Flash Video

Flash Video

Generates 7-second MP4s for TikTok and Instagram Reels. PIL text on a Kie.ai background image → ffmpeg → MP4 with 1s fade to black.

Design system

• Canvas: 1080x1920 (9:16 vertical)
• Backgrounds: ~/.claude/skills/flash-video/backgrounds/cream.png or dark.png
• Accent: terra cotta #C4713A on key words and skill names
• CTA always shows: "Join my Skool community:" → skool.com/the-ai-agency → "Link in bio"
• Handle: @tylerai_dev bottom-right
• Duration: 7 seconds, 1s fade to black at end

Layout types

Background styles

Reuse backgrounds across the week. Regenerate via:

python3 ~/.claude/skills/flash-video/gen_backgrounds.py cream dark

Step 1: Gather inputs

Ask the user for:

• Topic / content — what the video says
• Layout — statement or list
• Background — dark (default) or cream

If not provided, default to dark + statement.

Step 2: Generate content JSON

Statement layout

{
  "type": "statement",
  "background": "dark",
  "slug": "my-video",
  "lines": [
    "I automated my ENTIRE",
    "content system",
    "with Claude Code.",
    "",
    "YouTube research.",
    "Instagram carousels.",
    "LinkedIn posts.",
    "",
    "All in under 5 minutes.",
    "Every single week."
  ],
  "accent_words": ["ENTIRE", "Claude", "Code", "5"],
  "cta": "skool.com/the-ai-agency",
  "handle": "@tylerai_dev"
}

Statement rules:

• 8-12 lines total including blank spacer lines ("")
• Group related lines together with blank lines between sections
• 1-2 accent words per section
• Last section = punchy payoff line

List layout

{
  "type": "list",
  "background": "dark",
  "slug": "my-video",
  "header": "5 Claude Code skills",
  "subheader": "I use every single week:",
  "items": [
    "/yt-search — YouTube research",
    "/instagram-writer — 6 slides",
    "/yt-shorts — 5 short scripts",
    "/social-copy — LinkedIn, X, IG posts",
    "/yt-package — full video + script"
  ],
  "stat": "Saves me 3+ hours. Every single week.",
  "accent_words": ["yt-search", "instagram-writer", "shorts", "content", "yt", "3+"],
  "cta": "skool.com/the-ai-agency",
  "handle": "@tylerai_dev"
}

List rules:

• Header: short, bold (3-5 words)
• Subheader: one supporting line
• Items: 4-6, keep each under ~30 chars so they don't wrap
• Stat: one punchy payoff line after the list, with 1-2 accent words
• accent_words: include the skill/command names (without /) so they highlight in terra cotta

Step 3: Save JSON and render

1. Create a 2-3 word slug.

2. Save JSON to ~/content/platform/flash-video/<slug>-<layout>-<bg>.json

3. Run renderer:

python3 ~/.claude/skills/flash-video/flash_video.py \
  ~/content/platform/flash-video/<slug>-<layout>-<bg>.json \
  ~/content/platform/flash-video/

Output:

• <slug>-<layout>-<bg>-frame.png — the static frame
• <slug>-<layout>-<bg>.mp4 — 7-second MP4, ready to post

Step 4: Present results

Show the frame PNG so the user can review it, then confirm the MP4 path.

Ask if they want:

• The other background style (cream vs dark)
• Both layout types
• Any text tweaks

Blotato scheduling reminder

When scheduling flash videos via Blotato for TikTok or Instagram Reels, always remind the user:

Add music in Blotato before confirming the schedule. Flash videos have no audio - TikTok and Instagram heavily favor videos with music. Set autoAddMusic: true in the Blotato post params, or remind the user to manually select a trending audio track in the Blotato draft before it goes live.

Step 5: Update status.md

After rendering (and again after scheduling), update ~/content/platform/flash-video/status.md:

Fill in scheduled times when posting via Blotato. Mark Posted when confirmed live.

X/Twitter Cover Slide Scheduling

After generating flash videos for the week, schedule the cover slide (slide_1.png from ~/content/platform/carousels/<carouselId>/) on X as a standalone image post with a Skool reply thread.

Timing

• 9 PM EDT = 01:00 UTC the next calendar day
• e.g. Apr 23 9PM EDT → scheduledTime: "2026-04-24T01:00:00.000Z"

Upload pattern — presigned URL fields

The Blotato presigned URL response returns presignedUrl (for PUT upload) and publicUrl (for post mediaUrls). Do NOT use url, signedUrl, or uploadUrl — those fields don't exist and return None.

r = mcp_call(session_id, "tools/call", {
    "name": "blotato_create_presigned_upload_url",
    "arguments": {"filename": "flash_cover_<carouselId>.png"}
})
data = json.loads(r["result"]["content"][0]["text"])
presigned_url = data["presignedUrl"]  # PUT upload target
public_url    = data["publicUrl"]     # use in mediaUrls

Critical: Never copy presigned URLs through bash heredocs or JSON strings — the base64url token gets corrupted. Always fetch and upload in the same Python session.

Post structure

{
    "accountId": "<your-x-account-id>",
    "platform": "twitter",
    "text": "<X-native caption — no hashtags, under 230 chars, punchy>",
    "mediaUrls": [public_url],
    "scheduledTime": "2026-04-24T01:00:00.000Z",
    "additionalPosts": [
        {"text": "join us at skool.com/the-ai-agency — free templates and full community 👇", "mediaUrls": []}
    ]
}

TikTok scheduling

Always set autoAddMusic: true when scheduling flash videos on TikTok — no audio by default.

Reference script: /tmp/schedule_x_flash.py

Weekly usage pattern

Generate 1-2 backgrounds per week (reuse them). Create 7 flash videos — one per day — varying between statement and list layouts, all pointing to Skool.

Content angles for Claude Code / social media:

• What each skill does in one sentence
• Time saved stats ($928/mo saved, 20+ hrs → 2 hrs)
• Before/after (manual vs automated)
• "Did you know Claude Code can..."
• Weekly output numbers (32 pieces, one content day)
• Direct sell ("What $37/mo in my Skool gets you")