# Socialseal Reference Video Analysis > Use this skill when the user asks to find real social examples, benchmark videos, successful-looking references, "what good looks like", or Video DNA for a topic, brief, or planned video. Find exemplars that actually surface for tracked searches, preview candidates, and optionally extract hooks, structure, shots, language, pacing, and production qualities before any blueprint, brief, or externally edited rough cut. - Skill: `opensealai/socialseal-reference-video-analysis` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 6 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add opensealai/socialseal-reference-video-analysis` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/opensealai/socialseal-reference-video-analysis/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - License: MIT - Author: OpenSealAI (https://skillmd.com/u/opensealai) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/opensealai/socialseal-reference-video-analysis --- # SocialSeal Reference Video Analysis ## Overview SocialSeal does not start content from a blank prompt. It lifts patterns from real videos that already surface for the brand's tracked searches. This skill is the evidence stage: identify the right reference videos for an opportunity, and analyze them into Video DNA you can ground a blueprint on. Do not hand-invent "what good looks like." Pull exemplars from SocialSeal and read their actual analysis. See `references/production-pipeline.md` for the full pipeline and `references/mcp-and-cli-usage.md` for the call patterns. Read `references/creative-production-gates.md` for production-bound work. The benchmark gate should let the user see representative candidates and choose the creative direction before expensive analysis or large-scale production. ## When to Use - Selecting exemplar videos for a blueprint scope (topic, competitor, tracking group, list, or manual). - Exploring candidates with a semantic `retrievalPrompt` before committing. - Extracting Video DNA for one or more specific videos or public URLs. - Clustering reference videos to see repeated mechanisms. Hand off the selected, analyzed exemplars to `socialseal-blueprint-builder`. ## Inputs Required: - workspace id (or a configured default) - an opportunity definition and its `opportunityKey` - a scope: `topic` + `pillarId`, `competitor` + `competitorBrandIds`, `tracking_group` + `trackingGroupId`, `list` + `listId`, or `manual` + `videoUids` Good to have: - a `retrievalPrompt` describing the content you want exemplars of (topic/competitor/tracking_group scopes only) - `platformIds`, `region`, `language`, `timePeriod` (e.g. `30d`) - `pinnedVideoUids`, `excludedVideoUids`, `promotedCandidateTarget` ## Workflow 1. **Confirm scope and workspace.** Identify the opportunity and reuse its `opportunityKey`. 2. **Preview candidates.** Call `vnext-blueprints-generate` with `previewOnly: true`. Inspect the candidate and promoted-exemplar lists: each carries a score, matched keywords, sources, and metrics. Do not generate yet. 3. **Offer analysis depth.** Present representative candidates and let the user choose: - metadata/preview only (fastest; weakest visual claims) - focused DNA on roughly 3-5 exemplars (default for a single deliverable) - fuller DNA on roughly 8-12 exemplars (broader pattern confidence) Inspect the live schema/preflight and state likely time/credit trade-offs before a credit-consuming run. 4. **Refine selection.** Pin must-include exemplars (`pinnedVideoUids`), drop off-scope or off-market ones (`excludedVideoUids`), and set `promotedCandidateTarget` for how many exemplars to promote. For semantic exploration, set `retrievalPrompt`. 5. **Analyze Video DNA.** For the approved promoted exemplars, call `tracked-video-extract` with `ensureAnalysis: true` to resolve hook, content style, video structure, specific attributes, production qualities, transcript/audio/visual analysis, and signed frame/asset URLs. For a one-off public video, use `extract-url` with `allowUntracked: true`. 6. **Cluster if needed.** Use `vnext-cluster-videos` to group exemplars into repeated mechanisms when the set is large. 7. **Record evidence.** For every exemplar capture the human-readable citation (video title/URL, `@author_handle`, and the `"keyword" [market, platform]` it surfaced for) plus the analyzed DNA. Keep `video_uid` (and `search_result_id` where it came from a ranked row) as an internal traceability note for tool calls and blueprint joins. Remember exemplars are anecdotal creative evidence, not proof a mechanism will perform; see `references/evidence-and-confidence.md`. ## Tool Calls (MCP-first) Preview exemplars for a tracking-group scope: ```text socialseal_call_tool { "function": "vnext-blueprints-generate", "workspaceId": "", "body": { "workspaceId": "", "opportunityKey": "", "scopeType": "tracking_group", "trackingGroupId": , "timePeriod": "30d", "promotedCandidateTarget": 12, "previewOnly": true } } ``` Semantic exploration with a prompt (topic scope): ```text socialseal_call_tool { "function": "vnext-blueprints-generate", "workspaceId": "", "body": { "workspaceId": "", "opportunityKey": "", "scopeType": "topic", "pillarId": "", "retrievalPrompt": "first-timer walkthroughs that answer cost and timing", "previewOnly": true } } ``` Extract Video DNA for promoted exemplars: ```text socialseal_call_tool { "function": "tracked-video-extract", "workspaceId": "", "body": { "ensureAnalysis": true, "includeAssets": true, "items": [{ "videoUid": "" }] } } ``` Poll analysis status: ```text socialseal_get_tool_status { "id": "", "kind": "video_analysis", "includeResults": true } ``` CLI equivalents: ```bash npx -y @socialseal/cli tools call --function vnext-blueprints-generate --workspace-id --body @preview.json --pretty npx -y @socialseal/cli video extract --video-uid --ensure-analysis --wait --out-dir ./video-assets --workspace-id npx -y @socialseal/cli video extract --url --allow-untracked --wait --workspace-id ``` ## Output - a list of selected exemplars cited by video title/URL, `@handle`, and the `"keyword" [market, platform]` (with `video_uid`/`search_result_id` kept as a traceability note), plus score and source - Video DNA per exemplar: hook, first frame, structure, hero/supporting shots, useful details or mood cues, production qualities, caption/CTA style, account type - format and lens labels (aspirational vs utility/practical) with the evidence behind each - a note on which exemplars are analyzed vs metadata-only - approved benchmark direction and analysis-depth choice ## Do / Don't Do: - preview before generating; refine with pins and exclusions - get the user's benchmark/analysis-depth choice before credit-heavy DNA work - inspect actual analysis/frames before claiming a visual or format pattern - cite exemplars by title/URL and `@handle`; keep `video_uid`/`search_result_id` as a traceability note for the blueprint - separate owned, creator, media, affiliate, and competitor exemplars Don't: - hand-pick "good examples" from outside SocialSeal when scoped exemplars exist - infer a pattern from a single example, or present an exemplar as proof a hook will work - make platform-age claims when `published_at` is blank (see `references/socialseal-data-contract.md`) - copy hooks verbatim; capture the mechanism ## Troubleshooting - Preview returns `missing_data`: the scope has no qualifying evidence. Widen the keyword/scope, change `timePeriod`, or pick a different scope before generating. - Exemplars lack analysis: `tracked-video-extract` with `ensureAnalysis: true`, then poll `video_analysis` status. - `retrievalPrompt` rejected: it is not allowed for `manual` or `list` scope; use a topic/competitor/tracking_group scope. - Too many viral outliers: lower `promotedCandidateTarget` and pin representative exemplars instead. ## Verification Checklist - [ ] Scope and `opportunityKey` are confirmed and reused. - [ ] Exemplars were previewed and refined, not blindly generated. - [ ] Each exemplar has a `video_uid` and source recorded. - [ ] Video DNA is from real analysis or labeled metadata-only. - [ ] Output is ready to ground `socialseal-blueprint-builder`.