if not, before you start writing your video script, decide who will be the focus of your video.

If you don't know who your main character is, go back to your goal and target audience. Think about who your buyer persona wants to hear from as they reach that stage of their journey.

Next, outline your main character. You can use the habits, quirks, and voice of your main character to paint a picture for your audience that helps them remember and relate to your video.

Once you've figured out your main character, you can decide how they relate to your product. Do you want to talk about their back story? Are you going to talk about a specific experience they had and how your product helped?

4. Create a brief.

Creating a brief allows you and your team to document the answers to the most important project questions. This helps everyone involved understand the who, what, when, where, and why of your video.

Say you‘re three-quarters of the way through the editing process. If your boss or colleague wants to completely redo half of your video, that’s a huge problem.

Challenges like this can impact your budget, timing, and campaigns. But with a brief, you can refer to the goals and project plan your team mapped out together and say, “Actually, that's not what we agreed to.”

Then, you can move forward.

Focus on your goals, topic, and takeaways in your brief.

A brief doesn't have to be fancy, nor does it have to follow a specific formula. However, there are several vital questions it should include to craft an effective video script.

• What‘s the video topic? (The more specific, the better. For example, if you’re in the house painting business, you might choose a topic like “buying the right paint brush.”)
• What are the key takeaways of the video? What should viewers learn from watching it?
• What‘s our call-to-action? What do we want viewers to do after they’ve finished watching the video?

You can easily create a brief in Google Docs to serve as a living, breathing template that you revise over time – and that your team can collaborate on.

5. Use your brief to write an outline.

Once you‘ve picked a topic and written a brief, it’s time to start constructing your video script. We recommend starting with an outline to give structure to your video script.

This way, you can break your video into subtopics and decide how your dialogue (or monologue) will progress.

Are you basing your video script on a blog?

You can‘t just rewrite a blog post and call it a day – there’s a specific way to write a blog-based script so that it shapes an effective video. Alicia Collins can teach you a bit more in the video below (and yes, we wrote a script for it).

Like Alicia says in the video above, a video script shouldn‘t simply regurgitate the blog post word-for-word. Blog posts are ideally written to be conversational.

But there are pauses and verbal explanations you’ll need to add to your speech patterns that you wouldn’t have without your script.

But, using the blog post's subsections is a helpful starting point when figuring out how your script will progress from one section to the next.

Are you writing an original video script?

Start with a well-structured outline. Many video scripts follow a three-part structure that includes:

• An introduction and hook to draw viewers into your video.
• A problem, pain point, or question comes up.
• A conclusion and resolution of the problem, including a call to action.

This is a basic video script structure, but you can go in many ways as you outline your story. This structure will help you write a script that covers the details that make your video believable and valuable to your audience.

As you create your outline, think about where natural transitions happen.

For example, say you're writing a video script about the life of a new product. You might outline your script with the steps a business might take to launch a product, including:

• Coming up with the idea.
• Doing market research.
• Designing the new product.
• Producing a test product.
• Editing the product for mass production.
• Audience testing.
• Marketing and sales strategies.
• Product launch.

Your primary goal is to engage your target audience with a situation they can connect with. This can help them understand how the challenges you share in your video relate to the problems they want to solve in their own lives.

6. Start writing your script, section by section.

Your video script doesn‘t have to be fancy. You’re not trying to submit this script for any awards – its purpose is strictly functional.

A good script makes it easy for the people on camera to get their messages across while sounding and acting naturally.

Write conversationally.

Writing a script isn’t the same as writing a college paper or marketing research report. You want to write the script how you want the video subject to speak.

Saying, “I'm gonna create a video after reading this blog post” on camera will read much better than, “I am going to create a video after reading this blog post.” Keep sentences short and crisp, and try to avoid compound sentences.

Make it thorough.

A script doesn't just include dialogue. If your video will require multiple shots, characters, or scenes, include these details. Be sure to include any necessary information about the set or stage actions, such as a wardrobe change.

Basically, you want the script to be thorough enough that you could hand it off to someone else to shoot, and they'd understand it.

Write for the audience and the platform.

Make sure you‘re keeping your script conversational for the people you’re trying to connect with – and infuse humor, tone, and inflection accordingly.

For example, if you‘re writing a short-form video for Facebook, you might want to consider keeping your script choppier with sentence fragments.

But if you’re producing a long-form explainer video for your website, make sure you're as thorough as possible.

Script every single word.

It's understandable to think you can just jot down the main bullet points for a script and then just wing it on camera, especially if you know your subject matter.

This approach makes it tough to communicate a message as clearly and concisely as possible, and it usually results in a lot of redos.

So, we suggest scripting every last word. Doing this will keep you organized during filming and save you loads of time later.

7. Edit your video script.

Writing is tough, and it‘s easy to get stuck if you expect your video script to be perfect on your first draft. It’s worth doing two to three rounds of edits to cut any unnecessary words in your writing.

These are a few more tips for editing your script so that the video script can make your final video shine.

Give yourself a break.

Step away from your script after you write it, and don't go back until you can look at it from a fresh perspective.

Check for transitions.

Dialogue and actions will move your story forward. So, look for moments in your script that feel abrupt or awkward. Then, add details that will help your viewers understand what is happening.

Cut the extras.

Great writing and interesting dialogue will be bad for your video if they don't advance your story. Edit out these parts and save them for a later project if you think they can be useful.

8. Do a verbal run-through off-camera.

Now that you know how to write a script, it's time for a table read. This is the part where you practice bringing your script to life on camera.

Why practice? Because some words look great on paper, but once you read them aloud, they just don't sound right. Reading your video script out loud can help you make the language more conversational and your sentences shorter.

You can read your script aloud while editing, but the table read is where you really get to fine-tune the tone. It’s when you can mix anything that sounds too proper, improper, robotic, or otherwise inappropriate for the message you want to convey.

Check out this video for a fun example of a table read:

Nothing is more frustrating than nervously trying to write an effective video script while staring at a blank sheet. It's easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the ideas floating around.

So, where do you even start? How do you sort and narrow all the ideas to write a strong screenplay? Furthermore, how do you direct this creative tempest into a script that engages the audience?

Well, starting with a template makes it that much easier. Here are some of our video marketing starter packs with a free video script template you can consider. Also, check out the HubSpot video below for more info.

Let’s explore multiple templates for different types of videos:

1. HubSpot’s All-in-One Video Script Template

You can modify scripts to match their brand voice and the preferences of their audience by adding sections and prompts that may be customized. This allows for more efficient storytelling and message delivery.

HubSpot‘s template enhances the overall quality of videos while saving time and effort by ensuring the smooth integration of text and visuals.

We’ve incorporated every aspect discussed in this blog post using HubSpot's video script template below.

Don't forget to share this post!

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How to Write a Video Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

• by Joseph Kenas
• January 5, 2024
• Writing Tips

The video essay has become an increasingly popular way of presenting ideas and concepts in the age of the internet and YouTube. In this guide, we present a step-by-step guide on how to write a video essay and tips on how to make it.

While it is easy to write a normal essay, the structure of the video essay is a bit of a mystery, owing to the newness of the term.

However, in this article, we are going to define what is a video essay, how to write a video essay, and also How to present a video essay well in class.

What is a Video Essay?

A video essay is a video that delves into a certain subject, concept, person, or thesis. Video essays are difficult to characterize because they are a relatively new form, yet they are recognized regardless. Simply, video essays are visual compilations that try to persuade, educate, or criticize.

These days, there are many creatives making video essays on topics like politics, music, movies, and pop culture.

With these, essays have become increasingly popular in the era of video media such as Youtube, Vimeo, and others.

Video essays, like photo and traditional essays, tell a story or make a point.

The distinction is that video essays provide information through visuals.

When creating a video essay, you can incorporate video, images, text, music, and/or narration to make it dynamic and successful.

When you consider it, many music videos are actually video essays. 

Since making videos for YouTube and other video sites has grown so popular, many professors are now assigning video essays instead of regular essays to their students. So the question is, how do you write a video essay script?

Steps on How to Write a Video Essay Script

Unscripted videos cost time, effort, and are unpleasant to watch. The first thing you should do before making a video writes a script, even if it’s only a few lines long. Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of writing a script. All you need is a starting point.

A video script is important for anyone who wants to film a video with more confidence and clarity. They all contain comparable forms of information, such as who is speaking, what is said, where, and other important details.

While there are no precise criteria that a video essay must follow, it appears that most renowned video essayists are adhering to some steps as the form gets more popular and acknowledged online. 

1. Write a Thesis

Because a video essayist can handle a wide range of themes, video analysis essays lack defined bounds. The majority of essays, on the other hand, begin with a thesis.

A thesis is a statement, claim, theme, or concept that the rest of the essay is built around. A thesis might be broad, including a variety of art forms. Other theses can be quite detailed.

A good essay will almost always have a point to express. Every video analysis essay should have a central idea, or thesis, that ties the film together.

2. Write a Summary

Starting with a brief allows you and your team to document the answers to the most pressing project concerns. It ensures that everyone participating in the video production is on the same page.

This will avoid problems of mixing ideas or getting stuck when you are almost completing the project.

3. Choose a Proper Environment and Appropriate Tools

When it comes to writing your script, use any tool you’re familiar with, such as pen and paper. Also, find a writing atmosphere that is relaxing for you, where you can concentrate and be creative.

Consider what you don’t have to express out loud when you’re writing. Visual elements will be used to communicate a large portion of your content.

4. Use a Template

When you don’t have to reinvent the process every time you sit down, you get speed and consistency.

It’s using your cumulative knowledge of what works and doing it over and over again. Don’t start with a blank page when I sit down to create a script- try to use an already made template. 

5. Be Conversational

You want scripts that use language that is specific and targeted. Always avoid buzzwords, cliches, and generalizations. You want your audience to comprehend you clearly without rolling their eyes.

6. Be Narrative

Make careful to use a strong story structure when you’re trying to explain anything clearly. Ensure your script has a beginning, middle, and end, no matter how short it is. This will provide a familiar path for the viewers of your video script.

7. Edit Your Script

Make each word work for a certain position on the page when you choose your words.

They must serve a purpose.

After you’ve completed your first draft, go over your script and review it.

Then begin editing, reordering, and trimming. Remove as much as possible.

Consider cutting it if it isn’t helping you achieve your goal.

 8. Read Your Script Loudly

Before recording or going on in your process, it’s recommended to read your script aloud at least once. Even if you won’t be the one reading it, this is a good method to ensure that your message is clear. It’s a good idea to be away from people so you may practice in peace.

Words that flow well on paper don’t always flow well when spoken aloud. You might need to make some adjustments based on how tough certain phrases are to pronounce- it’s a lot easier to change it now than when recording.

9. Get Feedback

Sometimes it is very difficult to point out your mistakes in any piece of writing. Therefore, if you want a perfect video essay script, it is advisable to seek feedback from people who are not involved in the project.

Keep in mind that many will try to tear your work apart and make you feel incompetent. However, it can also be an opportunity to make your video better.

The best way to gather feedback is to assemble a group of people and read your script to them. Watch their facial reaction and jot own comments as you read. Make sure not to defend your decisions. Only listen to comments and ask questions to clarify.

After gathering feedback, decide on what points to include in your video essay. Also, you can ask someone else to read it to you so that you can listen to its follow.

A video essay can be a good mode to present all types of essays, especially compare and contrast essays as you can visually contrast the two subjects of your content.

How to make a Good Video from your Essay Script

You can make a good video from your script if you ask yourself the following questions;

• What is the video’s purpose? What is the purpose of the video in the first place?
• Who is this video’s intended audience?
• What is the subject of our video? (The more precise you can be, the better.) 
• What are the most important points to remember from the video?- What should viewers take away from it?

If the context had multiple characters, present their dialogues well in the essay to bring originality. If there is a need to involve another person, feel free to incorporate them.

How to Present a Video Essay Well in Class

• Write down keywords or main ideas in a notecard; do not write details- writing main ideas will help you remember your points when presenting. This helps you scan through your notecard for information.
• Practice- in presentations it is easy to tell who has practiced and who hasn’t. For your video essay to grab your class and professor’s attention, practice is the key. Practice in front of your friends and family asking for feedback and try to improve.
• Smile at your audience- this is one of the most important points when presenting anything in front of an audience. A smiley face draws the attention of the audience making them smile in return thus giving you confidence.
• Walk to your seat with a smile- try not to be disappointed even if you are not applauded. Be confident that you have aced your video presentation.

Other video presentations tips include;

• Making eye contact
• Have a good posture
• Do not argue with the audience 
• Look at everyone around the room, not just one audience or one spot
• Rember to use your hand and facial expressions to make a point.

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

I n the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term.

What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay supposed to be about? In this article, we’ll take a look at the foundation of these videos and the various ways writers and editors use them creatively. Let’s dive in.

Watch: Our Best Film Video Essays of the Year

Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.

What is a video essay?

First, let’s define video essay.

There is narrative film, documentary film, short films, and then there is the video essay. What is its role within the realm of visual media? Let’s begin with the video essay definition. 

VIDEO ESSAY DEFINITION

A video essay is a video that analyzes a specific topic, theme, person or thesis. Because video essays are a rather new form, they can be difficult to define, but recognizable nonetheless. To put it simply, they are essays in video form that aim to persuade, educate, or critique. 

These essays have become increasingly popular within the era of Youtube and with many creatives writing video essays on topics such as politics, music, film, and pop culture. 

What is a video essay used for?

• To persuade an audience of a thesis
• To educate on a specific subject
• To analyze and/or critique 

What is a video essay based on?

Establish a thesis.

Video analysis essays lack distinguished boundaries since there are countless topics a video essayist can tackle. Most essays, however, begin with a thesis. 

How Christopher Nolan Elevates the Movie Montage  •  Video Analysis Essays

Good essays often have a point to make. This point, or thesis, should be at the heart of every video analysis essay and is what binds the video together. 

Related Posts

• Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained →
• A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style →
• How to Write a Voice Over Montage in a Script →

interviews in video essay

Utilize interviews.

A key determinant for the structure of an essay is the source of the ideas. A common source for this are interviews from experts in the field. These interviews can be cut and rearranged to support a thesis. 

Roger Deakins on "Learning to Light"  •  Video Analysis Essays

Utilizing first hand interviews is a great way to utilize ethos into the rhetoric of a video. However, it can be limiting since you are given a limited amount to work with. Voice over scripts, however, can give you the room to say anything. 

How to create the best video essays on Youtube

Write voice over scripts.

Voice over (VO) scripts allow video essayists to write out exactly what they want to say. This is one of the most common ways to structure a video analysis essay since it gives more freedom to the writer. It is also a great technique to use when taking on large topics.

In this video, it would have been difficult to explain every type of camera lens by cutting sound bites from interviews of filmmakers. A voice over script, on the other hand, allowed us to communicate information directly when and where we wanted to.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Lenses  •  Video essay examples

Some of the most famous video essayists like Every Frame a Painting and Nerdwriter1 utilize voice over to capitalize on their strength in writing video analysis essays. However, if you’re more of an editor than a writer, the next type of essay will be more up your alley. 

Video analysis essay without a script

Edit a supercut.

Rather than leaning on interview sound bites or voice over, the supercut video depends more on editing. You might be thinking “What is a video essay without writing?” The beauty of the video essay is that the writing can be done throughout the editing. Supercuts create arguments or themes visually through specific sequences. 

Another one of the great video essay channels, Screen Junkies, put together a supercut of the last decade in cinema. The video could be called a portrait of the last decade in cinema.

2010 - 2019: A Decade In Film  •  Best videos on Youtube

This video is rather general as it visually establishes the theme of art during a general time period. Other essays can be much more specific. 

Critical essays

Video essays are a uniquely effective means of creating an argument. This is especially true in critical essays. This type of video critiques the facets of a specific topic. 

In this video, by one of the best video essay channels, Every Frame a Painting, the topic of the film score is analyzed and critiqued — specifically temp film score.

Every Frame a Painting Marvel Symphonic Universe  •  Essay examples

Of course, not all essays critique the work of artists. Persuasion of an opinion is only one way to use the video form. Another popular use is to educate. 

• The Different Types of Camera Lenses →
• Write and Create Professionally Formatted Screenplays →
• How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music →

Video analysis essay

Visual analysis.

One of the biggest advantages that video analysis essays have over traditional, written essays is the use of visuals. The use of visuals has allowed video essayists to display the subject or work that they are analyzing. It has also allowed them to be more specific with what they are analyzing. Writing video essays entails structuring both words and visuals. 

Take this video on There Will Be Blood for example. In a traditional, written essay, the writer would have had to first explain what occurs in the film then make their analysis and repeat.

This can be extremely inefficient and redundant. By analyzing the scene through a video, the points and lessons are much more clear and efficient. 

There Will Be Blood  •   Subscribe on YouTube

Through these video analysis essays, the scene of a film becomes support for a claim rather than the topic of the essay. 

Dissect an artist

Essays that focus on analysis do not always focus on a work of art. Oftentimes, they focus on the artist themself. In this type of essay, a thesis is typically made about an artist’s style or approach. The work of that artist is then used to support this thesis.

Nerdwriter1, one of the best video essays on Youtube, creates this type to analyze filmmakers, actors, photographers or in this case, iconic painters. 

Caravaggio: Master Of Light  •  Best video essays on YouTube

In the world of film, the artist video analysis essay tends to cover auteur filmmakers. Auteur filmmakers tend to have distinct styles and repetitive techniques that many filmmakers learn from and use in their own work. 

Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most notable example. In this video, we analyze Kubrick’s best films and the techniques he uses that make so many of us drawn to his films. 

Why We're Obsessed with Stanley Kubrick Movies  •  Video essay examples

Critical essays and analytical essays choose to focus on a piece of work or an artist. Essays that aim to educate, however, draw on various sources to teach technique and the purpose behind those techniques. 

What is a video essay written about?

Historical analysis.

Another popular type of essay is historical analysis. Video analysis essays are a great medium to analyze the history of a specific topic. They are an opportunity for essayists to share their research as well as their opinion on history. 

Our video on aspect ratio , for example, analyzes how aspect ratios began in cinema and how they continue to evolve. We also make and support the claim that the 2:1 aspect ratio is becoming increasingly popular among filmmakers. 

Why More Directors are Switching to 18:9  •  Video analysis essay

Analyzing the work of great artists inherently yields a lesson to be learned. Some essays teach more directly.

• Types of Camera Movements in Film Explained →
• What is Aspect Ratio? A Formula for Framing Success →
• Visualize your scenes with intuitive online shotlist software →

Writing video essays about technique

Teach technique.

Educational essays designed to teach are typically more direct. They tend to be more valuable for those looking to create art rather than solely analyze it.

In this video, we explain every type of camera movement and the storytelling value of each. Educational essays must be based on research, evidence, and facts rather than opinion.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Movement  •  Best video essays on YouTube

As you can see, there are many reasons why the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of communicating information. Its ability to use both sound and picture makes it efficient and effective. It also draws on the language of filmmaking to express ideas through editing. But it also gives writers the creative freedom they love. 

Writing video essays is a new art form that many channels have set high standards for. What is a video essay supposed to be about? That’s up to you. 

Organize Post Production Workflow

The quality of an essay largely depends on the quality of the edit. If editing is not your strong suit, check out our next article. We dive into tips and techniques that will help you organize your Post-Production workflow to edit like a pro. 

Up Next: Post Production →

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Scripting Video Essays: How to Write a Great Narrative

There are many ways in which you can write video essays. Some have argued that video essays are a new trend in the world of creative writing. There is so much emphasis on developing a story from visuals, photographs, videos, and music to tell an enduring tale or lesson in this day and age. 

So, if you want to join the video essay bandwagon as an artist, expert, researcher, or student, you must know how to write them first before creating them.

Writing a narrative video essay is a great way to share your ideas with the world. Narrative essays let you not only say something meaningful but also show it. A good narrative video essay is also about the art of visual storytelling.

But first, if you are wondering what exactly is a video essay. Let’s address it first.

What is a Video Essay?

A video essay is a form of a documentary-like video narrative film using film footage, video clips, and graphics to discuss an issue or topic. Academics and artists can typically use video essays to discuss their research. 

In addition to blog posts and magazine articles, video essays are a new type of storytelling in the digital world. They take one idea and meticulously construct a narrative on how it came to be, how it’s been used/applied, or what it means.

In its most popular form (one person talking head), a video essay is made up of between 3-7 minutes in length and usually presents one concept or topic.

It often looks at a film and demonstrates how it is engaging in meaning or does not. The video essay can also emphasize the acts performed by actors or directors, such as performance, staging, and editing techniques.

But today, it is not fixated to film subjects only.  You can also expand your visual stories about anything under the sun like history, politics, science, technology, etc. Just choose an idea and proceed with your essay writing.

Here is an excellent example of the best video essays –  Example: Best Video Essays by Vox

How do you Create a Narrative in your Video Essay?

To create a compelling video essay, you must know how to write an essay with a video component to produce a compelling story. A good video essay should have the following qualities:

• It should be insightful, thought-provoking, or informative.
• It should be argumentative and practice critical thinking
• It should be visual, formal, and well-structured.
• It should help the viewer understand and appreciate a topic/situation from various angles.
• It should inspire viewers through findings, vocabulary, and plot.

The best video essays also use candid footage and demonstrate the use of nonfiction or documentary filmmaking techniques . And the main reason why people gravitate towards narrative essays is that they let you show your ideas visually to your viewers.

How to Write a Video Essay Script?

Many people are starting to make video essays as a way of presenting their own thoughts and experiences. The problem is that these videos do not have any actual narration, leaving the viewer lost trying to understand what’s happening.

But to write a grand narrative, you must follow the following stages:

Brainstorming ideas is the first stage. At this stage, you should list a few interesting concepts in an organized way. You may want to use the topic form like: “A Case for Video Essays” or “How to Create a Story Using Text and Images?” So, while ideating, follow these:

• Begin by picking a topic ( mostly what you are passionate about).
• Think about your point of view and audience. 
• Set up the background and context for your essay or story (the “what”). 
• Reveal the turning point in your story (the “why”). 
• Provide evidence to support your account of events (the “where”) 
• Discuss how the incident relates to broader social concerns (the “what now?”).

Research is the next stage of writing a video essay. The moment you decide to make a video essay, you should have enough information about the topic. The more information and research you do in the ideation stage, the easier it will be for you as a writer and speaker to share your knowledge with the audience. Research may include:

• Finding out facts from books, interviews, or research papers.
• Finding out relevant video footage of the person, place, or event.
• Getting access to the video footage of a particular event (e.g., presidential speeches).
• Find audio or video files on the Internet and transcribe them into text format (e.g., podcasts, interviews).
• THE ESSAY STRUCTURE: 

Because the video essay is still relatively new, there are no definitive rules about structure and genre for these films.  But still, we should adhere to some basic rules while constructing the script structure. Your structure is the most crucial stage for a crackling narrative. 

The essentials of a great narrative essay structure are as follows :

• First, create a rough outline from your research material.
• Think about a compelling opening line with a single line answer to the question of the essay
• Begin with questions, then answer in a way to create an argument.
• The Argument then leads to the next question.
• The emotion and Tone of the script should be formal, thought-provoking, insightful, and informative, supported by relevant visual reference.
• The essay must represent a single point of view.
• But it should be a well-reasoned perspective.
• It must have the writer or creator’s personal touch.
• Good writing is about the economy of words articulated to the point.
• Don’t forget to mention the What is the Takeaway for the audience.
• Don’t make it lengthy. Video essays are also about documenting or reviewing videos. So the script should not eat it all.
• Once you have structured the script, go back to the beginning and review your work.

Once you have prepared a rough draft of your essay, read it out loud and find the rhythm in the story. Is it telling the theme visually?  Rewrite and get the tone right. Your first few scripts may not be satisfactory. Don’t worry about that. It is a learning process.

• WRITING THE FINAL DRAFT:

Now, once you have gotten all the ideas into a script, you will be eager to write the final draft. At this stage, make sure to follow the following tips:

• Make sure every line is comprehensible so that viewers can easily understand your point of view without missing anything important in it.
• Proofread and make sure that you don’t leave any unfinished work or broken sentences in the video essay structure.
• Check the length of the video essay and make sure to follow the minimum requirements.
• Once you are done with the script, check for the formatting of your work.
• Spend extra time on a great narration that helps explain your content effectively and concisely.
• Get a clear idea about what you want to say so that you know what kind of images to use in the final draft of your essay and how they should be arranged.
• Conclude the essay by providing the audience with everything they need to know about your subject.

For a compelling narrative, the first thing to do is identify what makes the story you are trying to tell unique and why an audience wants to learn about it.

Related Question:

Are Video Essays Popular Today?

Though the concept was coined in the mid-1990s, it has only become popular in the last five years or so. As of now, a considerable amount of video essays and short films are uploaded on Youtube. Some have even garnered millions of views.  The prominent mentions are the Nerdwriter, and Every Frame is a Painting.

check out – Best Video Essays of last year

How Long Does a Video Essay Take to Write?

If you are writing a long video essay, it can take you a considerable amount of time. However, if you aim to create a short film covering one event, it can be done in a day or two. 

But, you may take time if you don’t have the research material in your hand. 

Final words:

The video essay became popular because it is a way to engage with the writer rather than just “watching” them talk about something. But, to make a great narrative, you have to research a lot and put in your best efforts. 

We hope this write-up has helped you create a great video essay. Happy writing!

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How to Write A Video Script: The Ultimate Guide

March 25, 2021

Author: Phil Heusser

“A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends.”

― Friedrich Nietzsche

So you Googled something like “how to write a video script,” and here’s where you landed. Nice! Grab a cup of coffee — there is plenty to learn.

Maybe you’ve got an in house production team. They are ready to film or animate. All you need to do is deliver a completed video script. Or maybe you’re working with an external studio, and they’ve informed you that they can lower your quote if you deliver a completed video script. Or maybe, just maybe, you’re flying solo…creating your very own video or animation.

Whatever your situation, this blog post is for you!

In this guide, we’ll reveal key questions you should be thinking about, a formula for script writing, tips on style, length, flow, and more. We’re consistently rated one of the top video marketing studios , so you can trust that we know what we’re talking about!

You can read straight through; or if you’re looking for something specific, go ahead and use the table of contents below to toggle around.

Did we mention? This is the second article in a 4 part series, in which we’re teaching you how to create an animation on a budget. Check out part 1 here!

Table of Contents:

• How are video scripts like traditional writing?
• How are video scripts unlike traditional writing

Getting Ready to Write

• Writing Time!

Script Writing Formats

• A Video Script Example

Let’s start by with a game of apples and oranges. How are video scripts similar (and different) from other forms of writing you might be more familiar with?

How are video scripts like traditional writing? 

If you’ve written in other contexts — i.e. a report for work, an article for a newspaper, or a blog post — you should already have some of the basics down. That’s a better start than you might think! Here’s a bit about how writing a video script is similar to other forms of writing.

Simplicity is key

Writing in flowery detail or impressive jargon might have gotten you an A on your senior thesis paper, but it’s not how clear communication works in the real world. Video script writing, like most writing, is usually best kept clear and conversational — with an unflinching sense of empathy for the viewer.

In short: Keep. It. Simple.

Creativity within a Framework

Remember writing those essays in high school? Before diving into the piece, your teacher probably made you write an outline, including:

• An introduction with a thesis statement, and a list of three points.
• A body with three paragraphs, each supporting a point in the introduction
• A conclusion that summarizes the points, and restates the thesis.

Writing video scripts isn’t quite that structured, but there are definitely guidelines you can use to help viewers follow the plot. We’ll reveal a solid script writing formula later in this article. In the meantime, understand this: video script writing is all about creativity within a framework.

Tone Matters

“Tone is what the dog hears.” – Adair Lara

Tone — or the way writers use words to convey attitudes and emotions— matters in all writing, and video script writing is certainly no exception. Most video scripts are a combination of several tones, which come together to form an overall tone. It always depends on the video’s goal, as well as the audience digesting the material. Much more on this later!

Editing is your friend

Like any other form of writing, great editing can make your video script much better. When editing, your job is to take as objective a stance as possible about what you’ve written — including its structure, organization and content.

Of course, the closer you are to your work, the harder it is to be objective! In times like these, you may want to leave your writing for a day or two and reset your brain. Or heck, recruit an extra pair of eyeballs to help.

How to Write a Video Script, Pro Tip # 1: 

Get Inspired!

If you’ve made it this far, awesome! You’re on the right track. Before you know it, you’ll be writing your first video script. But you know what step you should (definitely) take before you put pen to paper? View some examples of professional video scripts first. These can be found all over the web. Try searching “explainer animations” on Vimeo.com.

Or better yet, check out some examples in the Motifmotion portfolio .

The Storyboard Connection

The first difference between video script writing and other forms of writing won’t come as a big surprise.

But it’s a doozy.

Unlike your college research paper or letter to the editor, a video script exists alongside a storyboard (and eventually a video — but let’s not get ahead of ourselves). The video storyboard is designed to describe what’s visually occurring on screen.

So while the script is always the foundational element that the rest of the video is built upon, while you write, you might begin to ask yourself:

“Will the production team be able to create on-screen action that jives with this script?”

This can be a challenging question to answer if you aren’t a videographer or an animator. That’s why you should head the following advice:

Avoid the temptation to visualize too much, too soon.

As a rule of thumb, the story should always come first. Sacrificing the video script’s flow so that you can cram a visual concept in (before the entire storyboard is envisioned) is usually not worth it. Better to write a killer script first, then develop a storyboard, then go back and revise the script, ad needed.

One Piece of the Puzzle

In the “how are video scripts LIKE traditional writing” section, I mentioned that scriptwriting is all about creativity within a framework.

There’s a key reason for that.

Because although the video script is the foundation of the video, in the end, it’s only one important part of it.

Video scripts aren’t endlessly abstract, like a Jackson Pollock painting. But they also aren’t formulaic; like instructions for an IKEA desk. Video scripts are more like writing a lyrically driven song.

Much like the lyrics of this song, video scripts must mesh with complimentary sounds, emotions, and conceptual ideas. As with the song, these components are interdependent. Take away the music backtrack of your video, and you’ll probably lose significant emotional pull. Take away the professional visuals, and you’ll have an amateurish piece. Take away the professional voiceover artist…and, well, you get the point.

Just like a song with corny lyrics, an underwhelming script will result in an underwhelming video. The good news is that if the script is awesome, and the other pieces are equally professional, the pieces will come as a unified whole.

And that, my friends, is how great videos are made!

The Voiceover Artist

In a video script, not only will you want to think about the style you are writing (ex: friendly/light, professional/authoritative, bubbly/engaging, etc.), you’ll also want to think about the literal tone of your voiceover artist’s…voice! Here’s a great resource for understanding what kinds of voices tend to communicate corresponding emotional tones.

An Emphasis on Figurative Language

“The human mind is a pattern matcher.” – Jonathan Height

Using figurative language to convey a point is a tool used in LOTS of creative writing. From that standpoint, you might argue that conversation about this doesn’t belong in the “unlike” section.

But here’s the thing…

Because video scripts are typically very short, the importance of creating “comprehension shortcuts” is extremely useful in this type of writing.

Our brain’s evolved to think in metaphors. Well before the earliest forms of written language, legends and myths were passed down from one generation to the next — since time immemorial. The stories we told relied on motifs, allegories and symbols.

There’s a neurological reason for this.

The world is complex and our brains are wired to create comprehension shortcuts. We crave understanding and meaning, and there’s no better way to get it than by shrink wrapping complicated phenomena into stories that are easy to digest — to convey lessons that resonate with us.

In other words, when it comes to communicating nuanced ideas, the easiest way to get from point A to point B is through storytelling! What’s more, when a great script is combined with great visuals, a picture is painted before a viewer’s very eyes, taking them on a journey.

We’re getting close!

Before you begin writing, take time to jot down all the ideas you want to communicate in the piece. Put them down on paper separately. Only after you’ve established them, should you start thinking about the best way to connect them within your script (and the larger story).

Understand Your Goal

Before you put pen to paper, you’ve got to develop a clear picture of your end goal. What is the reason you are making this video? Who are you trying to reach? What goal are you hoping they’ll complete? What would you like them to feel ?

If I asked you in a year from now, “was your video successful?” — what factor(s) will determine the answer?

If you don’t have a clear vision, you won’t write an effective script!

Understand Your Topic

Make sure you have a robust understanding of the topic before you start writing. You’ll want to understand how the individual pieces exist independently, and ultimately, how they connect to one another. This will help you form a narrative that hangs together.

Understand Your Target Audience

Before writing, make sure you have a basic understanding of your target audience, and what they stand to benefit from your video. How technical is your audience? How new is your audience to the concepts, ideas, or stories you are presenting? What do they stand to benefit? Understanding your target audience is all about research and empathy.

How to Write a Video Script — ProTip # 2

Create a Buyer Persona

If you’ve never thought seriously about how to speak to (rather than at) your target audience, consider spending some time researching your “ buyer persona .” Most marketers are familiar with the term. A buyer persona is a “semi fictional representation of your ideal customer based on market research and real data about your existing customers.”

Naturally, your buyer persona isn’t an accurate representation of your entire target audience! But you’ll never create a video script that resonates if you don’t develop a loosely accurate archetype of the people you are hoping to impact.

Define Your Key Message(s)

Sometimes, the goal of a video is to get across a single big message. In these cases, everything builds towards communicating it. Other times, your aim may be to explain something complicated connected by smaller, related parts. Or it might be to convey several ideas at once.

Defining the key message(s) early will help you stay connected to the video’s goal, and it will help you transition between concepts.

One way to do this is by developing a strategic brief. Creating a brief like this will allow you to map out your goals, what impact you’re trying to have, and ideas for getting there.

Putting Pen to Paper

Develop an outline.

Creating an outline — even if only loose — is a smart (borderline essential) step. Your outline should consist of an introduction to your subject, a body, and wrap up/call to action. The specifics around how you approach your outline will depend on the type of video you’re creating. A few templates are provided later in this piece. Keep reading!

Decide the video length

As a general rule, the shorter and more concise, the better. Consider the world we live in today. It’s the so-called attention economy , and advertisers and marketers are constantly competing for our eyeballs and ears.

In short, if you want people to listen to your message, you’ve got to give them a compelling reason to stick around.

Sometimes, the hard part is already done for you.

For example, if you’re writing a script for a video meant to convey the details of an insurance policy, chances are, you’re creating content for a captive audience who already needs to learn the information. In this case, you’ll definitely want to be clear and engaging, but at least your viewers are already incentivized to listen and learn.

The length of the script will depend on the video’s goals. If you want to peak a viewer’s interest in order to engage in an action — shorter. If you want to educate the viewer about something in depth — longer.

Other times, you’ve got to get more creative! If the purpose of your video script is to create excitement around a new product on social media, you’re going to have to create something short, and highly engaging — something that really knocks your viewers’ socks off!

When we can, Motifmotion tries to keep our videos between 1 and 2 minutes long . Sometimes we find a way to make them even shorter than that. Because even though video is the most impactful content in the world, engagement tends to drop off after 45 seconds or so.

The beauty of video production is that sometimes the visuals can “show” rather than the script having to “tell.” More on that later. For now, just remember that you should keep your video as short as you reasonably can, while making sure you hit on your key points.

Establish the tone (and paint a picture)

When you feel passionate about a topic, it’s tempting to assume others will feel the same. Bad news, friends — it’s usually safe to assume that they don’t. So what’s the solution?

Hold your audience’s hand, and guide their emotional state.

Take them through a journey, assisting them in feeling what you feel. Importantly, it’s never about telling your audience what to feel. It’s about conveying emotion by painting a picture.

For example, if your goal is to create excitement and engagement, your script should be punchy, upbeat, and fun. You should seek to grab their attention right away. Perhaps with a burning question, or a compelling statistic. Something that gets them curious.

Are you dealing with a more serious topic?

Your video script still needs to earn viewer interest. In this case, it’s might be by highlighting the importance of a subject, and explaining the urgent need to deal with it. Think, for example, about a video about global warming, or requesting funds for a political campaign. Besides highlighting the crucial importance of the subject, it’s also essential to write with a tone of trust and authority.

By the end of the video, there will be other ways to do this too. The visuals, the sound FX, and the music.

All of these are key, but none as important as the script!

Transition and flow

Pop Quiz: What do almost all choppy, disjointed videos have in common?

Answer: Choppy, disjointed video scripts.

Whereas a book can be written with distinct chapters separating sub-storylines, videos usually need to flow effortlessly between plots and concepts (Quentin Tarentino’s “Hateful 8” notwithstanding). The good news is, in writing, there are many ways to transition between concepts . For example, a “ head to tail transition involve placing “a word or concept in the first sentence of each paragraph that refers back to, repeats, reflects, or echoes a word or concept used in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph.”

No doubt about it, great video storytelling requires a clean, flowing video script — and there is no better way to lose your viewer than by failing to hold their hand through ideas.

Evolve with the storyboard

Remember, everything starts with the video script. For this reason, it’s very important that you don’t get ahead of yourself and deep dive into visuals before you’ve got the strong backbone of a video script.

That being said, once you’ve got your video script, (and you’re confident it’s at least 80% of the way there) you can move with confidence into the storyboarding phase.

The full storyboarding process is another subject altogether. If you haven’t been part of a storyboard process, know this: a storyboard is a visual summary (usually hand sketched) of how the on screen visuals will play out during the video. This can include everything from camera angles to, onscreen actors, to onscreen graphics and animations.

Your video script need not be a final product until you’ve formally moved into the production phase. And you can always go back and tweak things to better match the on-screen visuals after you’ve moved into storyboarding.

Edit your video script (ruthlessly!)

After you’ve completed a first draft, know this — it’s only a first draft!

Creating a perfect video script on the first try is a bit like the last time I stumbled upon a 22 carat golden elephant roaming the streets of Philadelphia. In short, it hasn’t happened — yet. (Never say never, I suppose).

Here’s what you should do while editing.

• Read your script out loud multiple times. Make sure it’s smooth, understandable and clear. Take out words, phrases, or turns of language you keep stumbling upon, mispronouncing, or are sticking out like a sore thumb.
• Ensure your tone aligns with your end goal and your target audience.
• Make sure the video script flows between concepts and sections.
• Ask other writers to read your script and provide feedback. Be open to suggestions and don’t be too proud of your work.
• Check your spelling, the language, and the meaning of words.
• Take breaks between edits, and re-visit it with fresh eyes. Keep re-reading out loud until it all sounds concise.
• Be extra ruthless! Your script will go through several rounds of re-vision, so be ready for it.

Finally, ask yourself the following:

• Is it written in a way that will resonate with my audience?
• Does it communicate the core message(s)?
• Does it tell an engaging story with a logical flow?
• Does it include a compelling Call-to-Action?
• Is it no longer or more complex than it needs to be?
• Is the script likely to achieve its objectives?

The format you use will depend on the type of video you’re scriptwriting for. In reality, there are many ways you can approach a short video. But hey, you’ve got to start somewhere. Here are two of our favorite examples.

Explainer Video Format

Explainer videos are used to highlight a product, service, business idea, or even an organization’s mission — in a succinct and compelling way. Explainer vidoes are about communicating the most information, in the shortest amount of time, all the while keeping the audience engaged.

They typically follow a format like this:

Step 1: Highlight the Problem:

The first step is to draw attention to the problem that the product or service resolves. Even if your audience is already aware that there is a problem, it’s extremely important that you remind them of it, or further contextualize why it’s a persistent issue.

Step 2: Introduce the Solution:

Once your audience fully grasps the nature of the problem, it’s time to present the solution — you, duh! This is a short, necessary step, before you segway into step 3.

Step 3: Show how the product or service works

In this portion of your video script, your job is to explain the nature of your product or service, and how viewers can actually use it to solve their problem. Depending on your video’s end goal (and the nature of your product or service) you may spend a significant amount of time on this section, or you may want to offer a quick, punchy overview, and direct the viewer to the place where they can experience it in action.

Step 4: Call to Action

Ah…the all important call to action! If you fail to tell your viewer’s what to do next, what was the point of everything before it?

What is the specific action you want your viewer to take next? Do you want them to visit a website? Call a phone number? Download an app? Whatever it is, help them understand exactly what they need to do next.

So why are Explainer Videos Effective?

While it’s definitely possible to build emotion into an explainer video, the main reason they are effective is because they are crystal clear, and they apply the logical, decision making areas of our brains.

In other words, they offer concise, step-by-step logic, which is extremely easy to follow. Couple that logic with extremely compelling videos, and you’ve got yourself an excellent explainer video!

Video Storytelling Format

Sometimes, the purpose of a short video isn’t to market a product or service; but to tell a story. This is especially common in the case of mission driven organizations, such as nonprofits and NGO’s. Other times, the explainer video style is simply too rigid, and a more flexible video script is needed.

In situations like these, organizations can use common storytelling plots — or motifs — to inspire viewers and communicate messages.

These include motifs like “the hero’s journey” — in which a protagonist faces a series of challenges that must be overcome, before climbing to the top of a metaphorical mountain and accomplishing a goal.

When you place your message into a plot that people already identify with — even if subconsciously — you allow them to “put themselves into the shoes” of your characters, greatly enhancing the probability that your message will resonate with them on an emotional level.

So why are Storytelling Videos Effective?

Storytelling videos work well not because they are logical, but because they are emotional. Studies on memory formation show that memories “stick” much more effectively when they are based in an emotional experience.

The key thing to remember is that emotional states aren’t just some wishy washy idea. They occur in the context of neurochemicals. Like oxytocin (the love hormone), cortisol (the “stress” hormone), and dopamine the (“happiness” hormone). More on this in the next section!

The more emotion is attached to a compelling story that viewers can connect to, the more likely it will resonate with them on an emotional level, and the more likely the message will stick.

To explore how this works, let’s look at one of the most famous storytelling motifs – “The Hero’s Journey.”

The Hero’s Journey

When we hear a great story — particularly one based around a hero character that we can relate to — studies on brain activity tell us that we literally views ourselves as participants , rather than observers in a story. This creates an enhanced state of empathy for a hero character, and our brain releases oxytocin — the love hormone. More than just love, oxytocin is also involved in forging trust. Viewers experiencing higher levels of trust tend to be more engaged and understanding.

Then, throughout the hero’s journey, she faces obstacles she must find a way to overcome. It is stressful and difficult! These anxiety inducing subplots cause our brain to release cortisol.

In the end, our hero overcomes her obstacles and our brain releases dopamine – aka the happiness hormone.

Granted, this is a simplified view of the science. The important thing to know is that memories are much stickier , and experiences are much more meaningful when they are doused in emotion. A good video script writer understands this.

Alas, there is one more piece to the puzzle.

In the case of storytelling for a video, oftentimes, an unresolved problem remains. For example — let’s say your video aims to increase awareness about childhood illiteracy in a developing country. If the video simply ends without instruction, the viewer will be left thinking, “well, that’s all very sad. Wish there were something I could do about it.”

If you’ve done everything well up to this point, but you fail to “close the deal” with a call to action, the only thing you will have accomplished is allowing your viewer feel proud of themselves for feeling empathy.

Bravo to you. Hooray to the viewer.

Except…not really…because your viewer feeling proud isn’t helping the children who need to learn how to read!

The unresolved problem must open the door for action.

Tell the viewer how they can help. What tangible steps can they take to make the situation better?

How to Write a Video Script, Pro Tip # 3:

Combining approaches

Remember, video scripts are creative works! Consider the formats discussed above. Traditional explainer video formats can have storytelling components within them. Meanwhile, storytelling pieces can also contain formulaic elements. As ever, video script writing is a balance between structure and creativity.

Let’s check out an example of a hybrid approach.

A Script Format Template and Example

Our client, Invested.ch, is a Switzerland based startup company that encourages everyday U.S. and Swiss citizens to invest a portion of their savings, so that they can earn money on their money. Since their theoretical target audience is very broad — anyone who has savings they could be putting away, but who doesn’t understand the value of investing — the startup needed an animation that would explain why investing is so important in the first place.

So we (loosely) followed the formula outlined in the Explainer Video Format section above.

Remember, when it comes to script writing, there are no unflinching recipes. In this case, we combined a storytelling and explainer video approach, choosing to focus heavily on the problem itself.

Here’s how we did it.

Step 1: Understand the goal

After an initial discovery meeting with the client, we learned that their most important (early) task was simply to help potential clients understand that there was a problem in the first place.

The client knew they would eventually need to explain the nuts and bolts of their investment tools, but before that could happen they needed to help viewers understand that there was actually a problem. In other words, explaining the nature of the problem was more vital in this animation than usual.

Step 2: Understand the target audience

Technically speaking, the client’s audience is anyone with the means to invest. Meaning, anyone who has at least a few thousand dollars of savings that they don’t need to touch. From an early marketing standpoint, their audience was primarily in two countries — Switzerland (where the CEO resides) and the United States. For this reason, the script was eventually also translated into German.

Step 3: Define the key message

Invested.ch faced a difficult challenge. Selling a service-based solution, designed to solve a problem the majority of their target audience doesn’t even realize they have.

So what was their key message?

That the vast majority of Westerners don’t invest their money. In failing to do so, they lose money every year, thanks to the effects of inflation. Meanwhile, the wealthiest in society know all about the importance of investing — and they use it to multiply their wealth.

In theory, there is nothing preventing the middle class from investing with the same effect — except, of course, for a false narrative of complexity. While the behind the scenes action may be too complex for the average investor to understand, the basics are extremely simple and fairly easy to accomplish with the right tools.

Tools that invested.ch offers!

Choosing the Right Script Writing Format

After several meetings with the founder of invested.ch, we determined that this video should be a cross between an explainer video and a storytelling piece.

The storytelling piece would take place in the first half of the video, during the “highlighting the problem phase.” In it, we’d introduce the problem and explain why it matters. The rest of the video would proceed like a more traditional explainer video.

Check out the script below, and watch how we created the animation around it.

Introduce the Problem

Did you know, if you’re not investing your money, you are, in fact, losing your money? Thanks to inflation, you are losing an average of about 3 cents for every dollar, every year, or about 3 percent.

To be clear, we’re not talking about the loss of physical money, but how much your money is actually worth. Think of it this way, the quarter your grandfather was once able to buy a loaf of bread with, can now only buy you a slice.

Contextualize the Problem: Part 1

So while 3% in one year might not sound like much at first, it really adds up. If you put $10,000 of your hard earned money in the bank, you can expect to lose over $300 of value, year after year after year. So saving money in the bank is simply not analogous to “playing it safe.”

Now what about a person much richer than you? Inflation should affect the wealthy the same way…right? Well it would , except the mega rich are sidestepping the problem.

Contextualize the Problem: Part 2

While the majority of us are passively allowing our savings to be swallowed up by inflation, the top 10% of earners are actively investing in stocks, not only offsetting inflation but multiplying their wealth. This, along with a general lack of investing on the part of the middle class, has contributed greatly to the extreme levels of wealth inequality we see today. In other words, the rich are in fact getting richer, and the middle class, if they’re not investing, are getting poorer. And if you’re in the majority this is affecting your wallet, your opportunities, and your life experiences.

Introduce the Solution

To combat this, Invested.CH, a Switzerland based initiative, stepped back and asked a basic question. What if we created an intuitive tool that allows you to not only easily invest in stocks, but to invest wisely, and with whatever amount you can spare?

Invested.CH aims to make up for the guaranteed loss caused by inflation by empowering the middle class to make real investments, like the wealthy have been doing for decades.

Show How the Product or Service Works Our cutting edge tools are designed to be simple and intuitive. To guide you through your first investments, the website also includes a series of step by step, easy-to-understand tutorial videos–like this one.

Within no time, you’ll be making well informed trades based on innovative financial models. In many respects, more cutting edge than those used by professional stock forecasters.

Call to Action The tool is constantly being refined. Come be a part of the movement, by visiting us at Invested.ch and be among the first to test drive our latest investment tools. While you’re there, you can also follow our progress by signing up for our newsletter.

Conclusion: How to write a video script (The Ultimate Guide)

And that’s how to write a video script!

There is no doubt about — video script writing is an essential component of the video production process. It is a blueprint for what’s to come, and its importance should never be glossed over.

That being said, it’s just one part of the process! For a full overview of the video production (and animation) process, read part 1 of this series, How to Create an Animation on a Budget . And stay tuned for Part 3 – “How to Create a Storyboard,” as well as Part 4 – “Creating an Animation — from Concept to Delivery.”

What is a Storyboard? [And How to Create One]

Phil Heusser 2021-04-28T09:57:15+00:00 April 21st, 2021 | 0 Comments

What is a storyboard, anyway? Good question — we'll answer it for you! But before we do, let’s take stock of where you currently are in your animation (or video making) journey. Assuming you [...]

Phil Heusser 2023-11-29T20:28:16+00:00 March 25th, 2021 | 0 Comments

"A good writer possesses not only his own spirit but also the spirit of his friends." ― Friedrich Nietzsche So you Googled something like “how to write a video script,” and here’s where you [...]

Creating an Animation on a Budget [2022 Updated]

Phil Heusser 2022-05-25T12:35:35+00:00 February 2nd, 2021 | 0 Comments

Welcome Googlers from business, startups, education, non profits — or from wherever you might hail. Greetings to you too, students and future animators. This article is the first of a four (4) part series [...]

Have a project in mind?

© Copyright 2021 | motifmotion | All rights reserved

How to Write a Video Script – 4 Script Formats to Choose From [FREE TEMPLATE]

The question of “ how to write a script ” is difficult to answer outright, in the same way that “ how to build a car ” is. Both are complex, made of several parts that work together in order to achieve a unified effect.

“ How to build a sportscar ” and “ how to build a hatchback ” are similar to a degree – similar in their overall principles. But at some point, the detail of one’s construction will diverge from the other because a sports car and a hatchback have different purposes requiring differences in their construction.

“ How to write an emotional script” and “How to write a spokesperson script ” are different in this way. They both adhere to many of the same principles, but in their detail, they have different techniques owing to differing objectives.

There are many different kinds of videos that you might have to write for, so we’ll focus on some of the most common principles and techniques in screenwriting so that you will find value in any and all video projects you might take on. With that said, let’s safely assume that the videos we’re talking about today have the following characteristics:

• They have a specific message
• They have a measurable objective
• They are subject to approval
• They are being produced internally, and are fairly small in scope
• They have finite budgets

A Script is a Blueprint

Of course, the primary difference between a script and any other written communications document is that a script is never actually read by its audience. A written communications document is much easier to write because its meaning and message are self-contained and fully within your control. In the case of video, the script is only the first step in a longer and more complex creative process, often involving multiple people with different skills. Simply put, the script is not the finished product; it is a blueprint for a finished product – and that is the first principle of screenwriting.

This may seem like an obvious point, but its importance cannot be overstated. More than anything, this fact about scripts is the thing that people tend to overlook, and which generally lead to problems. Above all else, keep in mind that when you’re writing a script, you’re writing instructions for other people to interpret.

So what is the best way to create instructions for a video? First, you must choose a format for your script.

4 Script Formats to Choose From for Your Video

1. the audio/visual script.

Your first instinct might be to write dialogue in the usual paragraph form and then maybe write a few visual ideas in the margins or in parentheses. But the simplest way of writing a script is to use the “Audio/Visual” format.

You can think of a video as two separate narratives: one audio, and one visual. Of course, these two narratives need to work together, so this should be indicated in the script. To do that, it’s best to format your script as a table with two vertical columns.

Separating the writing into two columns helps the reader to visualize the video as well as read its dialogue. This is important because the visuals often enhance or supplement the spoken dialogue. Consider the following script, and note how there are visual directions that relate to the spoken dialogue.

This script does a good job of separating the audio and visual elements in the script, and the dialogue uses pronouns like “this” to refer to the visual components of the video. But there is a problem here. The visual column contains a lot of visual references, but it’s not clear when these visuals should appear on screen, or even what they are. For example, is the “spokesperson speaking to camera” on screen throughout the dialogue? When does the “sales graph” appear? Does the “sales graph” remain on-screen throughout the dialogue? What does “video marketing” mean here? These must be clarified, and that’s why each column is further separated into rows, each with very specific instructions.

Now both columns have been spaced out horizontally in such a way that the pace of the dialogue and the images have a clear correlation. It may seem counter to your writer’s intuition to describe things in such literal detail, but it’s important to remember that the person who is interpreting your script needs this information in order to visualize and understand it. That person may be the one approving the script, or the one executing it. In either case, they will need you to help them imagine your vision of the video.

A/V Script Template

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2. the structure script.

Every video is meant to be watched, and that means part of the goal is to make it watchable. In our industry, the term ‘engagement’ is used to describe a video’s ability to retain its audience’s attention. Of course, the responsibility for this belongs, at least in part, to the script.

That’s why there are some situations in which it makes sense to script a video’s structure, even if you’re not scripting its specific dialogue. The goal in this case is to do everything you can to ensure that the video follows a purposeful narrative, and thus engages its audience.

Let’s imagine that you want to create a video that features a short end-of-year message from your company’s CEO. You’ve decided that you don’t want the video to be a scripted presentation; you’ve determined that a more authentic or casual tone is better for this video’s message. So you decide to write some interview questions.

In this situation, it would nice to know how the edit is going to be organized. What will his opening statement be ABOUT? What key messages do you need to cover? How should the video conclude? How will you keep the viewer’s attention? This is where a Structure Script can be handy.

A Structure Script can be thought of as a kind of outline. Its purpose is not to indicate the precise words that will be used in the video, but rather to give a sense of the overall organization of ideas. It’s still useful to use the A/V format, but the content of the script is less specific.

As you can see, this script does not precisely indicate what Dave (the CEO) is going to say – at least not verbatim. But it does indicate what his overall message will be, and more importantly, it indicates the order in which these messages will be organized.

This Structure Script is a handy reference, not only for the editor but also for the individual who is writing and/or conducting the interview with Dave. For example, knowing that Dave is going to open by “reflecting on the success of the last year”, the interviewer knows that this answer has to sound introductory in its nature. It is the first thing the viewer will see and hear, so it should lead in. It would be difficult to open the video with a line like “Yes I agree we had a good year”. What you need is a line like “When I think back on the last year, I’m amazed at how well we did”.

These subtle differences in tone and delivery are often what makes the difference between a video that is watchable and purpose-driven, and one that feels cobbled together and unmotivated. As with any communications piece, a coherent outline can make a world of difference.

3. The Interview Script

If you’re hoping to produce a video whose dialogue is assembled from interview content, then the approach is quite different. Of course, in this case, you are not scripting dialogue directly; your goal is to elicit answers from people during the interview. Thus the challenge is to design questions in such a way that they:

• Prompt the interviewee to speak to specific messages
• Cover the entire range of topics in the video

In the best case scenario, you come away from the interview shoot with a lot of useful footage and dialogue to work with – enough to construct your message in the editing suite. The worst case scenario is that you fail to elicit all the necessary material, resulting in a choppy or incomplete edit that fails to achieve the video’s objectives. How can you achieve this best case scenario? The answer is partly in how you script the interview questions.

One useful approach is to reverse engineer your message. In this approach, the first thing you should do is create a point-form list of ‘target messages’ – usually simple sentences that directly and concisely state your desired message. Here’s a hypothetical example:

• Our company is the national leader in fleet management.
• We are currently introducing a new suite of solutions.
• Our new suite of solutions is designed to increase mine efficiency, and reduce operational costs.

These ‘target messages’ next need to be transformed into questions. But be careful: not every type of question is the same. Some will elicit the wrong kind of answer. Here is the wrong way to phrase the question.

• Is our company the national leader in fleet management?

The main problem with this phrasing is that it is a yes or no question. If you pose this question to your interviewee, you are likely to get an answer that sounds something like “Yes, it sure is!”. This answer is useless because your audience will not hear the question; the answer is meaningless, and cannot be used when it comes time to edit your interview footage into a video.

The best way to phrase this question is to ask a more general question, but hint at the desired answer. These are called “Leading Questions” because they lead your subject to the desired answer:

• Our company has been quite successful nationally. Can you talk about that success?

In this case, the speaker will have no alternative but to search within for evidence and examples to support the answer, and assuming the speaker has the desired knowledge, this message will likely emerge naturally and authentically in the dialogue. This is the goal of an interview.

Another useful tactic is to include the desired responses on the page when you script the interview questions. Note, these desired responses are for the interviewer’s eyes only – the speaker generally should not have access to the desired responses. With all these considerations in mind, this is what your list of ‘target messages’ should look like after this ‘reverse engineering’ is complete:

• Our company is the national leader in fleet management
• We are currently introducing a new suite of solutions
• To increase efficiency
• To reduce operational costs

One thing to note is that your questions might have two or more desired responses. In this case, it’s a good idea to separate these messages in your interview questions. This will help you to make sure you’ve covered every message during the interview. If you’re lucky, the speaker will address both points in one answer. However, a good interviewer never leaves things up to chance.

Once these messages are all covered, don’t forget the “housekeeping” questions. In almost every case, you’ll want to ask.

• Please introduce yourself and describe your role in the company.
• What are your thoughts overall on what we’ve discussed?
• Do you have anything you’d like to add that we haven’t talked about?

And as a final note, it is generally helpful to arrange your questions in the order in which they are most logical. For example, if the video’s purpose is to explain the new suite of solutions, ask what that solution is before you ask what its benefits are.

4. The Storyboard

For animated videos or those involving complicated visual sequences to be filmed, most will develop a storyboard. This may be just a series of very rough sketches or more complete sequences of animation (called animatics) which help to show the video’s visual style and progression.

This pre-visualization process helps to establish the look of the video, and in more complex projects, to plot out its narrative and plan transitions between scenes.

A storyboard can be extremely important, not only for sharing one’s vision for a project with key stakeholders, but also as a reference for film crews, editors, and animators—anyone who is involved in the project throughout each stage of production.

Unfortunately, developing clear and useful storyboards is almost as much of an artform as filmmaking is itself. Professional storyboard artists are available for hire, but if you find yourself having trouble communicating your vision for a video, it may be a sign that your project is too complicated not to leave entirely to the professionals.

Storyboard Template

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How To Write A Video Essay Script – Top Script Templates To Use

• Posted On - June 24, 2023
• By - aiboss

Essay scripts are an essential element in producing high-quality video content. Script templates are an incredible tool to ensure that your video essay structure is effective, engaging, and valuable in conveying your message. Today, we will discuss how to write a video essay script and the top video script templates to use when creating your content.

Introduction To Video Essay Script

An essay script is a written document serving as a video essay blueprint. It outlines the structure, content, and arguments of the video. It provides a clear roadmap for the filmmaker and editor to follow. A well-crafted script is an essential element in producing a successful video essay. That captures the audience’s attention and delivers a compelling message. 

The script should start with a clear introduction that sets the stage for the video essay’s theme or topic. The introduction should be attention-grabbing , informative, and engaging. It should also introduce the thesis statement, the main argument, or the point the video will explore. 

After laying out the thesis statement, the script should move into the essay’s body. This section should include well-researched and supported arguments that are presented in an organized and logical manner. Each argument should be supported with evidence, examples, or sources. 

Finally, the script should conclude with a strong conclusion that restates the thesis statement and summarizes the main points of the video essay. The conclusion should leave the audience with a final thought or call to action that reinforces the video’s central message.

How To Write A Video Essay Script

Writing a script for an essay video can be a daunting task. But with the right approach, it can be a straightforward and enjoyable process. Here are some steps to follow when writing a video essay script:

• Define Your Topic – B efore you start writing your video essay script, ensure that you clearly understand the topic you will cover. This will help guide your script and keep you stay focused.
• Research Your Topic – O nce you clearly understand your topic, research it in detail. This will help you identify key points you want to cover in your video.
• Write an Outline – C reate an outline of your video essay script. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure your script flows smoothly.
• Write Your Script – S tart writing your script with an outline in place. Ensure that your script includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Revise and Edit – R eview your video essay script once you have finished writing it. Edit and revise as necessary to ensure your script is clear, concise, and engaging.

Top Video Script Templates To Use

Here are some of the templates to use when creating your video essay content:

The Problem-Solution Script

This template is ideal for addressing a pressing issue and offering a solution. Start by introducing the problem and why it matters. Then, present your proposed solution and explain how it can solve it. Use examples and evidence to support your claims and make a compelling case for your answer.

The How-To Script

This template is excellent for teaching your audience how to do something . Start by introducing the topic and why it’s essential. Then, break down the steps involved in the process using clear and concise language. Use visuals and examples to help your audience understand the process. Offer tips and tricks to make it easier.

The Interview Script

This template is ideal for exploring different perspectives on a topic. Start by introducing the topic and why it’s important. Then, interview experts, practitioners, or people with firsthand experience related to the topic. Use their insights and perspectives to build a compelling argument or offer different viewpoints. Use visuals to keep the video engaging and highlight key points made during the interviews.

The Value Of Templates In Creating Video Essays

Templates are a valuable tool when creating video essay content. You can create engaging and compelling video essays by following the steps outlined in this article and using these video script templates.

Remember to define your topic, research it in detail, create an outline, write the script, and revise and edit. With these tips, you can create high-quality video essay scripts that engage and informs your target audience.

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Communications: Video Essay

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What is a video essay?

A video essay is a short video that illustrates a topic, expresses an opinion and develops a thesis statement based on research through editing video, sound and image.

(Source: Morrissey, K. (2015, September). Stop Teaching Software, Start Teaching Software Literacy. Flowjournal . https://www.flowjournal.org/2015/09/stop-teaching-software-start-teaching-software-literacy/?print=print )

It is made of three main elements:

• Image (filmed footage and found footage)
• Sound (music and audio)
• Words (spoken and written)

All of them are linked to your own voice and argument. It is a way to write with video.

• Guidelines for Video Essay Best Practices Official technical guidelines by Prof. Antonio Lopez.

Video essays about video essays

Why Video Essays are just plain AWESOME by This Guy Edits  on YouTube .

Elements of the Essay Film from Kevin B. Lee on Vimeo .

F for Fake (1973) – How to Structure a Video Essay from Tony Zhou on Vimeo .

Sample Video Essays

• If Educational Videos Were Filmed Like Music Videos by Tom Scott
• How to Use Color in Film A blog post with multiple video essays about the use of color palettes by multiple great directors.
• Seed, Image, Ground by Abelardo Gil-Fournier & Jussi Parikka.
• Every Covid-19 Commercial is Exactly the Same
• Top Video Essayists some videos on this page are set to private
• VideoEssay: A subreddit for analytic videos and supercuts
• ISIL videos imitate Hollywood and video games to win converts
• Best Video Essays of 2023
• Best Video Essays of 2022 by British Film Institute
• Best Video Essays of 2020 by British Film Institute.
• Best Video Essays of 2019 by British Film Institute.
• Best Video Essays of 2018 by British Film Institute.
• Best Video Essays of 2017 by British Film Institute.
• Video Essays (Historical) A YouTube playlist of historically important films that helped define the concept of video essays.
• What Is Neorealism by kogonada.
• Analyzing Isis' propaganda - Mujatweets by Azza el Masri and Catherine Otayek.
• Oh dear! by Adam Curtis.
• Fembot in a Red Dress by Alison De Fren.
• WHY IS CINEMA: Women Filmmakers? NOT SEXIST, BUT LET'S BE REAL??? by Cameron Carpenter.
• Women as Reward - Tropes vs Women in Video Games by feministfrequency.
• Il corpo delle donne (sub eng) by Lorella Zanardo.

Video essays beyond COM

Video essays can be a valuable form of academic production, and they can be brilliant and insightful in many other fields apart from Communications and media studies. Here are some examples that cover all the JCU departments:

• Lady of Shalott | Art Analysis A look at John William Waterhouse's Pre-Raphaelite painting "The Lady of Shalott".
• How to ace your MBA video essay The 60-second online video essay is a recent addition to the MBA application process for some business schools.
• The Last Jedi - Forcing Change An analysis of Finn's and Kylo's narrative arc in Episode VIII of the Star Wars franchise.
• How The Economic Machine Works by Ray Dalio A simple but not simplistic and easy to follow 30 minute animated video that answers the question.
• Evolution of the Hero in British Literature This video essay discusses the literary heroes throughout the Anglo-Saxon Period, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance Era in British Literature.
• Fast Math Tricks - How to multiply 2 digit numbers up to 100 - the fast way! An easy video tutorial unveiling some math tricks.
• Here's why we need to rethink veganism A brief climate change video essay on the environmental impacts of veganism, and how we can reframe going vegan less as a lifestyle and more as an aspiration.
• Italy on the edge of crisis: Should Europe be worried? Channel 4 discussing the delicate political juncture in Italy (May 2018).
• International Relations: An Introduction An overview by the London School of Economics and Social Science.

A video is basically a series of still images- each one is called a frame- that play back at a specific  rate . The frame rate (often abbreviated FPS for "frames per second") differs depending on where you are in the world and what you're shooting on.

If you're shooting a movie on celluloid (actual film that needs to be developed) then you are probably shooting at 24fps.

If you are shooting video in Europe then you are probably shooting at 25fps...

...unless you are shooting sports. Then you're probably shooting at 50fps.

If you're shooting video in the US or Canada then you are probably shooting at 30(29.98)fps...

...unless you're shooting sports. Then you're probably shooting at 60(59.98)fps...

...or unless you're shooting "cinematic video" at a frame rate of 23.976fps.

***The weird numbers for shooting in the US and Canada stem from the fact that while Europe's 50Hz electrical system operates at 50Hz, the 60Hz electrical system of the US actually operates at 59.98 Hz.***

If you're shooting at a higher frame rate (like 120fps or 250fps) it is probably because you want to play it back at one of these frame rates in order to achieve a slow motion effect.

Video sizes are measured in pixels. Resolution   refers to Width x Height. Here are some common resolutions:

• FullHD (1080p): 1920 x 1080
• HD (720p): 1280 x 720
• 4K (2160p): 3840 x 2160
• 4K Cinema: 4096 x 2160
• Standard Defintion (NTSC- US/Canada): 720 x 480
• Standard Definition (PAL- Europe): 720 x 576
• VGA: 640 x 360

Types of video essays

1. Supercut

A supercut is a compilation of a large number of (short) film clips, focusing on a common characteristic these clips have. That commonality can be anything: a formal or stylistic aspect, a shared theme or subject matter... 

Supercuts are a staple of fandom, but they can also be used as a form of audiovisual critique: to reveal cinematic tropes, to trace thematic or stylistic constants in a filmmaker’s work and so on.

Examples: ROYGBIV: A Pixar Supercut  or Microsoft Sam's  Every Covid-19 Commercial is Exactly the Same  or Chloé Barreau's  NON UNA DI MENO - l'8 MARZO sta arrivando!

2. Voiceover based

In this form, analysis is done by combining clips and images with a narrator’s voice that guides the process. This could be done for a variety of video essays styles: scene breakdowns, shot analyses, structural analyses, vlogs, etc. What is common is the integral role of the creator’s voice in advancing the argument.

Example: Tony Zhou’s Jackie Chan—How to Do Action Comedy or David Chen’s Edgar Wright and the Art of Close-Ups .

3. Text/Image/Sound-Based

In this form, analysis is done by combining text, images and sounds without a narrator’s voice to guide the process. Again, this could be done for a variety of video essays styles, but relies much more on editing to advance the argument.

Example: Kevin B. Lee’s Elements of the Essay Film or Catherine Grant’s All That Pastiche Allows Redux .

4. Desktop Films

A desktop film uses the screen of a computer or gadget to serve as the camera and canvas for all of the content of an audiovisual narrative. It can include content from videos, apps, and programs that would be viewable on a screen. It is a screen-based experience that uses the desktop as its primary medium.

Example: Katja Jansen’s Desktop Films ; Kevin B. Lee’s Reading // Binging // Benning .

Descriptions adapted from  Filmscalpel

Resources: background and fundamentals

Best Practices

• Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Media Literacy Education Also downloadable as a PDF file
• Streaming: film criticism you can watch by Guy Lodge
• What is a Video Essay? Creators Grapple with a Definition Paula Bernstein from Filmmaker journal .
• The Video Essay As Art: 11 Ways to Make a Video Essay by Norman Bateman.
• Video essay: The essay film – some thoughts of discontent by Kevin B. Lee.
• Deep Focus - The Essay Film by British Film Institute and Sight & Sound .

Scholarly Websites about Video Essays

• The Videographic Essay: Practice and Pedagogy
• Audiovisualcy Video Essays on Vimeo.
• [In]Transition Journal of Videographic Films and Moving Image Studies.
• Introductory guide to video essay From the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council.

Resources: software and how-to

• How-to video essays by Greer Fyfe and Miriam Ross.
• Media Production Guide by Tisch Library, Tufts University.
• Video Reactions with OBS (Open Broadcast Software) Part 01 Setting up your scenes
• Video Reactions with OBS (Open Broadcast Software) Part 02 Recording with OBS

Storyboarding

• Planning and Storyboarding from Royal Roads University Library.
• Video Essay Script Template

Screencasting

• Quicktime (cross-platform)
• Screencast-O-Matic
• OBS Studio (open source, cross-platform) Open Broadcaster Software
• Flashback Express (PC only)
• 5 Free Tools for Creating a Screencast from Mashable.

Downloading and ripping

• Pasty Software for downloading.
• Savefrom allows up to 720p downloads of full video, 1080p downloads of video only (no audio). Select “download video in browser” on the site.
• Y2mate allows up to 1080p video downloads.
• Jdownloader Software for downloading
• Handbrake Software for ripping and converting
• DMA Basics: OBS for Video Essays A tutorial on how to use OBS for Netflix.

Note: Try to to ensure that you download in 720p resolution or higher. Your minimum level of quality should be 480p. If searching on YouTube, you can filter the search results to only show HD or 4K results. Check also the  Find Video   tab of this guide.

Free editing software options

• DaVinci Resolve (cross-platform) A color grading and non-linear video editing (NLE) application for macOS, Windows, and Linux, incorporating tools from Fairlight (audio production) and Fusion (motion graphics and visual effects that throw shade on After Effects).
• iMovie (Mac only)
• Videopad (cross-plaftorm)
• OpenShot (open source, cross-platform)
• Shortcut (open source, cross-platform)
• HitFilm Express (cross-platform)
• Free Music Archive An interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads directed by the radio station WFMU.
• SoundCloud SoundCloud is one of the world’s largest music and audio platform and you can search for creative commons music.
• YouTube Audio Library A library of free music and sound effects by YouTube. Each track is accompanied by information on the use.
• Sound Image Free music (and more) for your Projects by Eric Matyas. Only requires crediting the author for legal use (see "attribution info" page).
• Audacity A free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software. Very useful to trim audio, convert a sample rate, apply a little compression, chop & screw, etc.
• REAPER A digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software. Technically a paid-for platform, its free-trial never ends.

Check also the  Find  Audio Resources  tab of this guide.

Creating credits, copyright and fair use

• Creating credits for video essays From Digital Design Studio at Tisch Library
• Fair Use Evaluator
• YouTube Fair Use Channel
• Society for Cinema and Media Studies Statement on Fair Use
• Blender A free and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset used for creating animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, motion graphics, interactive 3D applications, virtual reality, and computer games.
• GIMP A free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image manipulation (retouching) and image editing, free-form drawing, transcoding between different image file formats, and more specialized tasks.
• Inkscape A free and open-source vector graphics editor used to create vector images, primarily in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format.
• Krita A free and open-source raster graphics editor designed primarily for digital painting and 2D animation. Good for sketching and conceptual art.

Stock footage

For stock footage, please check under the  Find video tab of this guide.

• Final Cut Pro X Tutorial by JCU Digital Media Lab.
• Final Cut Pro X Tutorial (PDF)
• Final Cut Pro X Full Tutorial by David A. Cox
• Audio Recording Tutorial by JCU Digital Media Lab.
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• Next: Find Images >>
• Last Updated: Mar 26, 2024 9:37 AM
• URL: https://johncabot.libguides.com/communications

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6 video script templates that will make your videos stand out.

Creating video content for your business? Use these video script templates to get started with your scripts. (Including real examples for inspiration!)

Published on Nov 26, 2022

By Austin Distel

Marketers may not have set out to make movies, but video is a powerful asset to add to any marketing strategy . But not just any video will do.

You’ve got to create a video that speaks to your target audience, holds your viewers’ attention, and effectively communicates your brand’s key messages. For that reason, marketers need to know how to write a good script that serves as a starting point for video production.

Video script templates are a helpful resource to have on hand when you start your next video project. Below, we’ll dive into what you need to have in your script if you want your video to really stand out and provide you with some templates and examples you can use to get inspired and start writing!

Elements of a standout video script

There are many different approaches to writing a great video script . While some people prefer to write their marketing video scripts like a movie script with visual details written alongside the dialogue, others prefer to organize the script visually by using a table or including a storyboard.

Regardless of your chosen script format, there are a few common elements of great marketing video scripts:

Clearly outlined visual and audio elements

When it comes to videos, the script isn’t just about what’s being said on camera or in the narration. You need to include both the visual and audio elements in your script to show how the two work together to tell a complete story .

There are different ways you can do this in the actual script. You can include the details within the text like this article from HubSpot :

You’ll notice the visual elements are right alongside the voiceover details and sound effects. This is a great option for talking head videos where one person is talking, as it makes it easy for them to recognize the visual cues and incorporate them into the video in the right spots.

Another option is to use two separate columns, lining up the video details with the audio script like this example from Biteable :

Each shot or scene can have its own row so there is a clear understanding of the scene change. This is a great option for videos that are being created by different team members. The audio script might be used by the person doing the voiceover, while the visual script may be important for the person editing the clips together.

Clear, concise dialogue

People have short attention spans. That’s why it’s essential to stick to just the dialogue you need to use or the details that you must include for the viewer to understand the content. This doesn’t mean the video has to be devoid of personality. However, you’ll want to trim the fluff before you start recording.

One of the best ways to make sure your script contains just the necessary details is to create an outline before you start writing. An outline will help you stay on track while discussing the most important aspects of the topic.

"The key to holding the audience's attention is pacing," said Finn McKenty , head of product at URM Academy. "The most common mistake is rambling. Nobody wants to hear you drone on, so be ruthless with yourself when it comes to editing. The most common mistake is rambling. Nobody wants to hear you drone on, so be ruthless with yourself when it comes to editing. Trim every single bit of fat that you can. If people ask for more detail, that's a great signal that you did your job! Don't try to pack every detail into a single video."

To create an outline in Jasper, you’ll choose the “Video Script Outline” option from the Templates section. Then, include your video title or topic as well as the tone of voice you’d like for the video.

Jasper will generate multiple outputs for you to choose from. You can choose the one you like best or mix and match, taking the sections you want to use to create your own unique outline.

Here’s an example of a video script outline for “5 Ways to Increase your LSAT score in 2021”: ‍

Short, catchy hook

The hook should grab the reader’s attention in the first 15 seconds of the video. Even though it’s short, it’s a vital part of the video as it helps the viewer understand whether they should watch the rest of the video or move on.

Not sure how to get started? You can use Jasper to create video script hooks and introductions in seconds. Just enter the video title and the tone of voice, and voila! You’ll have different options for your video hook and introduction.

“Wake up viewers by flipping the script on expectations with a rebel question,” said Tina Lorenz , a freelance copywriter with roughly 20 years of experience. “For example, imagine you're creating a video about boosting productivity. The expected question might be: ‘Want to get more done in less time?" (Yawn...) Instead, flip it. Ask, "What if sledge-hammering productivity made you 5x more successful?’...Asking this question challenges conventional wisdom and goes against the grain.

“A rebel question isn't just a hook; it's a statement of intention. It announces, ‘We're about to veer off the beaten path. You in?’”

Here’s an example from the “Video Script Hook and Introduction” template in Jasper:

Clear call to action (CTA)

A clear call to action is essential to include in your video script. You need to make it clear what you want the viewer to do or where you want them to go next. The CTA should inspire them to act on the information they’ve just watched. This can be a call to make a purchase, download a resource, start a free trial, or even just follow your YouTube channel.

Be sure to use clear and concise language so there is no question or confusion about what they should do next. For example, rather than, “we’ve got other tech tip videos on our YouTube channel,” you can say something more clear and specific like, “Check out our video on how to use AI writing assistants to write your blog posts !”

Copywriter Tina Lorenz has a few examples to share as well.

"Tell them very clearly: 'Here's What to Do Next.'" she said. "Don't suggest; direct: 'See that big yellow 'Join Now' button? Punch it right now, and let's get started.'

"Create authentic urgency: 'Here's why you need to act now. The first 10 people to sign up today, get a free 30-minute consultation with me, valued at $2,500. Together, we'll lay out your complete marketing plan!'

"Seal the deal: 'So don't wait! Hit the button now.'"

6 video script templates (with examples)

Here are video script templates for the six most common types of videos:

1. How-to video script template

If you want your how-to video or tutorial to be effective, you’ll need to make sure that it breaks down the process into steps that the viewer can follow along with. Don’t include too much instruction or information in each step. You should also signal when you are moving to the next step with transitional words. 

Clearly state what you’ll be teaching the viewer how to do. Make sure they know why it’s valuable to learn!

Introduce the topic quickly

Go through each step in the process, including any details necessary to help the viewer understand how to do it.

Call to Action

Include the next step. Whether that’s telling them where to go for help, pointing them to another resource, or inviting them to try your product or service, your CTA should be clear and concise.

Here’s an example from InVideo of a good script that breaks down how to blur moving objects in videos:

One reason why this script is such a great example is that the speaker uses transitions to make it clear when they are moving on to the next step. Words like “first,” “second,” “next,” and “finally” signal to the viewer that the next step is coming, so there will be a new direction. This helps keep viewers engaged and on the same page.

Also, for each step in the process, there's clear instruction for what should be shown on video to correspond with the voiceover. This is especially important because sometimes the person putting together the video clips is not the same person doing the voiceover. Having both directions clearly written out in the script makes it easier for the whole team.

2. Educational video script template

The most important thing to remember when creating an educational video script is that it needs to be digestible. Most viewers don’t want to watch an hour-long lecture, especially if the video is on your website service or product page. Instead, try to focus on 3-5 key takeaways that you can concisely give the viewer.

Here’s an educational video script template you can use:

Grab the reader’s attention, and clearly identify what they will be learning in the video.

Quickly introduce the topic. Be sure to include why it’s important so viewers know why they should watch the whole thing.

Provide 3-5 tips, facts, or other kinds of takeaways. Give a short bit of context or background and go straight into the takeaway. You want to keep these rather short, so only provide the necessary details.

Call to Action 

Where should the viewer go next? Do you have an additional resource they can view? Want them to join your email list? Clearly communicate their next step here. You may even want to embed a link in the video so they can click it and go!

Now that you’ve got the template, let’s look at an effective video script from Wistia :

This example follows a similar script format as it breaks up the topic into 3 clear takeaways. This makes the video content more digestible for the viewer, making it easier for you to get your message across.

In the formatting of this script, there are clear indications of who is speaking in each section of the video and what they are saying. There are also clear callouts that indicate what should be happening visually throughout the video. The video text is bolded, and there’s a note when a link should appear in the video.

3. Video testimonial script template

While some video testimonials are unscripted, testimonial videos that present the entire client story or case study should be scripted. These types of testimonials are typically longer than the ones you might get from customers singing your praises. They include a lot of important details to really tell the customer’s story from beginning to end.

Here’s a video testimonial script you can use for a case study or client story:

Introduce the client and provide a few details that offer context for the testimonial, such as who they are or what their company does.

For this section, you can ask the client in an interview format or just have them summarize where they were before they used your product or service. What pain points were they looking to solve for? How did it impact them?

Ask the client about the results they experienced using your product or service. Have them include specific statistics or metrics if possible. 

The client should explain how using the product or service to get the results they did has impacted themselves or their business in a significant way. 

Conclusion/CTA

The client should wrap up the video with some details of the overall experience of working with your company or using your product. Then, include where they should go next either in the voiceover or in text.

Here’s an example of a case study video script in an interview script:

In this example, you can see that what the client is going to say isn’t actually scripted. Instead, there’s a summary of what the person will cover in the client interview. By allowing the customer to speak candidly about the experience (instead of giving them a script), the testimonial will sound more authentic and genuine.

Learn how to take full advantage of AI — past video scripts — with A Marketing Team's Guide to Generative AI ! ‍

4. Product tour or explainer video script template

Much like the how-to or educational video, explainer videos need to break down the topic into smaller chunks of information that are easier to understand. Avoid bogging down the viewer with too much information or irrelevant details, as it can detract from the main point of the video, which is to offer an overview of a product, service, or concept.

Use this explainer video script to get started:

Describe what you will be explaining in the video and why the viewer should care about this topic.

Main Points/Features/Steps

Take the viewer through 3-5 points that guide them through the product, service, or process that you are explaining. Keep these concise, and don’t include any unnecessary information.

What should the viewer walk away with? Reiterate the importance of what you have explained. Then, include a CTA that brings them to the next step in the journey, whether that’s to buy something or get additional information.

Here’s an example of a product tour video script:

This script includes all of the elements of the template. It opens with a quick introduction that tells the viewer what the purpose of the video is. Then it dives into each feature, quickly and concisely, only including the most important details about each.

This format makes it easy to see what is happening in both the audio and video by separating the script into two different columns. If you’re a visual processor, this could be a great way to structure your own video scripts, no matter what type of video you are creating.

5. Brand promotion script template

Brand promo videos are multipurpose. For example, they could explain your core values and mission to potential and current customers. Or they could showcase your company culture to attract top-tier talent. No matter what your goal is, here’s a template you can use for this script type: 

Rather than giving a prepared speech, try to make your intro feel as authentic as possible, perhaps by sharing raw customer or employee comments. And make sure your brand personality comes through. 

Main Points 

Dig deeper into your message for the video—core values, culture, vision, unique value proposition, etc. Focus especially on the aspects of those things that your target audience values. 

If appropriate, state a direct call-to-action such as “Visit our Careers page today.” Otherwise, highlight the key takeaway you want viewers to leave with. 

As you can see from the script below, the Life at Uber video follows this format. It starts off with brief but attention-grabbing descriptions of the company and leads into more detailed comments from happy employees. And, while there’s no direct call-to-action at the end of this video, the next step—applying at Uber—is alluded to by many of the employees being interviewed. 

6. Video announcement script template

Lastly, video is a great format for making company announcements such as product or feature launches. What does an effective video announcement script include? Here’s a simple, 3-part template you can use: 

Whether you immediately introduce the big news or use another lead-in, you need an attention-grabber. Something that will spark curiosity, generate excitement or tug on viewers’ heartstrings. 

Main Points/Features

Get to the meat of your announcement, being sure to explain why viewers should care or how it affects them, if at all. 

Wrap up with an appropriate conclusion. Depending on the announcement, this could be a call-to-action, an estimate of when additional information will be available, or a thank you to your customers, etc. 

ClickUp’s announcement video for the “When it Clicked” podcast uses this format. 

At less than 30 seconds long with nearly 500 likes, it goes to show that your scripts don’t have to be long or elaborate to be powerful. 

Want to write video scripts faster?

If you’re creating a lot of video content, then you know that the scriptwriting process can be time-consuming. Jasper can help you write video scripts faster by enabling you to quickly create video outlines and hooks in just seconds.

Jasper , with its advanced understanding of technology and marketing, offers a unique edge to marketers crafting video scripts. When Jasper gets to work on a script, it taps into a vast knowledge base that you can evolve and customize as your brand positioning changes and products grow. This ensures every line reflects your product's cutting-edge features and aligns seamlessly with the company ethos.

In scripting, voice and tone are key, and Jasper knows it. Whether it's a straightforward explanation of a complex service or a quick, clever quip to make the message memorable, Jasper adapts to your ideal voicing . Simply tell Jasper which brand voice you'd like to tap into for the video and watch him work magic.

Once the script is build, Jasper can take things a step further by optimizing an entire marketing campaign around that one asset. Or it can suggest a wide variety of additional content, then help you build it.

Why not see for yourself!

[.blog-demo-button]Sign up for Jasper today![.blog-demo-button]

Meet The Author:

Austin Distel

Austin Distel is the Sr. Director of Marketing at Jasper , your AI marketing co-pilot. When not working, Austin is also an Airbnb superhost in Austin, Texas.

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How to do a Video Essay: What is a Video Essay?

Introducing the Video Essay: Assignment of Now!

• What is a Video Essay?

The term Video Essay is hard to define as it is still evolving from a long cinematic history. From the screen studies perspective, it is a video that analyses specific topics or themes relating to film and television and is relevant as it comments on film in its own language. On a basic level it could be defined as the video equivalent of the written essay.

This guide refers to the video essay from the context of the academic audiovisual essay as a multimodal form that combines written, audio and visual modes to communicate an idea. As a structure, the video essay is thesis-driven, and uses images with text so that the audience can read and interpret the idea or argument in a multimodal way.

In educational settings, the term video essay is used broadly for teacher/student-learner generated video and as a vehicle to transmediate between written-text to digital forms.  Through the video essay form, students are able to achieve learning outcomes in a new way as a multimodal experience while engaging with the subject, task or assessment through expression and creation of self-knowledge.

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• About Video Essays
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Home Resources Free Guides Video Essays Guide Introduction to Video Essays

VIDEO ESSAYS GUIDE

Introductory guide to video essays, introduction to video essays, studying and researching film through film, “if it can be written, or thought, it can be filmed” – stanley kubrick, "...why can filmmaking, film curation, and film criticism not co-exist” – lindiwe dovey.

Drawing on the inspiring work of pioneering educators and researchers engaging with this creative method, this guide aims to offer a research-led introduction for students, teachers and researchers approaching the video essay for the first time.

From 2014, with the foundation of [in]Transition, the first online, open access, peer-reviewed journal of videographic film and moving image studies, an increasing number of academic journals have been welcoming video essays. However, the written word remains the dominant language to disseminate scholarly work, with shared conventions in terms of register, structure and length. In contrast, a glimpse at the range of published video essays evidences the diversity of approaches. While this may be a great opportunity for innovation and creativity, it also presents challenges. How to make video essays? What are their pedagogical benefits, as compared to written papers? What are the technological expectations? How to design assessment briefs to ensure they are equivalent to written papers? Is such equivalence relevant? If the approaches are so varied, what are the criteria of evaluation? What are the copyright issues, if any, when reusing creative work for the purpose of making an argument, audiovisually? And, more importantly, where to start?

Video essays are scholarly videos that invite researchers and class members to explore the audiovisual and multimedia language to make an academic argument. When applied to film research and pedagogy, the video essay is thus a recursive text. That is, the object of study, film, is mediated, or rather, performed, through the film medium. This is a kind of academic piece that encourages creativity, but more importantly, action. As such, video essays have a transformative dimension. When used in the classroom, for instance, as creative assessment methods, they foster a collaborative environment where teachers and students - that is, class members - are co-producers of knowledge, informed by different positionalities. Video essays can thus contribute to a kind of education that Paulo Friere (2018[1978]: 80-81) referred to as the “problem-posing education”, as “the practice of freedom”. This contrasts with the “banking” or “digestive” education as the practice of domination, where students are mere passive recipients of the knowledge transferred from tutors. As universities seek to decolonise the curriculum, video essays seem as pertinent as ever to foster active, creative and critical modes of learning, based on thinking through making. However, the experimental potential in video essays also leads to a certain degree of uncertainty to all class members and eager researchers who would like to venture into this creative arena of knowledge production. Creative educators and researchers are collectively seeking an academic space for video essays, legitimising their production, and suggesting ways of engaging with this kind of recursive language.

As Christian Keathley notes, “the essential question faced in the production of scholarly video is not technical, but conceptual” (2012). That is, video essays, like any other scholarly work, are concerned with the contribution to knowledge. But, how to achieve this? In this guide, we first look at the existing guidelines for the production and evaluation across the different journals, finding some coherence across them. We then suggest some ways of making them, dividing the process in three phases: preproduction, production and postproduction, in alignment with the filmmaking process. These guidelines do not aim to be prescriptive by any means. Rather, they seek to assist the video-making process . Due to our emphasis on the academic value of video essays, we further offer an overview to copyright considerations to take into account for its lawful, ethical and rigorous publication . We also include several journals and dissemination spaces. Finally, we share a case study of the application of the video essay as a creative assessment method at SOAS, University of London.

How to make video essays. Dr Shane O’Sullivan, Senior Lecturer in Filmmaking at Kingston University and Curator of Archives for Education .

Finding Coherence Across Journals

How to make video essay guides, copyright considerations, dissemination.

Video Script Template

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Create great videos that hold viewers’ attention with this helpful video script template. (Available in Word, Google Docs and as a PDF.) Use this flexible template to shortcut your video production and make better videos. Whether for YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Vimeo or any other platform.

Download the Video Script Template

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Why Use a Video Script Template?

Videos are an incredibly powerful way to market a business or build an audience. In fact, a recent report showed that video accounts for over 60% of downstream internet traffic.

But for videos to be effective, people have to actually WATCH them. YouTube, Instagram, and other social networks favor videos that viewers watch all the way through. Rather than the ones people close right away.

In other words: the videos that keep people hooked, win.

And a good script is THE best way to keep viewers hooked. To keep them watching your videos. Taking action on them. And sharing them with other people afterward.

Shooting without a script makes for a rambling, unstructured, confusing video. And bad scripts are hardly any better. But good scripts lead to punchy, interesting and successful video content.

This video script template will walk you through my exact process for writing awesome scripts. Whether you’ve never written one before or you just want to save time.

What’s Included

Here’s what’s included in this Video Script Template:

• My 4-part formula: How to structure your video to keep people watching.
• Step-by-step instructions: A fully guided approach for writing your script.
• Proven examples: How a top-performing video is scripted.

How to Use This Template

• Download the free Video Script Template on this page.
• Follow the template instructions to fill out each section of your script.
• Film your video, edit it, and create a video thumbnail .
• Finally, upload your video to YouTube, IGTV, Vimeo or the platform of your choice.

How to Get People to Watch Your Entire Video

Most people know Backlinko for its written content. My definitive guides, studies and other blog posts. But actually, my business relies just as much on video as with text-based content.

Backlinko is monetized with a number of premium marketing courses. Which are all based on video. Plus, the Backlinko YouTube channel has over 400k subscribers. So over the years, I’ve learned a lot of techniques to keep people watching my videos all the way to the end. Here are some of my favorites:

• Make the first 15 seconds AWESOME. That’s about how long it takes most viewers to judge a video. So it’s critical not to bore them in that time. One common mistake: having a long animated logo in the very beginning. Instead, start with a good hook as we cover in the template.
• Add Pattern Interrupts. One of the best ways to increase Audience Retention is to add variety. This is especially important for informational, “talking head” videos. Some great Pattern Interrupts are camera angle changes and jump-cuts, B-rolls, different settings, humor, and on-screen graphics.
• Include Open Loops. An Open Loop is like a quick preview of what’s coming up in the video. For example, the phrase “I’ll show you exactly how to do that later in this video.” Or “we’ll come back to that in a minute.” Open Loops make people keep watching in order to get the rest of the story.
• Keep it moving. One surefire way to lose viewers: ramble on and on. It’s much better to be concise. Make your point. And quickly move on to the next thing.
• Optimize based on Peaks and Valleys. Most video platforms have analytics tools that show viewer retention by timestamp. This lets you see which parts of your video lose people (Valleys) and which parts people like (Peaks). So you can adjust future videos accordingly. On YouTube, you’ll find this data in the Audience Retention report . On IGTV, it’s under View Insights. And with Vimeo paid plans, it’s in the Analytics Dashboard.
• See our YouTube Marketing Hub for lots more video-production tips. Most of which apply to other video platforms too: not just YouTube.

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Step-by-Step Guide: Mastering the Video Essay for College Applications

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Have you made up your mind about the college you want to attend yet? If so, the next step is to start the application process. In this stage, you may be required to record an introductory video to tell the admissions committee a little about yourself.

Most colleges are now veering from traditional written essays to video essays as part of the application process. Therefore, you need to master the art of writing an effective video essay that you’ll use to record your college application video.

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to write a winning video essay for college applications to take you a step closer to admission.

What is a video essay?

A video essay is a 2-5 minute video recording that allows students to showcase their personality and convince the admission committee to accept them into the college. It’s an innovative way for prospective students to show their creativity and communication skills beyond the traditional written application.

Since they are visual, video essays allow candidates to express themselves and make a lasting impression. They can cover a wide range of topics, such as the student’s background, values, interests, and experiences.

Compelling video essays allow college applicants to differentiate themselves from the competition and increase their chances of securing a place at their dream institution.

What makes a good video essay?

A good video essay should reflect your authentic voice, personal experiences, and future aspirations. It should showcase your ability to express your ideas clearly while also providing a glimpse into your character and personality. Creativity, storytelling, and attention to detail are all essential components, as they paint a vivid picture of who you are.

How long should my video essay be?

The ideal length of a video essay depends on the specific requirements of the college. Most colleges will require you to keep it 2-3 minutes long. However, it’s important to pay close attention to the guidelines of the college you’re applying to. And remember, quality is key over quantity.

9-step guide to writing a video essay for college applications

A video essay is your chance to make a lasting impression as to why you are a good fit for the college. So, it’s important to know how to craft the perfect one.

What should be included in a college application video?

A college application essay and personal statement should focus on your background, experiences, and passions. Consider your personal story and how it sets you apart. Also, identify what aspects about you would contribute to the college's community and your long-term goals after finishing your studies at the college.

Here’s how you can write a video essay in nine steps, along with useful examples.

Step #1 - Select a suitable topic

Once you’ve understood the instructions, choose a specific topic you’ll be addressing in the video. Though some colleges will give you a topic to talk about, most of them will give you the freedom to select your essay topic of interest.

Think about what will best represent who you are as an individual and what makes you want to attend this particular college.

Your topic should be interesting, original, and unique. After all, admissions officers will see hundreds of other video applications, so yours needs to stand out!

Step #2 - Outline your talking points

Now that you know what topic(s) you’ll address in your video essay, create an outline of your talking points. This is an organized list of the main points you’ll cover in your video essay.

Your video essay should be well-organized and follow a clear and logical structure.

This will help you create a strong narrative that carries the viewer from beginning to end.

Remember to include any anecdotes or story highlights that may help you illustrate a point. An effective outline will help keep your thoughts organized when writing your video essay.

Step #3 - Open with a strong hook

The fun part is here – it's time to write down your video essay for college application. This is where all those talking points you wrote in the outline come into play.

The opening moments of your video essay can make or break your impression. To engage your audience from the start, make sure you open with a captivating hook that will catch the viewer's curiosity.

This could be a compelling question, an interesting anecdote, or a short personal story. Remember, you only have a few seconds to grab the attention of the busy admission committee - so make them count!

Example of an opening hook:

“One unforgettable winter in my seventh grade, my mother's battle with alcoholism reached a shocking peak when she attempted to take her life. As I visited her in the psychiatric ward, I couldn't help but battle with emotions and questions about her heart-wrenching decision. The twists and turns of these events profoundly influenced both my personal and professional growth. It ultimately led me to pursue a career in psychology.”

Step #4 - Introduce yourself

Once you've hooked your viewers, give a brief and genuine introduction of who you are. Mention your name, where you come from, your educational background, and your interests. 

This is your chance to establish a memorable connection with the viewers, so let your authentic self shine.

Step #5 - Identify the course you’d like to study

Next, explain the major or program you want to pursue at college and elaborate on why it appeals to you. Also, identify what motivated you to pursue that particular course. This shows the college that you have a clear educational vision and are passionate about your chosen field.

Step #6 - Explain your reasons for joining college

Now that the committee knows about you and your goals tell them why their institution is the best fit for you. Highlight specific features that attracted you to their program, whether it’s the extracurricular opportunities, prestigious faculty members, or campus culture.

You could also mention alumni success stories or the college's unique facilities that make you want to study there.

“My desire to join the University of Manchester started when I participated in their graduate school visitation program right after high school. During the program, I learned more about the Department of Psychology and met the wonderful lecturers. I also interacted with some alumni who applauded my career choice. The experience made me see how my interests aligned with those of this particular school.”

Step #7 - Explain the skills and values you bring

Next, sell yourself by emphasizing your unique qualities and values that would positively impact the college community. For instance, you can talk about your passion for learning, your strong work ethic, your ability to collaborate with others, or your dedication to making a difference in the college.

You can also mention your skills in extracurricular activities like sports or arts that you’ll use to impact the college culture.

“Throughout high school, I’ve always been a highly disciplined student with the desire to excel in everything I do. I also have a collaborative spirit and a strong will to help my fellow students succeed. My effective communication and interpersonal skills will help me to collaborate with fellow students to make the college highly accommodative for all students.”

Step #8 - Explain what you want to achieve in the end

Lastly, go beyond the degree and paint a picture of your long-term goals. Explain what you want to achieve after college and the impact you hope to make on the world.

Also, let the admission committee understand how your education will empower your personal and professional growth and how your experiences at college will propel you toward those dreams.

“At the end of my learning period at the college, I hope to participate in community-based programs to provide viable solutions for issues affecting mental health. Will also use my knowledge and skills to build a mental health facility to encourage mental wellness and inspire young professionals who would like to take the same career path.”

Step #9 - Review and polish

Once you’ve finished writing the video essay, it's important to spend time reviewing and editing your work. Correct poor sentence structures and double-check to ensure you’ve included all the essential information according to the essay prompt.

You can also share it with a trusted friend or family member to get valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Key takeaway

Unlike a written essay, a video essay provides an opportunity to show your personality and let the admissions committee know who you are. It’s an opportunity to use your individual story to pique their interests.

Writing a winning video essay for a college application requires confidence and enthusiasm. With some preparation and creativity, you can craft an interesting essay that sets you apart from other applicants for college acceptance.

Half your work is done when you have a solid video essay script. Writers Per Hour’s team of expert writers can help you write a 100% original college application video essay script that presents your candidature, showcases your personality, and demonstrates your enthusiasm to join the university.

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By The Berkeley MFE Program | Jun 22, 2022 | Applying , STEM , Data Science , MFE , quant finance , graduate studies , video essay

It is important that we are able to hear and see you. Before you start recording, make sure you are in a quiet space with good lighting. In orde r to minimize distractions, please have a neutral background that isn’t busy with objects or bright colors.

You want to make sure you are in a well lit room. If possible, we recommend recording during the day with natural light. If your space has a window directly behind you, ensure that the shades or curtains are closed.

Check the quality of the device you are recording on. Make sure that your face is fully in frame and visible, and that your audio is clear. You will have an opportunity to do a test before you begin the recording, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity. 

You have two attempts to record your video, so make sure beforehand that you are in an area with stable Internet connection. Since you will record the video essay directly in the application portal. We encourage you to check your internet speed and that your video will upload properly at the end of your recording. You can use an online speed test to check your speed.

We all know that the first impression is usually the most important. The video essay may be the only time the admissions committee will see and hear you, so take the time to ensure you are well dressed and groomed.

The essay question(s) will not be available beforehand. While you will not be able to prepare in advance, we recommend preparing yourself mentally: take deep breaths, go out for a walk, hydrate, etc. Do what you need to get in the right mind set. When you are ready and completed the video and audio check, the question(s) will appear on screen when you hit “Ready.” We have designed the question(s) to be answered it on the spot and you will have a few seconds to read the prompt before the recording begins. 

You only have two minutes to answer the prompt. Make sure to pay attention to the time and start wrapping up before time runs out. Once you completed the recording, take a few minutes to review your response. Utilize the second attempt if needed. If you decide to record your response using the second att empt, we strongly advise that you do not read your answer or look it up on the internet. Use your own words, be yourself and talk to us as if you were sitting across from us during an interview.  This is not a pass or fail exercise. We want to hear from you, your opinion, and what you have to say on this subject.   

We hope these tips will help you feel more confident and ready for the video portion. If you have not already done so, we encourage you review the application tips . If you still have questions or need additional guidance, here are ways to connect or learn more: sign-up for an information session or join the weekly Q&A session via zoom on Tuesdays from 3-4 PM PT/Wednesday from 9-10 AM PT.

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How to Make a Video Essay & Understand the Art of Visual Storytelling

The video essay is considered a powerful medium wherein the art of filmmaking with a depth of critical analysis to compelling ideas or arguments combined. Scholars and storytellers commonly use it, but anyone who wants to create it can do so in just a few minutes. So, let us not wait any longer as we set a stage for you to embark on a storytelling journey through a camera lens, where your ideas will come to life in a captivating and thought-provoking manner. In this guide, we will delve into how to make a video essay and learn more about it, so keep reading and remember information to become knowledgeable about it.

Part 1. What Is a Video Essay - Know More about Video Essay

Part 2. how to make a video essay using the general process everyone should know, part 3. how to edit a video essay after preparing the content on your pc, part 4. faqs on how to create a video essay.

What is a video essay? Video essay is a unique form of visual storytelling that blends the elements of traditional filmmaking with the intellectual rigor of critical analysis. It is a medium where the creator uses the power trifecta, which is the video, audio, and text, to convey their ideas, arguments, or narratives. Also, it covers multiple subjects, such as dissecting themes in a film and exploring historical events or cultural phenomena. The creators provide a dynamic platform to engage their audiences, often offering a fresh perspective on a topic or encouraging viewers to think more deeply.

The other video essay definition is the systematic process that combines creative and analytical skills. Commonly, video essay creation features voiceovers or on-screen text, supported by carefully selected visuals, music, and sound effects when necessary. With these elements, you can create a harmony to communicate the central message effectively, which can be thought-provoking, informative, persuasive, or purely artistic, making them a versatile medium for expression.

Generally, making a video essay is an iterative process, and each step requires careful consideration and creativity. With practice and dedication, you are harnessing the power of this medium to convey your ideas effectively to your audience in meaningful ways. So, if you want to know how to create a video essay, here are the steps you can follow.

Now that you know how to do a video essay, let's go to the next important part: editing. With Aiseesoft Video Converter Ultimate , you will not have a hard time processing the videos, such as merging videos, trimming, adding subtitles, adding effects, etc. Imagine having all the necessary video editing features for creating the best video essay in a single tool; that is what this app is all about. Even if you are inexperienced in video editing or processing, you can follow the steps below that teach you how to process it.

How should I start my video essay?

Start your video essay with a compelling introduction that grabs the viewer's attention. Also, you could use an interesting fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a relevant anecdote to draw your audience in.

What is included in a video essay?

A video essay typically includes video clips, images, audio, and narration. It presents an augment or explores a specific topic using visual and auditory elements to support your topic. Research, analysis, and creativity are vital components of a video essay.

How long does a video essay take?

The length of a video essay can vary widely, ranging from a few minutes to over an hour. The duration will always depend on the complexity of the topic, the depth of analysis, and the intended audience. If you have a very long video, the engagement with others might be too low. We suggest cutting or trimming the video into several parts if needed.

Can I edit my video essay on my phone?

You can use many video editing apps on your phone to edit video essays easily. If you are an Android user, we suggest you explore the Vid. Fun, and if you are an iOS user, maximize the potential of iMovie on iOS.

How to write a video essay?

Writing a video essay involves a combination of scripting, planning, and creativity. So before you start creating, you must select a precise topic that allows you to have an in-depth analysis but is broad enough to appeal. Research, develop a strong thesis statement, create an outline, and write a compelling script. Remember to review your manuscript multiple times and edit it for clarity, coherence, and flow.

Definitely! You are now ready to create a video essay with the help of the video essay maker we have added here. Always remember to be confident when you are shooting a video on camera, and if you are taking a voice-over, be clear on your point and do not hesitate to take retakes when needed. We hope this article helps you do the video essay you need!

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