AI Prompt for Building a Short-Form Video Edit Decision List From Raw Footage Notes
Turn raw footage notes into a practical short-form video edit decision list with clear cut choices, pacing notes, and edit priorities.
This prompt helps you turn messy shoot notes, clip descriptions and timing reminders into a practical video edit decision list for a short-form video edit. It is useful when you have raw footage, but you need help deciding what to keep, trim, reorder and emphasize.
Use it to create a clean edit plan before opening your timeline so the final cut feels tighter, clearer and easier to assemble.
Build a Short-Form Video Edit Decision List
Convert raw footage notes into a clear editing roadmap with cut choices, pacing guidance, priorities and a simple order of operations.
COPY THIS PROMPT:
Act as a short-form video editor, story-minded content strategist and practical post-production assistant.
I will give you raw footage notes, clip descriptions, rough timestamps and any extra context about the video.
Your job is to turn that input into a concise and useful video edit decision list that helps me edit the video efficiently.
Focus on what to keep, cut, move, shorten, emphasize and use as a hook.
Create the decision list in this order:
1. Best opening hook
2. Strongest moments to keep
3. Sections to trim or remove
4. Recommended clip order
5. Pacing notes for each section
6. Suggested jump cuts, overlays or b-roll moments
7. Sound or caption emphasis if helpful
8. A final edit priority list
Editing rules:
– Use only the information I provide unless I ask for creative ideas.
– Do not invent footage, dialogue or scene details.
– If something is unclear, note the uncertainty and give a safe editing option.
– Prefer clear, actionable recommendations over long explanations.
– Keep the output focused on short-form video editing for social platforms.
– Make the pacing feel natural, fast enough to hold attention, but not rushed.
– Flag weak sections that should be cut or compressed.
Output format:
– Edit goal summary
– Hook recommendation
– Decision list by clip or section
– Suggested cut order
– Must-keep moments
– Trim or remove list
– Caption, b-roll or motion notes
– Final checklist for the editor
Raw footage notes:
[Paste your notes, timestamps, clip descriptions or transcript excerpts here]
Optional context:
[Add platform, target length, tone, audience or editing style]
How to use this video edit decision list prompt
What this prompt helps you do
A clear edit plan saves time because you are not guessing your way through the timeline. Instead, you start with a practical set of decisions that point you toward the best version of the video.
- Choose a stronger opening hook
- Identify the most useful footage quickly
- Remove filler before you begin editing
- Organize clips into a better sequence
- Improve pacing without overcomplicating the edit
- Spot opportunities for captions, b-roll or overlays
- Create a more focused short-form structure
- Reduce rework during post-production
💡 Pro Tip
If your footage is scattered, ask the AI to rank each clip by importance before it builds the full video edit decision list. That extra ranking step makes it easier to spot what belongs in the hook, what belongs in the middle and what should be left out entirely.
Example: From raw notes to a decision list
Clip 1: Talking head intro, slightly repetitive opening.
Clip 2: Clear explanation of the main tip.
Clip 3: Side note about a common mistake.
Clip 4: Pause while thinking through an example.
Clip 5: Strong closing line with a direct call to action.
Edit goal: Create a fast, clear short-form video with a stronger opening and a cleaner middle.
Hook recommendation: Start with Clip 5 or the strongest sentence from Clip 2, then move into the main point quickly.
Keep: Clip 2 for the main explanation, Clip 3 for a useful caution, Clip 5 for the closing.
Trim or remove: Shorten Clip 1 because the opening feels repetitive. Cut the long pause in Clip 4 unless it supports a visual beat.
Order: Hook, main tip, mistake to avoid, short example, closing line.
Pacing notes: Keep transitions tight. Use jump cuts to remove hesitation. Add captions on key phrases and a simple b-roll insert for the example.
Why this video edit decision list prompt works
Raw footage notes often contain useful material, but not every clip deserves the same level of attention. This prompt asks AI to make editing decisions instead of simply summarizing the footage.
That shift matters because editing is about choices: what the viewer should see first, which lines should carry the message and which moments slow the video down.
The prompt also keeps the output practical. It asks for cut priorities, pacing notes and final checklist items, which makes the result easier to use during an actual edit session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this prompt with transcript notes instead of footage notes?
Yes. If you have a transcript, rough transcript excerpts or speaker notes, you can paste them in and ask for an editing decision list based on that text.
Will the AI know the best platform format automatically?
Not always. It helps to include the platform and target length so the suggestions fit the style of the video you want to make.
Can I use this for interviews or talking-head clips?
Yes. It works well for interviews, tutorials, educational clips, product demos and other short-form videos that need tighter pacing.
Should I trust the AI decision list without editing it?
No. Treat it as a draft plan. Review the recommendations against your footage, your goal and your own judgment before making final decisions.
Can the prompt suggest captions and b-roll too?
Yes. You can ask for caption emphasis, b-roll ideas or motion notes as long as you want that level of support in the final output.
When to use this prompt
Use this prompt when you have a pile of raw clips, a rough transcript or scattered notes and you need a clear plan for editing a short video.
It is especially useful before rough cutting, when you want to understand the structure of the video before spending time on detailed trims, effects or polish.
It is also helpful when you want a quick second opinion on what should lead, what should support the message and what should be cut for pace.
Best practices for better edit decisions
Give the AI enough context to judge the footage well. A short note about the platform, audience, tone and desired length can improve the recommendations.
Keep the raw notes specific. Instead of saying that a clip is “good,” describe what happens in it, what line stands out or where the pacing slows down.
Ask for priorities when the footage is dense. Ranking clips by usefulness can make the final decision list easier to follow than a general summary.
Finally, check the recommendations against your own footage and judgment. The best results come when AI helps you see the options, then you decide what best fits the final cut.
Summary
This prompt helps you create a practical video edit decision list from raw footage notes so you can edit short-form content with more clarity and less trial and error.
Use it when you want a cleaner plan for hooks, trims, pacing and clip order before you start building the final cut.
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