reels-scripting

Reels Scripting

CRITICAL: Auto-start on load

When this skill triggers, go straight to Step 1. Do not summarise.

Prerequisites

This skill needs:

• APIFY_API_TOKEN environment variable (Instagram scraping)
• GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY environment variable (Gemini 2.5 Flash video analysis)
• Node.js 18+ and the apify-client and @google/generative-ai packages

If either env var is missing, tell the user to run:

! export APIFY_API_TOKEN=your_token
! export GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY=your_key

Then stop until both are set.

Step 1. Get the reference

Ask:

Paste the reference Reel URL or Notion link. This is the outlier Reel you want to reverse-engineer the format from.

Wait for the URL.

If the user pastes a Notion link, follow it via WebFetch, locate the Instagram Reel URL on the page, and extract it. If no Reel URL is found on the Notion page, ask the user to paste the Reel URL directly.

Step 2. Get the newsletter topic

Ask:

What's the topic from your newsletter you want to repurpose into this Reel? Paste the relevant newsletter section, or type the core idea in a sentence.

Wait for the topic. Read newsletter-voice.md, voice.md, and about-me.md from the project if they exist, so the script matches the user's voice.

Step 3. Scrape and download the Reel

Create ~/Desktop/Reels/ if it does not exist. Write a Node.js script at ~/Desktop/Reels/analyse-reel.js that:

1. Uses apify-client to call apify/instagram-reel-scraper with { directUrls: [reelUrl], resultsLimit: 1 }. If that returns no items, fall back to { urls: [reelUrl], resultsLimit: 1 }, then apify/instagram-scraper with { directUrls: [reelUrl], resultsType: 'posts', resultsLimit: 1 }.
2. Extracts videoUrl from the returned item.
3. Downloads the video to ~/Desktop/Reels/downloads/{username}_{shortCode}.mp4.
4. Saves raw scrape data to ~/Desktop/Reels/reel_data_{shortCode}.json.

Run the script. Confirm file size and metadata (views, likes, comments, caption first 200 chars) before continuing.

Step 4. Analyse with Gemini 2.5 Flash

Extend the Node script (or run a second pass) that:

1. Reads the downloaded .mp4 as base64.
2. Calls genAI.getGenerativeModel({ model: 'gemini-2.5-flash' }).
3. Sends the video with this exact prompt:

I'm studying this Reel to write my own script in a similar style for my audience of [AUDIENCE FROM about-me.md].

## Full Transcript
- Transcribe EVERY word with timestamps

## Hook
- Exact first words spoken
- Word count of the hook
- What makes it stop the scroll?

## Language Patterns
- Average sentence length
- You/your vs I/me ratio
- Transitions between points
- Where are the 'just' minimisers?

## Structure
- Total duration
- Section breakdown with timings
- What's the before/after moment?
- What's the CTA?

## One key insight
- The single most important technique to learn from this Reel

Save the analysis to ~/Desktop/Reels/analysis_reference_{shortCode}.md.

Step 5. Write the new Reel script

Using the analysis from Step 4, the newsletter topic from Step 2, and the user's voice files, write a new Reel script to ~/Desktop/Reels/reel-[slug].md.

Apply these rules (non-negotiable):

Hook

• Never open with "I". Use "this", "you", a fact, or a name drop.
• Proven formats: "This changed... forever" / negative flip ("X is useless unless...") / capability statement.
• Hook creates curiosity or pattern interrupt within 3 seconds.
• Mirror the hook's word count and structure from the reference analysis.

Body

• British English. Short sentences. No em dashes, no semicolons.
• Use "you" and "just" conversationally ("you just drop in...").
• Never merge three or more staccato fragments. Combine into one flowing sentence.
• Never state the conclusion. Let the facts do the work.
• No "link in bio". Use comment automation.

Comment trigger

• Single caps word only (SCRIPT, WIKI, PROMPTS, VIDEO).
• Must directly relate to what is being promised.
• No quotes, no "below", no trailing punctuation.

CTA

• "Comment [WORD] and I'll send you [specific thing]"
• Short. No "the link to my full" padding.

Duration and structure

• Target 30 to 45 seconds total.
• 2 key points maximum, not 3.
• Caption mirrors the script. Update both together.

Script file structure

# Reel: [title]

## Reference analysis
- URL: [reel url]
- Views: [number]
- Key technique: [from Gemini analysis]

## Duration target
30-45 seconds

## Hook (0-3s)
[Exact words]

## Point 1 ([start]-[end]s)
[Exact words]

## Point 2 ([start]-[end]s)
[Exact words]

## CTA ([start]-[end]s)
[Exact words including "Comment [WORD]"]

---

## Caption
[Mirror the script, formatted for Instagram]

## Comment trigger
[WORD]

## Deliverable
[What the comment trigger unlocks]

---

## Visual notes
[Cuts, B-roll ideas, text overlays]

Step 6. QA loop

Score the script against the rules in Step 5. Every violation must be fixed. Re-score until the script hits 95/100. Never show the user anything below 95.

Common violations to check:

• Opens with "I"
• Staccato fragments of three or more
• States the conclusion
• Multi-word or stylised comment trigger
• Duration over 45 seconds when read aloud
• 3 points instead of 2
• Caption does not mirror script

Step 7. Offer the pipeline

After the script is approved, offer:

Two paths from here: 1. Record it yourself. 2. Auto-generate with ElevenLabs (voice) + HeyGen (avatar) + Remotion (motion graphics). If you have the my-video project configured, run npm run pipeline:claude-routines with this script config.

Rules

• Never skip the 95/100 QA gate.
• Always read voice.md and about-me.md before writing. Voice match is non-negotiable.
• Never invent metrics from the reference Reel. Use only what Apify returns.
• British English. No em dashes. No semicolons.
• Every script deliverable includes the exact caption and comment trigger alongside the script. Never deliver just the script.
• If the reference Reel scrape fails across all three actor variants, report the failure and stop. Do not fabricate analysis.
• Gemini 2.5 Flash is the model. Do not substitute without the user's approval.