Free AI Video Toolkit

AI-Powered Short-Form Video. No Editing Required.

Create scroll-stopping Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts using Claude Code and AI. From trending research to finished videos — produce a week of content in one session.

3
Complete Workflows
12
Copy-Paste Prompts
0
Editing Skills Needed

Why This Toolkit Exists

Short-form video is the highest-reach content format on every platform right now. But most businesses don't have the time, skills, or team to produce it consistently. This toolkit gives you an AI-powered pipeline that handles the entire process — from researching what's trending to exporting finished videos ready to post.

Full Pipeline, Not Just Scripts

This isn't a prompt that writes captions. It's a complete system — topic research, scripting, AI visuals, video assembly, captions, and platform-specific optimisation.

One Session, One Week of Content

The batch workflow lets you produce 5-7 videos in a single sitting. Research once, create in bulk, post throughout the week.

Three Platforms, One Workflow

Every video outputs in the right format for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts — with platform-native captions for each.

Get All 3 Workflows + 12 Prompts

Enter your email to unlock the complete toolkit. Workflow 1 (setup) is free to preview below — the rest unlocks instantly.

No spam. Just useful AI content creation insights from Chanikul Digital.

What You'll Need

  1. 1VS Code (free)Your workspace for running Claude Code. Download from code.visualstudio.com — available for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
  2. 2Claude Code (free to install)The AI coding assistant that runs the video pipeline. Requires an Anthropic account. ~$2-5 per batch of videos.
  3. 3Node.js (free)Required for Claude Code to run. Download the LTS version from nodejs.org.
  4. 4API keys: Apify + Gemini + AnthropicApify for trend research (free tier), Gemini for AI generation (free tier), Anthropic for Claude. All under $10/month total.
Workflow 1Simple

Setup Your AI Video Toolkit

Install Claude Code, clone the project, and connect your API keys. One-time setup — about 15 minutes.

VS Code is your workspace. Claude Code is the AI that runs inside it. Both free.

1. Download VS Code from code.visualstudio.com — it auto-detects your OS.
   Run the installer and open the app.

2. Open the terminal inside VS Code:
   Mac: Cmd + `
   Windows: Ctrl + `

3. If you don't have Node.js, download it from nodejs.org (LTS version).

4. Install Claude Code:
   npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

5. Type "claude" in the terminal and press Enter.
   Follow the prompts to log in with your Anthropic account.

That's it — your AI coding assistant is ready.

This open-source project handles the entire pipeline — from trending topic research to finished video with captions.

Option A — Download as ZIP (no Git needed):
1. Go to github.com/melnikoff-oleg/social-media
2. Click the green "Code" button → "Download ZIP"
3. Unzip to a folder on your Desktop or Documents
4. In VS Code: File → Open Folder → select the social-media folder

Option B — Clone with Git:
1. Open your terminal and run:
   git clone https://github.com/melnikoff-oleg/social-media.git
2. Open the cloned folder in VS Code

The project handles: topic research, script generation,
AI visual creation, video assembly, and captioning.

You need three free or cheap API keys. Here's exactly where to find each one.

You need 3 API keys. Here's how to get each:

APIFY (for scraping trending content):
1. Go to apify.com → create a free account
2. Settings → Integrations → copy your Personal API Token
   Free tier: $5/month in credits (plenty for research)

GOOGLE GEMINI (for AI generation):
1. Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey
2. Sign in with Google → click "Create API Key" → copy it
   Generous free tier included

ANTHROPIC (for Claude):
1. Go to console.anthropic.com
2. Settings → API Keys → "Create Key" → copy it
   ~$2-5 per batch of videos

Save all three keys somewhere safe — you'll need them next.

Paste your API keys into the project config. One file, three lines — done.

1. In VS Code, find .env.example in the project root.
   Duplicate it and rename the copy to .env

2. Open .env and paste your keys:

   APIFY_API_KEY=your_apify_key_here
   GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_key_here
   ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_key_here

3. Replace each placeholder with your actual API key.
   Save the file.

4. Open the terminal in VS Code and type: claude
   Claude Code will read the project and understand how it works.

Note: Check the project README if the variable names
have been updated since this guide was written.
Workflow 2Moderate

Plan Your Content Strategy

Before you create a single video, get clear on your niche, research what's trending, and build an ideas bank. This is what separates random posts from a real content engine.

Tell Claude who you are, who you're creating for, and what makes your angle different. This shapes every video.

I'm setting up a short-form video content system.

My details:
- Business/brand: [YOUR BUSINESS or personal brand]
- Target audience: [WHO you're trying to reach]
- Industry/niche: [YOUR NICHE]
- Content goal: [e.g. build authority, drive traffic, generate leads]
- Tone: [e.g. educational, entertaining, bold, casual, professional]
- Platforms: Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts

Before we start creating, help me define:
1. My top 3 content pillars (recurring themes I'll post about)
2. My unique angle — what makes my take different from everyone else
3. The type of viewer most likely to follow and engage
4. 5 example video topics that fit my pillars

Save this as my content brief so we can reference it in every session.

Use Apify to scrape what's performing right now in your niche. Find patterns you can ride — not copy.

Use Apify to research trending short-form video content in my niche.

Scrape the top-performing Reels/TikToks related to:
- Keywords: [YOUR NICHE KEYWORDS]
- Competitors or creators: [LIST 3-5 accounts to study]

For each piece of content, pull:
- The hook (first 3 seconds — what stopped the scroll)
- Video format (talking head, faceless, text overlay, B-roll)
- Estimated engagement (likes, comments, shares if available)
- Caption strategy (length, CTA, hashtags)

Then tell me:
1. What formats are getting the most engagement right now?
2. What hooks are working? Give me the top 5 patterns.
3. What topics are oversaturated vs. underserved?
4. What's my best opportunity based on my content brief?

Generate a batch of video ideas you can produce over the next 2-4 weeks. No more staring at a blank screen.

Based on my content brief and the trending research we just did,
generate 15 short-form video ideas.

For each idea, include:
- Working title
- The hook (first line or visual that stops the scroll)
- Format: faceless / talking head / text overlay / B-roll mashup
- Estimated length: 15s / 30s / 60s
- Which content pillar it fits
- Difficulty: Easy / Medium / Hard
- Platform priority: which platform this would perform best on

Sort by a mix of trending potential and ease of production.
Flag the top 5 I should create first.

Save this as my content calendar so we can work through it.

Unlock Workflows 2–3 with your email

Workflow 3Moderate

Create & Optimise Your Videos

Generate scripts, visuals, and captions — then optimise for each platform. Produce 5-7 videos in a single session.

Claude writes a scroll-stopping script optimised for short attention spans. Hook, body, CTA — every second earns its place.

Load my content brief. I want to create a short-form video about:
[TOPIC FROM YOUR IDEAS BANK]

Write a script optimised for [15s / 30s / 60s]. Include:

1. HOOK (first 2-3 seconds):
   - Visual direction (what's on screen)
   - Opening line (must create curiosity or tension)

2. BODY (main content):
   - 3-5 key points, each one sentence max
   - Visual direction for each point
   - Pacing notes (when to cut, zoom, or transition)

3. CTA (final 2-3 seconds):
   - What you want the viewer to do
   - On-screen text suggestion

Keep the language punchy. Short sentences. No fluff.
This needs to hold attention for every single second.

Let Claude Code run the full pipeline — AI visuals, transitions, captions, and assembly into a ready-to-post video.

Using the script we just wrote, run the full video creation pipeline:

1. Generate AI visuals for each scene/point in the script
   - Style: [clean and modern / bold and punchy / cinematic / minimal]
   - Colour palette: match my brand if possible

2. Assemble the video:
   - Add visuals in sequence matching the script timing
   - Add text overlays for key points
   - Generate and burn in captions (white text, black outline)
   - Add transitions between scenes

3. Output specs:
   - Vertical format (9:16)
   - Resolution: 1080x1920
   - Duration: match the script length
   - Export as MP4

Show me a preview before the final export.
If anything looks off, I'll tell you what to adjust.

Different platforms, different caption strategies. Get copy optimised for each one — with hashtags, CTAs, and hooks.

Write captions for this video, optimised for each platform:

INSTAGRAM REELS:
- Opening hook line (this shows before "...more")
- 2-3 sentence body with value or context
- CTA (save, share, follow, link in bio)
- 20-30 relevant hashtags (mix of broad and niche)
- Suggested Reel audio/trending sound if applicable

TIKTOK:
- Shorter caption (TikTok rewards brevity)
- 1-2 sentences max
- 3-5 hashtags only
- Hook text for the video overlay

YOUTUBE SHORTS:
- Title (under 70 characters, keyword-rich)
- Description (2-3 sentences with keywords)
- 5-10 tags

Make all three versions consistent but platform-native.
Each one should feel like it belongs on that platform.

Now that the workflow is dialled in, create a full week of content in one session.

Let's batch produce. Using my content calendar,
create the next 5 videos in sequence.

For each video:
1. Write the script (hook, body, CTA)
2. Generate the visuals and assemble the video
3. Write platform-optimised captions (Reels, TikTok, Shorts)
4. Export as MP4

After each video, show me a quick preview before moving to the next.

Keep the style consistent across all 5 but vary the hooks
and formats so the feed doesn't look repetitive.

At the end, give me a posting schedule:
- Which video to post when
- Which platform gets it first
- Optimal posting times based on general best practices

Capture what worked, what to improve, and what to create next time. This is how one session compounds into a content machine.

Update my content brief with:
1. What we created today (list of videos with file names)
2. Which formats and hooks felt strongest
3. What to improve next session
4. Topics and ideas to explore next
5. Any learnings about my niche or audience

Also update my content calendar:
- Mark completed ideas as done
- Add any new ideas that came up during this session
- Flag which videos to post first

Format as a clean session summary I can reference next time.

Unlock Workflows 2–3 with your email

Make This Work for You

Hooks Win or Lose in 2 Seconds

If you don't stop the scroll in the first 2 seconds, nothing else matters. Spend more time on hooks than anything else.

Batch Create, Drip Post

Create 5-7 videos in one session, then post one per day. Consistency beats volume — the algorithm rewards regular posting.

15-30 Seconds Is the Sweet Spot

Shorter videos get higher completion rates and more replays. These are the two signals that push your content to new audiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. The project handles the full pipeline — topic research, script generation, AI visual creation, video assembly, and captioning. You review the output and post. If you want to tweak anything, Claude Code can adjust it for you.

Under $10/month for consistent production. Gemini API has a generous free tier. Anthropic's Claude API costs roughly $2–5 per batch of videos. Apify gives you $5/month in free credits. No expensive subscriptions needed.

Primarily faceless Reels with AI-generated visuals, captions, and hooks — optimised for scroll-stopping content. You can customise the style, and the system works for educational, promotional, or entertainment formats.

15–30 seconds for maximum discovery. This length maximises completion rates and replays — the two signals that push content to non-followers. The system generates scripts optimised for this sweet spot, but you can go up to 60 seconds for deeper topics.

Yes. The output format — vertical video, short duration, captions — works across all short-form platforms. The workflow includes platform-specific caption optimisation so each post feels native to its platform.

Comfortably 5–7 videos per session once you've done the initial setup. The batch production workflow (Prompt #11) is designed to help you create a full week of content in one sitting.

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