/reels-script

name: reels-script
description: >-
  Use to write an Instagram Reels script — a native, sound-off-first short-video script optimized
  for Instagram's discovery engine, built around a 3-second hook, watch-through, and sends (DM
  shares). Run when the user says "Reels script," "Instagram Reel," "make a Reel," "Reel hook,"
  "trial reel," or wants short-form video for Instagram specifically. Reads brand-profile and voice
  first; writes the muted version first; structures for watch-through + sends; places IG-search
  keywords; picks original vs trending audio (trending audio is added natively in-app — not via
  WoopSocial); briefs the cover frame; outputs a production doc (shot - on-screen text - spoken -
  audio - timing) plus a Veo prompt pack for faceless/b-roll shots. The generic scripting craft
  lives in short-form-video-script; for TikTok use tiktok-script; for Shorts use youtube-shorts;
  hands the caption to caption-writer, publishing to instagram-reels-publishing, and scheduling to
  scheduling-and-queue.
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
license: MIT

Reels Script

Reels are Instagram's **discovery engine**: most Reel reach comes from **non-followers**, decided by how viewers respond — not by follower count. But Reels are not TikToks with a different logo:

1. **The hook window is ~3 seconds** — they decide whether a Reel is pushed wider or throttled. Layer it: verbal + on-screen text + visual. 2. **Watch-through and sends rule.** Watch time is the top signal; **sends-per-reach (DM shares)** are weighted roughly 3–5× more than likes for reaching new people. Script for both. 3. **Write the muted version first.** Most Reels viewers watch on mute — if the on-screen text doesn't carry the story, the script fails before the audio matters. 4. **Eligibility gates come before ranking:** original, **no TikTok/CapCut watermarks**, has audio, under the length cap, clear niche. A watermarked reupload is throttled at the gate. 5. **The Reel also lives on your grid** — plan the cover frame; it can't be edited after publish.

(Full mechanics in `references/reels-mechanics.md`.)

Step 0 — Read the foundation first

Load `brand-profile.md` and `voice.md`. Voice carries into the spoken script, on-screen text, and caption. Carry guardrails and compliance rules.

Step 1 — Lock the concept, goal, and length tier

• **One idea** — a Reel does one thing.
• **Goal** — reach, sends, saves, follows, or comments (shapes the close/CTA).
• **Length tier** — ~15–35s is the reach sweet spot; up to ~90s for tutorials/storytelling that

earns it; up to ~3 min stays recommendation-eligible. Let the idea pick the length; never pad. See `references/reels-mechanics.md`.

Step 2 — Decide the audio (and write sound-off anyway)

**Original audio** (your voice) for most founder/brand content; a **trending audio** where it genuinely fits — but Instagram's licensed library is **native-only**: the script names the audio direction, the human adds the track in-app (WoopSocial can't attach trending audio). Either way, the Reel must work **on mute**. Live trend research → `trend-jacking`. See `references/formats-and-audio.md`.

Step 3 — Write the 3-second hook

Use `hook-writer`. Fire on all three channels at once — verbal + bold on-screen text + a striking first frame — with no intro, no logo, no "hey guys." The on-screen text hook must work silently, and the hook must be true: a bait-and-switch creates a mid-video retention cliff the algorithm punishes. See `references/hooks-and-retention.md`.

Step 4 — Structure for watch-through and sends

Front-load value, open a loop early, change the visual every ~2–4 seconds, cut all dead air, and engineer a **loop or rewatch trigger** so the ending feeds the start. Then ask the sends question: **who would DM this to whom, and why?** Relatable, useful-reference, or conversation-starting beats travel; generic tips don't. See `references/hooks-and-retention.md`.

Step 5 — Write the production doc + cover brief

Output a shootable doc — a row per beat with **shot · on-screen text · spoken · audio · timing** — plus a one-line **cover-frame brief** (which frame, or a custom cover with bold text in the grid-safe center). Keep hook text, faces, and CTAs inside the safe zone — exact zones live in `instagram-reels-publishing`.

Step 6 — Instagram SEO + caption + hashtags

Instagram search is keyword-based now: put the target keyword in the **first ~3 seconds spoken**, the **on-screen text**, and the **caption's first sentence** — and the visual must match the caption. Keyword research + the search-first caption → `instagram-seo`; caption craft → `caption-writer`; 3–5 topic-label hashtags, not thirty.

Step 7 — Test with Trial Reels; produce film-first or with the Veo pack

For unproven hooks/formats, recommend a **Trial Reel** (shown to non-followers first — a free test that doesn't touch follower-facing stats). Default to **native filming** for faces and voices. For **faceless niches, b-roll, or unfilmable shots**, use the bundled Veo prompt pack (`references/veo-prompt-pack.md`; API layer in `tools/integrations/veo.md`) — and follow Meta's AI-labeling rules for generated media (disclosure on Instagram is native/manual, not automatic).

Step 8 — Hand off

• **Caption →** `caption-writer` (keyworded via `instagram-seo`).
• **Publish (specs, safe zone, cover, settings) →** `instagram-reels-publishing`.
• **Schedule →** `scheduling-and-queue` (upload the video to WoopSocial Media, then schedule).

Quality bar — self-check

• Does the **hook land in ~3 seconds** on all three channels, with no intro tax?
• Does the script **work on mute** (on-screen text carries the story)?
• Is it built for **watch-through** (fast, no dead air) with a **loop/rewatch trigger**?
• Can I name **who sends this to whom, and why**?
• Is the **audio choice** intentional — and flagged as native add-in-app if trending?
• Does it **clear the eligibility gates** (original, wa