reel script template with a 30-second example

a reel script is the text of your video split into short lines, with the shot for each line written next to it. it has five parts: a hook in the first 3 seconds, the problem, the value, proof and one call to action.

say you run a home coffee account and you're filming a 30-second reel on Saturday about why espresso made at home tastes sour. the template, the timing and every check below use that one made-up reel.

the short version

• 30 seconds of talking holds about 75 words at a normal pace.
• the template has two sides: what you say and what the viewer sees.
• every line carries one idea and gets its own shot.
• you read the script out loud with a timer before you film.

the reel script template

copy this into your notes app and fill it in one line at a time. "I say" is your text and "on screen" is the shot, while "text" is any overlay you want the viewer to read.

• hook, 0–3 s. I say: … on screen: … text: …
• problem, 3–7 s. I say: … on screen: …
• point 1. I say: … on screen: …
• point 2. I say: … on screen: …
• point 3. I say: … on screen: …
• proof. I say: … on screen: a before and after, or your result.
• call to action, last 2–3 s. I say: … text: …

once it's filled in, read the "on screen" notes on their own from top to bottom. if three lines in a row sit on the same shot, that's where the video needs a cut.

reel script structure

the five parts come in the same order on Instagram reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. the title, the overlays and the first frame depend on the platform, and they're covered further down.

the hook in the first 3 seconds

for the first 3 seconds, the viewer's thumb is still hovering over the screen. how each platform's algorithm ranks a reel isn't public, but Instagram insights on a professional account show average watch time for each reel. if that number sits under 3 seconds, the hook is the first thing to rewrite.

most topics can open in one of four ways:

• a question viewers recognize themselves in. they hear their own problem and wait for the answer: "does your espresso taste sour even with good beans?"
• the result first. the viewer sees the payoff before the explanation: "same beans, same machine, and this shot tastes sweet."
• a bold claim. people who disagree keep watching to see if you can back it up: "expensive beans won't fix a sour shot."
• the mistake. viewers want to check whether they make it too: "three mistakes that make home espresso sour."

the same topic, with a weak opening and a strong one:

• weak: "hey guys, today I want to talk about espresso." strong: "your espresso tastes sour, and the beans are probably fine."
• weak: "a lot of people struggle with coffee at home." strong: "one turn of the grinder dial changed this shot."

skip the greeting, the logo and the long music intro. while they play, viewers still don't know what the video is about, and swiping away costs them nothing.

the problem, or why keep watching

one or two lines tell viewers what they get from the next 25 seconds. for the coffee reel, that's "before you buy new beans, try this." the story of how you got into coffee can wait for another video.

value, one point per shot

each point gets its own line and its own shot, so the viewer follows one idea at a time. three tips squeezed into one sentence over one shot blur together, and viewers may remember none of them.

a 30-second reel fits three points when each one takes about 6 seconds.

proof

proof is the moment the viewer sees the tip work. usually that's a before and after or your own result. use a number only if it's yours or you've checked the source. in the coffee reel, the proof is two shots poured side by side.

one call to action

end with a single ask. saving the video or commenting one word both work. "like, follow, share and comment" is four requests in a row, and it's easy for viewers to skip all of them.

how many words for a 15, 30, 60 and 90-second script

at an average speaking pace of 150 words per minute, you say about 2.5 words a second. that gives you rough targets for each length:

• a 15-second script holds about 38 words, enough for a hook and one point.
• a 30-second script holds about 75 words, which fits three points.
• a 60-second script holds about 150 words.
• a 90-second script holds about 225 words, which is a lot to remember without a teleprompter.

everyone talks at a different speed, so time yourself reading the script out loud. you can also paste it into the script timer, which counts words and seconds at the pace you set.

if the script runs long, cut a line and keep your natural pace. repeats and filler words like "basically" or "actually" are the first to go.

how long should a reel be

length limits on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts differ, and they change every so often. check the current limit in the platform's own editor before you film something long. for the script, ask how many seconds the idea needs. the coffee reel needs 30.

a 30-second reel script example

here's the coffee reel written out in full. it comes to about 70 words, and every line has its timecode and its shot.

1. 0–3 s. "sour espresso? three causes, and nobody checks the third." on screen: a face after the first sip.
2. 3–7 s. "before you buy new beans, try this." on screen: the bag of beans next to the machine.
3. 7–13 s. "one: grind finer. a sour shot usually means the water ran through too fast." on screen: the grinder dial turning.
4. 13–19 s. "two: let the shot run a few seconds longer, then taste it again." on screen: espresso dripping into the cup.
5. 19–25 s. "three: a cold machine. give it time to heat up, and warm the cup too." on screen: hands around the cup.
6. 25–28 s. "same beans, sweeter shot." on screen: two shots side by side.
7. 28–30 s. "save this for your next shot." text: "which one was it for you?"

the hook says nobody checks the third cause, so viewers have a reason to stay until second 19. the side-by-side at second 25 then shows what the three fixes add up to.

how to check a script line by line before filming

read it out loud with a timer

a script that looks short on screen can run much longer when you say it. read it at the pace you'll use on camera, and if a 30-second script takes 40, cut one line and read it again.

find the line where viewers might leave

it's usually a long intro before the first useful point, or a line that repeats something you already said in other words. vague phrases like "so many people struggle with this" are another sign. replace that line with a number or an object. if nothing fits, cut it.

keep one idea per line

if a line joins two tips with "also" or "plus", split them into two lines or keep the stronger one.

write three hooks and pick one

write a question, a result-first opening and a mistake, then read each one out loud. keep the one that makes you want to hear the next line. the other two can go on the cover or into the first line of the caption.

where reel scripts go wrong

• the hook promises one thing and the video delivers another. if you open with three fixes and show two, the viewers who stayed for the third may feel tricked.
• the script is written to be read. a long sentence with two commas looks fine on the page, but out loud you can run out of breath halfway through it.

adapting the script for TikTok and YouTube Shorts

a YouTube Short has a title, so the hook can go there as text too. on TikTok the caption and your username cover the bottom of the frame. keep your overlays higher up.

if one video goes out on all three platforms, film it once and change the first frame, the overlay and the caption for each.

scripts for faceless videos

faceless reels run on a voiceover, on-screen text or a mix of the two. with a voiceover you write the script the same way. the difference is that you plan the "on screen" side first, since it says what the viewer sees every second.

with text only, each line of the script becomes its own overlay. you'll have fewer lines, because each one has to be noticed and read while the shot plays. give one short sentence 2 to 3 seconds on screen.

what to hand off to AI and what to check yourself

AI is quick at a first draft and hook variations, and it can cut a script down to length. check the facts and numbers yourself, since AI can make them up. the same goes for promises: AI can write "five ways" into a hook when the script only has four.

then read the draft out loud. if it sounds like someone else's account, rewrite at least the hook and the call to action in your own words.

FAQ

how many hooks should you test

three hooks are enough. with more, you end up rewording the same opening instead of choosing between different ones. if none of the three grabs you, try another angle on the topic.

do you need on-screen text if you say everything out loud

on-screen text is worth adding for the hook and the main points, because some viewers watch with the sound off. you don't have to caption the whole script.

can you film a reel without a script

loose formats like a vlog or a reaction work without a full script. even then a three-line plan helps: how you'll open, what you'll show and how you'll close. without it, videos tend to run long and take more time to edit.

should you write the hook first or last

write the hook second, right after the call to action. once you know where the video ends, it's easier to pick an opening that leads there, and the middle fills in with your points.

start with your last reel

open your most recent reel and write out what you said, line by line, with the seconds next to each line. the line where you'd swipe away yourself is the one to rewrite first.

in amelo, the AI does this line-by-line pass inside the video's task.

read next: how to make a weekly content plan, batch content creation. there's more about the app on the home page. русская версия: сценарий для рилс.