The format library
Short-form formats
A format is the visual shape of a short-form video — how it's shot and structured, independent of the topic. The same idea lands completely differently as a talking-head, a skit, or a voiceover over b-roll.
Picking the right format is half the battle: it sets how much you produce, how it feels, and how shareable it is. Here are the common short-form formats — what each is, when it works, and an example.
Talking head
Creator on camera, talking direct to the lens.
Talking head — listicle
Talking head structured as a numbered list.
Skit
Acted scene with characters or a set-up.
Vlog
Day-in-the-life, behind-the-scenes footage.
Interview
Two-person back-and-forth, mic in hand.
Demonstration
Showing how to do or make something on camera.
Screen recording
Captured from a phone or computer screen.
Voiceover — bullets
VO over b-roll, structured as quick bullets.