Free Video Script Template: Copy, Fill, Ship

Starting from a blank page every time is the slowest part of making videos. Here is a free video script template you can copy into any notes app or document. It has two parts: a five line plan, and a script frame with the opening, body and ending in order. Below it is the same template filled in for a made up example, so you can see what each blank is for.

You do not need to sign up for anything. Copy it, change the labels if you like, and use it for your next video.

Lesson 3.5 explains why each part is there and how to write each line: Video scripts that hold attention. Use the template here and the lesson together.

Fill the plan first, the body second and the opening last; the frame only works in that order.

Part 1: the video script template plan (copy this)

Who is this for? [one specific person] What will they get? [one outcome, one sentence] Proof: [something true you can show or say, or leave blank] Steps: [two to five points, in order] Next action: [one thing, said once]

Fill these in before writing any script lines. If you cannot fill Who or What, stop and think; the script will be vague until those two are clear.

Part 2: the script frame (copy this)

Opening (one or two sentences): [Say who it is for and what they will get. Write this last.] Step 1: [one idea, spoken, one to three short sentences] Step 2: [one idea] Step 3: [one idea] Proof moment: [show or say the proof where it helps most] Close (one sentence): [the single next action, with where to find it]

Add more steps or fewer. The frame stretches to fit.

Part 3: the cut pass (copy this)

For every line: would the viewer miss it if it were gone? If no, delete it. Remove: throat clearing, repeats, apologies, background nobody asked for. Read aloud once. Rewrite any line you stumble on.

The template filled in

This is an illustrative example for a made up bike repair shop. It is not a real customer or result.

Who is this for? People who ride to work and have a squeaky bike. What will they get? The three checks that find most squeaks before you pay for a repair. Proof: A real photo of a chain from your shop, before and after cleaning and oiling. Steps: Check the chain, check the brake pads, check the pedals. Next action: Book a safety check using the link.

And the script lines written from those answers:

Opening: If your commute bike squeaks, these three checks usually find the cause before you pay for a repair. Step 1: First, the chain. Look for dry or dirty links. A clean chain with a little oil runs quieter. Step 2: Second, the brake pads. If they rub the wheel when you spin it, that is your noise. Step 3: Third, the pedals. Hold the bike and wiggle each pedal. Any play means it needs attention. Proof moment: Here is a chain from our workshop before and after cleaning. (show photo) Close: If you want us to check it for you, book a safety check with the link below.

Notice that the opening says who the video is for and what they get in one sentence, each step is one idea, and the close asks for exactly one thing. Notice also that the example makes no claim about how much money or time anyone saves.

How to use it on a real video

1. Copy the template into your notes appKeep one master copy and duplicate it for each video.
2. Fill the five linesAbout five minutes. Do not write script lines yet.
3. Write the body from the Steps lineOne short spoken line or two per step.
4. Write the opening lastIt should promise only what the body delivers.
5. Run the cut passDelete anything the viewer would not miss.
6. Record, then fix the dead spotsAnywhere you stumbled gets rewritten.

Before you publish: a short checklist

• Is the opening about the viewer, not about you?
• Is there exactly one next action?
• Is every claim something you can back up?
• Have you checked the captions? The W3C accessibility guidance says auto generated captions usually need significant editing, so correct names and tricky words.
• If the video has sections, do you want chapters? On YouTube, list at least three timestamps in the description, the first at 00:00, with each chapter at least 10 seconds long.

Why the order matters

The plan comes first because it settles the decisions that cause most wasted effort: who you are talking to, what they get and what happens next. The body comes second because it is where you spend your effort on the actual content. The opening comes last because only then do you know what to promise. If you write in the opposite order, you tend to produce an opening that sounds good and a body that does not match it, and then you spend your time rewriting. Following the order from top to bottom keeps each step small and makes it obvious when something is missing, because a blank in the plan is easier to spot than a weak sentence in a finished script.

How to adapt it

You can shorten the frame for short vertical videos by using two steps and a tighter close. For longer tutorials, add a step per sub topic and a section title for each, so the timestamps are ready for chapters. For client work, add a line for the "objection" you hear most and answer it as one of the steps.

If you use an AI assistant to fill the lines, give it your five line plan and ask for a spoken draft, then tell it not to add facts, numbers or examples you did not supply. Read the result aloud and cut.

Questions people ask

Is this template really free?

Yes. Copy it as is and edit it for your own use.

Do I have to follow the order?

The order of the plan matters most: fill the plan, then the body, then the opening. The wording of labels is up to you.

Can I use it for talking head, screen recording and voiceover videos?

Yes. The frame describes what is said, so it works for any format.

What if I have no proof yet?

Leave the line blank and keep your claims modest.

Where to go next

Copy Part 1 into your notes and fill it for one video now. If you want to understand each blank and write sharper openings, follow Lesson 3.5: Video scripts that hold attention. To make the template a weekly routine, read the Five Line Plan post.