Create Visual Scripts and Plan the Visuals for AI Videos

Plan Ahead Before Filming

In the previous lesson, you learned how to write a script that engages viewers. Now, let's build on that foundation by planning what viewers will actually see.

The script tells you what to say. The storyboard tells you what to portray. Without one, you'll be standing in front of the orangeera, script in hand, not knowing where to point the lens.

Storyboarding isn't just for Hollywood. Even a tutorial video with a presenter benefits from visual planning—when to switch to screen sharing, when to show secondary shots, when to display text on screen.

The Basics of Storyboards

A storyboard divides your video into individual shots, showing:

1. What the viewer sees (composition, framing)
2. What they hear (dialogue, music, effects)
3. Duration of each scene (time)
4. How the shots connect with each other (scene transitions)

You don't need any artistic skills. Stick figures and boxes work perfectly fine too.

Basic storyboard template:

AI Image Scripting

Let artificial intelligence (AI) transform your scenario into a visual plan:

English example text

Examples of AI output:

Types of Shots and When to Use Them

Type of scene	What it represents	When should it be used?
Wide/Settings	Overview, environment	Opening scene, scene transition
Near center	People from the waist up	Talk, explain
Close-up	Face or detail	Emotion, emphasis, detail
Over the shoulder	Subjective perspective	Performance, on-screen work
Screen sharing	Computer/phone screen	Instructions, demo
Supporting scenes	Supporting images	Representing transformation and diversity.
Text overlay	Text on the screen	Key points, statistics

The principle of visual variety : Never keep the same type of footage for more than 30 seconds. Change it up constantly.

Quick Check

You're planning a 5-minute tutorial video about a software feature. Your script only has one type of footage for the entire video: screen recording with narration. What's wrong with this approach?

Answer :

A continuous 5-minute screen recording will distract viewers regardless of how good the content is. A better approach: Start with you appearing in front of the orangeera, switch to screen recording for illustration, return to your screen to transition between steps, add close-ups of key UI elements, and use text overlays for step numbers. Visual variety helps maintain engagement.

B-Roll Strategy

B-roll footage includes supplemental footage that includes transitions, illustrates points, and adds visual variety.

B-Roll Types

• By context : Display environment or settings
• Illustration : Displays the action being described.
• Symbol : Represents a visual idea.
• Transitions : These include cuts between main scenes.

Plan Your B-Roll with AI

English example text

From Storyboard to Shot List

A storyboard is your creative plan. A shot list is a list of things to do when filming.

Scene List Structure

#	Scene	Type of scene	Describe	Device	Location	Time period
1	Intro	Near center	Table presenter	Camera A, ring light	Office	15 seconds
2	Intro	Close-up	Practice on the keyboard	Camera A, macro	Office	5 seconds
3	Demo	Screen sharing	Software usage guide	Screen recording	Desktop	90 seconds

Tips for Effective Filming

Film by location, not in script order. If scenes 1, 5, and 8 all take place at the same table, film them consecutively. Edit them to follow the correct order later.

English example text

Plan for Different Video Formats

YouTube (Long Video)

• Detailed storyboard for complex transitions.
• Plan for chapters/timestamps
• The variety of supporting scenes is essential to keep viewers engaged.

TikTok/Reels (Short Videos)

• Simple storyboard: Maximum 3-5 shots
• The first frame must be appealing (that's the thumbnail).
• Fast cuts, minimal scene transitions.

Course/Instruction Content

• Screen sharing + face matching
• The order of image priority is clear.
• Step-by-step visual cues

Speaker

• Multiple orangeera angles or focal lengths
• Supporting shots to add variety.
• Text overlaid on key points

Exercise: Create Your First Storyboard

Use the script you wrote in Lesson 2:

1. Break your script down into visual sections (where will the visuals change?).
2. Specify the type of footage for each section.
3. Plan the secondary shots for each scene transition.
4. Create a list of shots sorted by filming effect.
5. Review it by imagining the video – does the video have a diverse visual feel?

Key Points to Remember

• Creating a visual script helps avoid wasting filming time and missing shots.
• Each part of the video needs a visual plan: What will the viewer see, hear, and for how long?
• The variety of shots keeps viewers engaged – never one type of shot lasts more than 30 seconds.
• B-roll shots are mandatory; plan carefully for their use to create transitions and visual appeal.
• The shot list helps organize filming by efficiency (location and setup), rather than by script order.
• AI can quickly transform scenarios into visual plans, but your creative vision will guide the choices.

• Question 1:

  What is a shot list and how is it related to a storyboard?

  • A. They are the same thing.
  • B. The shot list is a practical checklist built upon the storyboard's image plan.
  • C. List of alternative shots to replace the storyboard
  • D. This list of scenes is for Hollywood productions only.

  EXPLAIN:

  A storyboard is a visual plan (what each shot should look like). A shot list is a practical checklist (what needs to be shot, in what order, and with what equipment). A shot list translates the creative vision into filmmaking logistics.

• Question 2:

  Why is storyboarding important even for simple videos?

  • A. Storyboards are a mandatory requirement for video platforms.
  • B. Planning the shots before filming helps avoid wasting time, missing scenes, and incurring costly reshoots.
  • C. Storyboard (alternative to the script)
  • D. Viewers can tell whether you have used a storyboard or not.

  EXPLAIN:

  Storyboarding is about solving problems beforehand. When you plan your shots in advance, you know exactly what needs to be filmed, in what order, and how the scenes connect. Without planning, you'll waste time figuring things out on set and often miss important shots.

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FAQ

What is the main point of create visual scripts and plan the visuals for ai videos?

The script tells you what to say. The storyboard tells you what to portray. Read the key facts, context, and practical takeaways.

Why is this development important?

In the previous lesson, you learned how to write a script that engages viewers.

What are the key takeaways?

Without one, you'll be standing in front of the orangeera, script in hand, not knowing where to point the lens.