Opencut Video Studio

OpenCut Video Studio

Use this skill as an optional planning bridge between the creative workflow and OpenCut as a local editing surface. OpenCut owns timeline assembly when it is available; the kit retains brief, source truth, creative direction, manifests, QA, and delivery governance.

Language Policy

Public instructions and installation guidance stay in English. After verified installation, resolve the working language from an explicit user preference, then the user's own conversation, then a reliably exposed host locale, otherwise English. Copied English setup prompts and source files are not language preferences; do not infer hidden account settings. Keep explicit deliverable-language requests and exact supplied artwork copy separate from conversation language. Do not translate or rewrite public source files to localize a session.

When To Use

Use this skill when:

• The user wants an OpenCut edit, rough cut, social cut, ad assembly, subtitle pass, VO sync, or reviewable local timeline plan.
• Several clips, images, audio files, captions, overlays, or variants need an explicit Edit Pack.
• The user needs exact instructions for manual or semi-manual timeline work.

Use HyperFrames or another coded-video route when deterministic code-driven composition is the primary requirement.

Inputs

Required:

• project_brief: objective, audience, duration, aspect ratio, and delivery target.
• asset_inventory: available clips, images, audio, captions, logos, overlays, and their source roles.
• edit_intent: pacing, narrative or proof order, platform grammar, and must-preserve moments.

Optional:

• storyboard, script, VO, subtitle data, music/SFX notes, cutdown requirements, export specs, brand locks, and prior QA.

Outputs

Produce an OpenCut Edit Pack containing:

• route decision and runtime assumptions
• asset bin and missing assets
• edit decision list and timeline map
• protected event windows
• VO, caption, music, SFX, overlay, and logo plan
• transition grammar
• variant and export matrix
• QA checklist, risks, rollback path, and delivery handoff

Use templates/opencut-edit-pack.md for the standard artifact.

Process

1. Confirm whether OpenCut is actually available and whether the work is planning, manual editing guidance, assisted editing, review, or repair.
2. Complete upstream brief, source-truth, story, storyboard, copy, and prompt work that the edit depends on.
3. Build the asset bin with identity, source role, duration, dimensions, rights notes, quality status, and intended timeline use.
4. Create an event map and edit decision list with protected windows for hooks, product reads, dialogue, captions, overlays, proof, CTA, and audio cues.
5. Define pacing, transition grammar, audio behavior, caption route, overlay rules, variants, and export targets.
6. Give exact timeline instructions without claiming unsupported project import, API, MCP, or headless automation.
7. Review exported files for pacing, continuity, sync, caption safety, brand fidelity, platform framing, and technical delivery requirements.

Decision Rules

• Prefer OpenCut for footage-first, timeline-first, human-reviewed edits with multiple media layers.
• Prefer a coded-video route for deterministic motion graphics, repeatable layouts, and programmable batch renders.
• Prefer a simple local media utility for trims, muxing, compression, or format conversion only.
• Use caption-studio when captions need detailed timing, style, safe-zone, or repair logic.
• Use creative-video-producer first when the edit is one stage in a larger video production package.
• Treat every short-form variant as a distinct edit decision, not an automatic crop or trim.

Guardrails

• Do not treat OpenCut as the workflow orchestrator or a media provider.
• Do not assume OpenCut exposes a stable API, MCP server, headless mode, or portable project-file import/export.
• Do not install dependencies, start services, open GUI applications, upload files, or publish without explicit user instruction.
• Do not delete or overwrite source footage, client assets, references, manifests, or accepted finals.
• Do not mark third-party music, SFX, stock footage, fonts, or logos as cleared without source and rights evidence.
• Exclude failed, rejected, temporary, and superseded files from final delivery.

Handoff

Review gate: execution_manifest_fit before editing and post_execution_fit after export.

Hand off with:

• runtime_status
• asset_bin
• missing_assets
• edit_decision_list
• timeline_map
• protected_windows
• caption_audio_overlay_plan
• transition_grammar
• variant_matrix
• export_targets
• qa_results
• rollback_path
• delivery_status
• next_role

QA Checklist

• The edit pack distinguishes source assets, generated assets, derived files, and final exports.
• Timing, order, captions, VO, music, SFX, overlays, and CTA agree with the approved route.
• Protected windows preserve critical hooks, proof, dialogue, branding, and product visibility.
• Variants retain their intended message and platform-safe framing.
• Runtime assumptions are explicit and no unsupported automation is claimed.
• Export status and QA evidence are visible before delivery.