Short-Form Video Script Template (TikTok, Reels, Shorts)
Short videos fall apart when you plan only the words. This template scripts every second across four tracks at once: the shot, the on-screen text, the voiceover, and the sound. Pick the 15, 30, or 60-second version, write the hook first, and film from a plan instead of from memory.
What you get
A hook-first beat map that shows how each beat stretches across 15, 30, and 60 seconds
Three scene-by-scene script tables with time, shot, on-screen text, voiceover, and audio columns
A caption and CTA field set plus a pre-post checklist for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts
Editable CSV for Google Sheets or Excel, plus a branded print-ready PDF
How to use this template
1
Pick a length. Choose 15, 30, or 60 seconds based on how much the idea needs. One tip fits 15 seconds; a short story or a three-step process needs 30 to 60.
2
Write the hook row first. Fill the 0-3 second row before anything else: the opening shot, the text on screen, and the first spoken line. If the hook is weak, fix it before you script the rest.
3
Script all four tracks. For each row, fill the visual, on-screen text, voiceover, and audio columns. Many people watch with the sound off, so the text track should make sense alone.
4
Run the pre-post checklist. Before you publish, write the caption and CTA, then tick every item on the checklist. Save the finished script so you can reuse the structure.
What's inside
Here's a preview. Unlock the free download to get all 8 sections (6 more below).
What is a short-form video script template?
A short-form video script template is a timed grid that plans four tracks at once: what the camera shows, what the on-screen text says, what you say out loud, and what the audio is doing. Each row covers a few seconds, so filming becomes a list to work through rather than a memory test.
It helps most when a video has to carry a real explanation in under a minute. Planning the text track separately also means the video still makes sense with the sound off, which is how a large share of Reels and Shorts are actually watched.
Hook-first beat map
Every short video in this template follows the same four beats. The timings show how each beat scales with length. Plan the beats here, then script the full table for your chosen length.
Kapwing is a browser-based video editor built for creators and teams who need to produce, subtitle, and repurpose video content without installing software.
The first 15 seconds decide your retention. This hook bank gives you proven opening formulas with fill-in examples so you never stare at a blank cold open or settle for a weak intro again.
TikTok rewards volume and speed. This planner helps you batch ideas, track trending sounds, and lock a daily posting rhythm so you are always feeding the algorithm fresh video while jumping on trends before they fade.
Creating from scratch every day is unsustainable. This workflow turns one pillar piece — a video, podcast, or long post — into a full week of Reels, carousels, threads, and emails so you publish more while creating less.
It is a time-coded table that plans a vertical video second by second across four columns: the shot, the on-screen text, the voiceover and the audio. You pick a 15, 30 or 60-second version and fill the hook row first.
How do you write a script for a TikTok video?
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Start with the hook: the first shot, the first line, and the on-screen text for the opening 3 seconds. Then plan the setup, the value, and the payoff with a single CTA. Script the visual, text, voiceover, and audio for each moment so filming and editing follow a plan.
How many words fit in a 30-second video?
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It depends on how fast you speak. A common range is roughly 2 to 3 words per second, so about 60 to 90 words for 30 seconds. Read your script aloud with a timer and cut until it fits with room to breathe.
Can I use the same script for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts?
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Usually, yes. The hook-first structure works on all three. Adjust the caption, hashtags, and sound for each platform, and export a clean file without another app's watermark before you upload it elsewhere.
Do I need a script if I film off the cuff?
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Script the first three seconds and the last five, even if the middle stays loose. Those are the parts that decide whether anyone watches and whether they do anything afterwards, and they are the hardest to fix in the edit.
