Build one vertical master, then adapt
TikTok, Reels and Shorts share a vertical canvas, but distribution, interface overlays, captions and audience expectations change. Produce one clean 9:16 master without baked-in platform furniture, then create delivery versions with the correct text, audio and call to action for each destination.
Design the first beat
- Begin with visible movement, contrast or a clear subject—not a slow logo reveal.
- Show the product, character or outcome early enough to orient the viewer.
- Use one idea per clip and one visual job per shot.
- Leave room for captions without covering faces, hands or the product.
- Add exact copy after generation rather than asking the model to render it.
Choose the current afterSora route
Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro support 9:16 at four, eight or twelve seconds. Rift supports 9:16 at five, ten or fifteen seconds, with 768P and 2K settings on its current route. Start with the shortest, lower-cost test that proves motion and composition.
A six-shot vertical structure
- Hook: immediate visual question or change.
- Context: establish the person, product or problem.
- Action: one clear interaction.
- Proof: visible detail, result or supporting angle.
- Payoff: the strongest visual moment.
- Close: a stable frame with room for the real call to action.
Version by platform after generation
Keep the visual master independent. Add platform-native captions, music, description, thumbnail and call to action during publishing. Interface layouts change, so verify the current safe area in the destination app before final export rather than relying on an old pixel diagram.
Create useful variants
- Three opening hooks using the same body and closing shot.
- A product-first and a person-first version.
- A silent-caption version and an audio-led version.
- A shorter cut created from the approved master.
- A clean version without embedded copy for later reuse.
Vertical QA
- Check the subject remains inside the crop throughout motion.
- Review faces, hands, product geometry and fast transitions frame by frame.
- Confirm caption readability on a real phone.
- Check music and voice rights separately for every platform.
- Export and inspect the uploaded version before scaling distribution.
