Video script

What is a video script?

A video script is the written version of a video before it is made. It sets out every line of narration or dialogue, the text that appears on screen and the visuals for each scene, in order. A good script fixes the message, the length and the structure, so filming and editing follow a clear plan.

Scripts come in a few formats. A two-column script (often called an AV script) puts visuals on the left and audio on the right, row by row, which suits marketing and explainer videos. A screenplay format is used for drama and longer narrative work. For short social videos, a script can be as simple as a hook, three beats and a call to action.

A script is not the same as a storyboard. The script is words; the storyboard is pictures of each shot. Many teams write the script first, then sketch the storyboard and build a shot list from both.

Why a video script matters

Writing the script first is the cheapest way to fix a video. Changing a sentence costs nothing; reshooting a scene costs a day. A script also keeps the message tight, so the video says one thing clearly instead of wandering.

For marketing, the script is where the hook, the key benefit and the call to action are decided. It is also where you check claims are true and the length suits the platform: a 30-second reel has room for roughly 60 to 80 spoken words.

How to write a video script

1. Decide the one message and the one action you want viewers to take.
2. Pick the length for the platform, then budget words: roughly 2 to 2.5 spoken words per second.
3. Open with the hook, then follow a simple structure such as problem, solution, proof, call to action.
4. Write it in two columns: what we see and what we hear, one row per scene.
5. Read it out loud with a timer and cut anything that is hard to say or not needed.
6. Check every figure and claim against your website or product before anything is filmed.

Video script example

SCENE 1 (0-3s)
VISUAL: Close-up of a flat bike tire, rider sighing.
TEXT: Flat again?
VO: Third flat this month? It's probably not bad luck.

SCENE 2 (3-10s)
VISUAL: Mechanic at Spoke & Chain checks tire pressure.
TEXT: Free pressure check
VO: Most flats come from low pressure. We'll check yours free, in two minutes.