Write a 45-Second Script and Shot List with a Free Chatbot

Most bad AI videos fail before any picture is made. The idea is vague, the script is too long, and the scenes do not match the words. A good script fixes all three.

In this lesson you will use a free chatbot (ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude) to write a 45-second script and a shot list: a numbered list of scenes, with the words spoken in each one and a short note about what the picture shows. Everything else in the course follows this list.

What You'll Learn

• Why 45 seconds is about 100 to 120 spoken words
• How to get a script and a shot list from a free chatbot in one go
• How to write the script directly in Hindi or another language
• How to check the script before you make any pictures
• How to save the shot list so the next steps are easy

Why short wins

Shorts and Reels viewers decide in the first two or three seconds whether to keep watching. So:

• Start with the hook. The first line should make people curious, for example "This mouse saved a lion's life."
• One idea per scene. Each scene is 4 to 8 seconds with one or two short sentences.
• End with a payoff. The last scene closes the story or repeats the main tip.

People speak about 130 to 150 words a minute. AI voices are similar. So a 45-second video is about 100 to 120 words. If your script is 200 words, the video will be too long or the voice will sound rushed.

Get the script and shot list in one prompt

Copy this prompt into any free chatbot. Change the three lines at the top to match the note you wrote in the last lesson. You can also click Run with AI to try it here.

Why this works:

• The word count keeps the video the right length.
• The table gives you the scenes, the timing and the words together, so editing later is easy.
• "Keep the same look" asks the chatbot to describe your main character the same way in every scene. That helps your images match each other.

Writing in Hindi or another language

You can write the whole script in your own language. Change the language line, for example:

• Language: simple Hindi in Devanagari script
• Language: Hinglish (Hindi words in English letters)
• Language: simple Tamil

Two tips:

• Ask for the picture column in English. Image tools usually understand English descriptions best. Add this line: "Write the words spoken in Hindi, but write the picture column in English."
• Choose one script for the voice. If the voice will read Devanagari, keep the spoken words in Devanagari. Mixing scripts can make AI voices read words strangely.

For an explainer video

For an explainer, change the format and topic, and the chatbot will build scenes around tips instead of a story:

Check the script before you make pictures

Read the script out loud once. It takes 45 seconds and saves you hours later. Look for these problems:

• Too long. If reading it takes more than 60 seconds, ask: "Cut this to 110 words without losing the story."
• A slow start. If the first line is "Hello friends, today we will learn...", ask for a stronger hook.
• Hard words. Replace any word you would not say to a friend.
• Facts. For an explainer, check any fact or number yourself. Chatbots can be wrong.
• Scenes that are hard to draw. "He felt hopeful about the future" is hard to show. "He smiles and looks at the sunrise" is easy.

You can fix any of these with a short follow-up message. You do not need to start again.

Save your shot list

Copy the final table into a note or a simple document. Add one more column called Type and write either "image" or "clip" for each scene:

• Mark 2 or 3 scenes as "clip". Choose the opening scene and the most exciting moment.
• Mark the rest as "image".

This is the credit-saving plan from the first lesson. In the next lesson you will make the pictures for each row.

Here is what a saved shot list can look like:

Key Takeaways

• A 45-second video needs about 100 to 120 spoken words.
• Ask a free chatbot for the script and a shot list table in one prompt.
• You can write the spoken words in Hindi or any language, but keep picture descriptions in English.
• Read the script aloud and fix length, hook, hard words and facts before making pictures.
• Mark only 2 or 3 scenes as moving clips and the rest as images to save free credits.