Ai-workflow short-form-converter
Convert long-form videos into short-form content for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. Identifies viral moments, creates hooks, and adapts scripts for vertical format. Use when repurposing videos, creating Shorts from long videos, or planning multi-platform content.
install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/nicepkg/ai-workflow
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/nicepkg/ai-workflow "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/workflows/video-creator-workflow/.claude/skills/short-form-converter" ~/.claude/skills/nicepkg-ai-workflow-short-form-converter && rm -rf "$T"
manifest:
workflows/video-creator-workflow/.claude/skills/short-form-converter/SKILL.mdsource content
Short-Form Converter
Transform long-form content into viral short-form clips.
Short-Form Platform Specs
| Platform | Max Length | Optimal | Aspect Ratio | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 10 min | 15-60 sec | 9:16 | Critical |
| YouTube Shorts | 60 sec | 30-45 sec | 9:16 | Important |
| Instagram Reels | 90 sec | 15-30 sec | 9:16 | Critical |
| Facebook Reels | 60 sec | 15-30 sec | 9:16 | Important |
Viral Moment Identification
What Makes a Clip Viral-Worthy?
✅ STRONG VIRAL INDICATORS: 1. Emotional peak - Surprise, shock, joy, anger 2. Unexpected twist - Plot reversal, revelation 3. Valuable insight - "Aha moment", key takeaway 4. Relatable moment - "This is so me" content 5. Controversial take - Debate-starting opinion 6. Satisfying conclusion - Before/after, completion 7. Funny moment - Genuine humor, reaction ❌ WEAK CLIP MATERIAL: - Long setup without payoff - Inside jokes requiring context - Technical explanations without visual - Slow-paced segments - Content requiring full video context
Clip Selection Process
STEP 1: Timestamp key moments from long video - Mark ALL emotional peaks - Note all "quotable" statements - Identify visual highlights - Flag unexpected moments STEP 2: Score each moment (1-10) - Hook potential: Does it grab in 1 second? - Standalone value: Makes sense without context? - Engagement likelihood: Will people comment/share? - Platform fit: Right vibe for TikTok/Shorts/Reels? STEP 3: Select top 3-5 moments for clips - Prioritize variety (don't all same type) - Ensure each has different hook angle
Conversion Formulas
Long Tutorial → Short Tutorial
ORIGINAL (10 min): - 2 min intro - 6 min walkthrough - 2 min conclusion SHORT VERSION (45 sec): ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 0:00-0:03 | HOOK: "The [result] trick nobody knows" 0:03-0:08 | CONTEXT: "When you need to [problem]..." 0:08-0:40 | CORE STEPS: Just the 3 most important steps 0:40-0:45 | CTA: "Follow for more [topic]" ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── CUT: All intro fluff, slow explanations, tangents KEEP: Core value, best tips, before/after
Long Review → Short Verdict
ORIGINAL (15 min): - Unboxing, specs, testing, pros, cons, verdict SHORT VERSION (30-45 sec): ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 0:00-0:03 | HOOK: "Is [Product] worth it?" 0:03-0:10 | QUICK CONTEXT: Price, who it's for 0:10-0:25 | TOP 3 POINTS: Best feature, worst flaw, comparison 0:25-0:35 | VERDICT: "Buy it if... Skip if..." 0:35-0:40 | CTA: "Full review linked" ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Long Story → Short Teaser
ORIGINAL (20 min vlog): - Full story with buildup, climax, resolution SHORT VERSION (30-60 sec): ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 0:00-0:03 | HOOK: Climax moment or dramatic statement 0:03-0:10 | REWIND: "Let me explain how I got here..." 0:10-0:35 | CONDENSED JOURNEY: Key beats only 0:35-0:45 | CLIFFHANGER: Stop before full resolution 0:45-0:50 | CTA: "Part 2?" or "Full video for ending" ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Long Interview → Clip Gold
IDENTIFY: - Hot takes / Controversial opinions - Personal revelations - Quotable wisdom - Emotional moments - Surprising facts FORMAT: ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 0:00-0:02 | HOOK: The most shocking quote 0:02-0:05 | CONTEXT: "When asked about [topic]..." 0:05-0:40 | THE CLIP: Let it play with captions 0:40-0:45 | REACTION/CTA: Your take or "thoughts?" ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Output Format
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SHORT-FORM CONVERSION PLAN Original Video: [Title] Original Length: [X:XX] ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ 📋 IDENTIFIED VIRAL MOMENTS: ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 1. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10 2. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10 3. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10 4. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10 5. [Timestamp] - "[Quote/Description]" - Viral Score: X/10 🎬 CLIP 1: [Clip Title] ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Source: [Start] - [End] from original Target Length: [XX seconds] Best For: [TikTok/Shorts/Reels] SCRIPT: [0:00-0:03] HOOK: "[Opening line]" Text on screen: "[TEXT]" [0:03-0:XX] CONTENT: [Scene/dialogue description] Caption style: [Auto-captions/Custom] [0:XX-0:XX] CTA: "[Closing line]" Text: "[CTA text]" EDIT NOTES: - Music: [Trending sound suggestion or original audio] - Captions: [Style - bold, animated, etc.] - Transitions: [Cut type suggestions] - Speed: [Normal/Speed up sections] POSTING STRATEGY: - Platform priority: [TikTok → Shorts → Reels] - Best posting time: [Based on content type] - Hashtags: #tag1 #tag2 #tag3 🎬 CLIP 2: [Clip Title] ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [Same format...] 🎬 CLIP 3: [Clip Title] ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── [Same format...] 📅 RELEASE SCHEDULE: ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Day 1: Clip 1 (TikTok + Shorts) Day 3: Clip 2 (TikTok + Reels) Day 5: Clip 3 (All platforms) Day 7: Compilation/Best of (if clips perform well) 💡 CROSS-PROMOTION: ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── - Link full video in bio - Pin comment with full video link - Add "Full video" text at end ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
How to Use
From Video File
Convert this video to short-form clips: Video: [Title/description] Length: [X minutes] Key moments: [If you know them] Target platform: [TikTok/Shorts/Reels/All]
From Transcript
Here's my video transcript. Identify the best clips: [Paste transcript] Looking for: [X] clips of [30-60] seconds
From Topic/Script
I'm making a [length] video about [topic]. Help me plan short-form clips in advance. Key points I'll cover: [list]
Platform-Specific Adaptations
TikTok Optimization
- Trending sounds matter A LOT - Fast pacing (cut every 2-3 seconds) - Text-heavy (assume sound off) - Casual, authentic vibe - Strong community engagement (duets, replies) - Hashtags: Mix trending + niche
YouTube Shorts Optimization
- Can be more polished than TikTok - Original audio often works better - Clear value proposition - Works well with educational content - Less sound-dependent than TikTok - #Shorts hashtag helps discovery
Instagram Reels Optimization
- Slightly more curated aesthetic - Trending audio helps but less critical - Strong visual composition - Carousel-style content works - Story crosspost strategy - Hashtags in caption, not on video
Editing Tips for Conversion
✅ DO: - Add captions (85% watch muted) - Use jump cuts to remove dead space - Add b-roll or visual variety - Include text overlays for key points - Match platform's native style - Trim the fat ruthlessly ❌ DON'T: - Just crop and post (feels lazy) - Keep long pauses/transitions - Use horizontal clips (except split-screen) - Ignore platform-specific features - Post same exact clip everywhere - Forget the CTA
Short-Form Checklist
Before posting each clip:
- Hook in first 1-2 seconds
- Captions/text added
- Vertical format (9:16)
- No dead space/pauses
- Clear CTA at end
- Relevant hashtags
- Thumbnail/cover selected (if applicable)
- Links in bio updated
- Platform-optimized (native features used)