video-ad-reverse-engineer

# Video Ad Reverse Engineer Deconstruct any video ad into a reusable creative template — extract the format, structure, hooks, and strategies that make it work. --- ## How It Works 1. **Input**: Provide a video ad file, URL, or series of screenshots 2. **Extract frames**: Pull key frames at critical moments (hook, transitions, CTA) 3. **Analyze structure**: Identify the ad format, pacing, and creative patterns 4. **Document template**: Output a reusable template with timing, script structure, and visual direction 5. **Recreate**: Use the template to create new ads in the same style ## Frame Extraction Use `scripts/extract_frames.py` to pull key frames from the video: ```bash python scripts/extract_frames.py input_video.mp4 --output-dir frames/ --num-frames 12 ``` More frames = more detail in the breakdown. Use 8-12 for standard ads, 15-20 for complex ones. --- ## Analysis Framework ### Step 1: Identify the Ad Format Classify the ad into one of these primary formats (see `references/ad-formats.md` for full catalog): | Format | Characteristics | Common Duration | |--------|----------------|-----------------| | UGC Talking Head | Single person speaking to camera | 15-60s | | Product Demo | Product in action, hands-on | 15-30s | | Before/After | Split or sequential transformation | 15-30s | | Testimonial Compilation | Multiple review clips | 30-60s | | Problem-Solution | Pain point → product introduction | 15-30s | | Listicle | "3 reasons why..." numbered format | 30-60s | | Unboxing | Package reveal and first impression | 15-45s | | Day-in-the-Life | Product woven into daily routine | 30-60s | | Comparison | Side-by-side against competitor | 15-30s | | Story Arc | Mini-narrative with characters | 30-60s | | Text-on-Screen | Animated text overlays, no presenter | 15-30s | | Mashup / Montage | Rapid cuts of multiple scenes | 15-30s | ### Step 2: Analyze the Hook (0-3 seconds) Identify the hook type (see `references/hook-types.md` for full catalog): **What to extract:** - Exact first words spoken or displayed - Visual element in frame 1 - Audio (music, sound effect, silence, voice) - Text overlay content and style - Hook category (pattern interrupt, question, bold claim, POV, stat, visual) ### Step 3: Map the Scene Structure For each scene/segment, document: ``` SCENE [number] Timestamp: [start] - [end] ([duration]) Visual: [what's on screen] Audio: [voiceover text / music / SFX] Text overlay: [any on-screen text] Camera: [angle, movement, framing] Purpose: [hook / problem / agitate / solution / feature / proof / CTA] Transition: [how it connects to next scene — cut / dissolve / swipe / zoom] ``` ### Step 4: Extract the Script Pattern Transcribe the audio and identify the script structure: ``` SCRIPT PATTERN ============== Total word count: [X] Words per second: [X] Tone: [conversational / professional / urgent / humorous] STRUCTURE: [0-3s] HOOK: [type] — "[exact words or description]" [3-Xs] SECTION 1: [purpose] — "[key message]" [X-Xs] SECTION 2: [purpose] — "[key message]" ... [X-end] CTA: [type] — "[exact words or description]" NOTABLE TECHNIQUES: - [e.g., "Uses rhetorical questions to transition between sections"] - [e.g., "Repetition of key phrase 'in just 5 minutes'"] - [e.g., "Social proof embedded mid-script, not at the end"] ``` ### Step 5: Analyze Visual Strategy Document the visual decisions: ``` VISUAL STRATEGY =============== Aspect ratio: [9:16 / 16:9 / 1:1 / 4:5] Color palette: [dominant colors, warm/cool, saturated/muted] Lighting style: [natural / studio / dramatic / phone-camera] Text overlays: [font style, color, position, frequency] B-roll usage: [percentage of ad, types of shots] Presenter: [age, gender, style, on-screen vs voiceover] Brand elements: [when/where logo appears, brand colors, watermarks] Subtitles/Captions: [style, position, auto vs designed] ``` ### Step 6: Document Pacing ``` PACING ANALYSIS =============== Total duration: [X seconds] Number of cuts/transitions: [X] Average shot length: [X seconds] Pacing pattern: [constant / accelerating / decelerating / variable] Cut map: [0.0s] Scene start [2.5s] Cut — [type: hard cut / dissolve / swipe] [5.0s] Cut — ... ... Energy curve: Start: [low / medium / high] Middle: [trajectory — building / maintaining / dipping] End: [low / medium / high] Peak moment at: [timestamp] — [what happens] ``` ### Step 7: Produce the Reusable Template Combine all analysis into a fill-in-the-blank template: ``` REUSABLE AD TEMPLATE ==================== Format: [identified format] Duration: [X seconds] Aspect Ratio: [X:X] SCENE 1: HOOK ([0-Xs]) Visual: [description of what to show] Audio: "[script template with [PRODUCT] placeholders]" Text: "[overlay template]" Camera: [direction] SCENE 2: [PURPOSE] ([X-Xs]) Visual: [description] Audio: "[script template]" Text: "[overlay template]" Camera: [direction] ... FINAL SCENE: CTA ([X-end]) Visual: [description] Audio: "[CTA template]" Text: "[overlay template]" PRODUCTION NOTES: - Music: [genre/mood/tempo] - Pacing: [X cuts, average X seconds per shot] - Tone: [described tone] - Key creative decision: [what makes this ad unique] ``` Use the full template in `references/output-template.md`. --- ## Recreate at Scale Turn your extracted templates into new ads automatically: ### Using Creatify Ad Clone The most direct path — provide the original ad as a reference and your product, and the API recreates the style: ```python import requests HEADERS = { "Content-Type": "application/json", "X-API-ID": "your-api-id", "X-API-KEY": "your-api-key", } BASE_URL = "https://api.creatify.ai/api" # Step 1: Create a link for your product link = requests.post(f"{BASE_URL}/links/", headers=HEADERS, json={ "url": "https://your-product-url.com" }).json() # Step 2: Clone the reference ad with your product clone = requests.post(f"{BASE_URL}/ads_clone/", headers=HEADERS, json={ "link": link["id"], "video_url": "https://url-of-the-ad-you-reverse-engineered.mp4", "aspect_ratio": "9x16", }).json() # Step 3: Poll for completion # Use polling pattern from video-ad-generator skill ``` ### Using Extracted Scripts with AI Avatars Feed your extracted script structure into the avatar API: ```python # Take the script pattern you extracted and create avatar version avatar_video = requests.post(f"{BASE_URL}/lipsyncs/", headers=HEADERS, json={ "text": "Your adapted script based on extracted template", "creator": "persona-id-matching-original-demographics", "aspect_ratio": "9:16", }).json() ``` ### Full Workflow 1. Reverse-engineer competitor ad with this skill 2. Extract the template (format, hook, script, pacing) 3. Adapt template for your product 4. Generate via [video-ad-generator](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/video-ad-generator) (URL to Video, Ad Clone) 5. Test avatar versions via [ai-avatar-video](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/ai-avatar-video) 6. Evaluate results via [ad-creative-evaluator](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/ad-creative-evaluator) --- ## See Also - [video-ad-generator](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/video-ad-generator) — Product URL → video ad pipeline - [ai-avatar-video](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/ai-avatar-video) — AI talking-head videos with 1,500+ personas - [ai-ad-prompt-guide](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/ai-ad-prompt-guide) — Battle-tested prompting for AI ad creative - [ad-creative-evaluator](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/ad-creative-evaluator) — Score any video ad with AI expert panel - [static-ad-concept-generator](https://github.com/Creatify-AI/static-ad-concept-generator) — 320+ proven ad concept templates