# Claude Code skill: /shorts from a long video

When to use it: You have a podcast, stream or long YouTube video and want Claude to find the best moments and export vertical clips you can review.

Works with: [podcli](https://agentcut.dev/tools/podcli/), [n8n: Viral clips from YouTube with Gemini + FFmpeg](https://agentcut.dev/tools/n8n-viral-clips-gemini-ffmpeg/), [ffmpeg-skill](https://agentcut.dev/tools/ffmpeg-skill/), [HyperFrames (HeyGen)](https://agentcut.dev/tools/hyperframes-heygen/)

Save as: .claude/skills/shorts/SKILL.md

Download: https://agentcut.dev/prompts/md/skill-shorts.md

~~~~markdown
---
name: shorts
description: Find the strongest self contained moments in a long video from its transcript and export vertical 9:16 clips for review. Use when the user asks for shorts, reels, TikToks or clips from a long video.
argument-hint: <video file> [number of clips, default 5] [max seconds, default 45]
---

# Shorts from a long video

Input: $ARGUMENTS

1. Transcribe with word timestamps (see the captions skill) into `work/transcript.json`. Read only the transcript, do not try to watch the video.
2. Find candidate moments that:
   - make sense with no context from earlier in the video
   - open with a strong first sentence (a claim, a question, a number or a surprise) inside the first 2 seconds
   - end on a complete thought, not mid sentence
   - run between 15 s and the max length
3. Show a table: rank, start, end, length, first line, last line, why it works. Propose more than requested so the user can choose.
4. Wait for the user to pick.
5. For each pick, cut with frame accuracy and reframe to 1080x1920. Default reframe: center crop. If the speaker is off center, ask for an x offset or use a face tracking tool if one is installed.
6. Add captions using the captions skill rules for vertical video, kept above the bottom 20% of the frame where app buttons sit.
7. Export `out/short_<rank>_<first-words>.mp4` and a `out/shorts.md` file with a suggested title and the start and end timecodes in the source.
8. Never claim a clip will go viral. Describe why it might hold attention and let the user decide.
~~~~

Sources and credit:

* [r/ClaudeAI, I open sourced the Claude Code skill I use to edit my own videos](https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1w935ob/i_opensourced_the_claude_code_skill_i_use_to_edit/): The model reads the transcript and picks cuts, it never watches the video

---
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