# Hyperframes Video Beats > Plan, write, time, style, and validate motion-graphic beats for long-form talking-head HyperFrames videos. Use when Codex is asked to add or improve visual beats, glassmorphism lower thirds, crumpled-paper full-screen takeovers, transcript-synced callouts, pacing coverage, YouTube retention graphics, or render-ready overlays in an existing HyperFrames video project. - Skill: `nateherkai/hyperframes-video-beats` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add nateherkai/hyperframes-video-beats` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/nateherkai/hyperframes-video-beats/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: nateherkai (https://skillmd.com/u/nateherkai) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/nateherkai/hyperframes-video-beats --- # HyperFrames Video Beats Use this skill to turn a talking-head video plus transcript into a paced set of motion graphics that support the narration without covering the speaker unnecessarily. ## Core Goal Keep the viewer oriented and engaged. Every beat must answer one of these: - What should the viewer remember? - What concept needs visual structure? - What stat, contrast, or pivot deserves emphasis? - Where is the pacing getting quiet enough that the viewer may drift? Do not add graphics just because a gap exists. Add graphics because the narration has a topic, transition, proof point, or mental model that benefits from visual support. ## First Pass 1. Read project instructions (`AGENTS.md`, local skill docs, and project-specific notes). 2. Inspect the root composition, current beat schedule, shared CSS, and transcript. 3. Build a coverage map from the root `data-start` / `data-duration` entries or the master `SHOW` array. 4. Extract transcript chunks for any requested region and any uncovered gaps. 5. Identify topic spans by narration, not by arbitrary timestamps. 6. Decide whether each topic needs a full-screen paper beat, a lower-third glass card, or no new beat. Use fast local commands. Prefer `rg`, `Select-String`, and small Node/PowerShell transcript scripts. ## Beat Type Decision ### Use Full-Screen Crumpled Paper Use a paper takeover when the narration reaches a major thesis, list, section marker, quote, or stat that should briefly become the whole frame. Good uses: - Hook payoff or "in this video" overview - Major section transition - Big stat or study result - Memorable thesis line - Short quote or mantra - Contrast that needs the audience to stop and look Rules: - Keep it short, usually 4-12 seconds. - Use sparse black text. - Let only true stat numbers or one extremely important word use accent color. - Do not cover long explanations with paper takeovers. - Do not make full-screen text playful, huge, or over-bold by default. ### Use Glassmorphism Lower Third Use a glass lower-third when the speaker should remain visible and the graphic should support the current idea. Good uses: - Explanation scaffolds - Topic labels - Equation-style mental models - Small lists - "What this means" translations - Pacing fills during long talking-head stretches - Follow-up cards after a shortened full-screen or split-screen beat Rules: - Keep lower thirds in the lower third or lower half. - Avoid covering the face. - Use concise text: one headline plus optional short subline, or a 2-4 item list. - Prefer one card per topic span over many tiny flashes. - Preserve the existing glass-card style unless the user asks for a design change. ## Pacing Heuristics For long-form YouTube talking-head videos: - Early video: avoid more than 20-30 seconds without a visual beat. - Main body: avoid more than 30-45 seconds without a beat. - Dense explanation sections: use lower thirds roughly every topic span, not every sentence. - Big paper takeovers should be occasional punctuation, not the default. - If an existing beat was manually shortened because it felt too long, respect that choice and fill after it with a new shorter card. When scanning a schedule, report true gaps from the visibility schedule, not just the DOM order. If the root timeline uses a `SHOW` array, that is usually the authoritative visible range. ## Timing Method Time every beat to the transcript topic: 1. Find the first word or phrase where the topic starts. 2. Start the beat 0.2-0.6 seconds before that anchor when possible. 3. Keep the beat visible until the topic ends or naturally hands off. 4. If the next beat begins immediately, clear 0.1-0.5 seconds before it unless the handoff is intentional. 5. Match sub-element entrances to spoken phrases. Avoid this failure mode: - Card appears on the right topic but only lasts 5-8 seconds while the speaker keeps discussing the topic for 20-40 seconds. Prefer: - One card lives across the whole topic, with a subline or list item building midway through if the narration evolves. ## Content Writing Write for glance comprehension. The viewer should understand the card in under one second. Use: - Short noun phrases - Direct labels - One mental model per card - Numbers only when they are meaningful - Verbs when they clarify the action Avoid: - Repeating the whole voiceover - Long sentences - Vague hype language - Too many highlighted words - Explaining how to use the video inside the graphic Good patterns: ```text The bottleneck Not enough AI inside real workflows. The problem is adoption, not raw talent. ``` ```text The bridge Skills + Workflows = 40 hrs saved ``` ```text In this video -> The study -> The stats -> The paths you can take -> What actually matters ``` ## Visual Style Rules Follow the local design system first. For this project family, use: - Serious professional typography. - Black primary text on paper beats. - Accent blue only for major stat numbers or rare power words. - Glass cards with the existing dark frosted style. - Lower-third cards that do not cover the speaker's face. For paper beats: - Use black for kickers, labels, arrows, sources, quotes, and supporting text. - Keep font weight restrained. - Avoid oversized playful type unless the user explicitly asks for it. - Make the crumpled-paper motion deterministic. For glass cards: - Reuse `.glass-card dim lower-third` or the closest existing class. - Prefer bottom-center placement. - Keep cards compact. - Use equation/list helpers when the idea is structural. ## HyperFrames Implementation Rules Follow project `AGENTS.md` and HyperFrames lint rules: - Every mounted timed element needs `data-start`, `data-duration`, and `data-track-index`. - Visible timed root-mounted elements should have the expected clip/layer class used by the project. - Sub-compositions should register a paused GSAP timeline on `window.__timelines`. - Pin each sub-composition timeline with `tl.set({}, {}, SLOT);`. - Keep deterministic logic only. - Do not animate video element dimensions or media properties in ways that can freeze renders. - Run `npx hyperframes lint` after editing HTML. When adding a beat: 1. Create `compositions/beats/NNN-short-name.html`. 2. Add the root mount in `index.html`. 3. Add or update the master visibility schedule if one exists. 4. Make the sub-composition `SLOT` match the mounted duration. 5. Verify no same-track overlaps unless the project intentionally uses multiple overlay tracks. ## Coverage Scan After edits, scan the master schedule: - List beats sorted by visible start. - Print gaps over the target threshold. - Add or retime beats only where the transcript has a supportable concept. For this project pattern, use 30 seconds as the strict scan threshold and 45 seconds as the maximum acceptable main-body threshold. ## Validation Before finishing: 1. Run the HyperFrames linter. 2. Fix all errors. 3. Mention warnings separately if they are known and non-blocking. 4. If the user asked for render-ready output, render or smoke-render as appropriate. 5. Give the user exact file paths and timestamps changed. ## Practical Defaults Use these defaults unless project context says otherwise: - Full-screen paper overview: 8-10 seconds. - Full-screen paper stat: 5-8 seconds. - Glass lower-third explanation: 12-30 seconds. - Long topic glass card: 25-45 seconds with staggered sub-elements. - Beat start lead-in: 0.2-0.6 seconds. - Gap scan threshold: 30 seconds. - Lower-third width: about 68-72vw, max about 1240-1280px. ## What To Preserve Preserve user taste decisions discovered during review: - If the user says a beat is too long, do not restore it just to satisfy a generic coverage rule. - If glass card style is approved, reuse it instead of redesigning it. - If typography is approved, keep it stable and adjust only local sizing/weight. - If the speaker's face is important, prefer lower-third cards over center-screen cards.