video_testimonials v1.0.0

name: "video_testimonials" description: "Plan, shoot, and edit customer testimonial videos end to end: pick the right customers, prep interview questions that pull real answers, run the shoot (on-location or remote self-record), capture B-roll that proves the story, and cut a 60-120 second authentic cut with clean audio and captions."

Video Testimonials

Purpose

Produce customer testimonial videos that read as honest stories, not sales pitches. The skill covers the full arc: subject selection, permission, interview design, shoot setup, B-roll planning, and the edit. Works for a two-person crew on location or a customer filming themselves remotely.

Workflow

1. Decide the conversion goal first. Know what the video should make the viewer do (book a call, sign up, share). The goal shapes the questions, the length, and the call to action.
2. Pick the subject. Choose a customer who speaks naturally, has a clear before-and-after story, and represents the target audience. Existing advocates beat reluctant volunteers. Never ask for a testimonial while a service problem is unresolved.
3. Get permission in writing. Before setup, state where the video will be used, whether paid ads are included, and how the customer will be identified. Save a signed release next to the footage. assets/testimonial_release.md is a starting template; adapt it, don't treat it as legal advice.
4. Design the interview. See references/question_bank.md. Build the arc: problem, process, outcome. Send the customer the topics in advance so they can think, but discourage memorizing answers. Instruct them to fold the question into the answer so each response stands alone in the edit (example: "When we started our business, we were struggling to get new clients").
5. Set up the shoot. See references/shoot_checklist.md. Audio decides whether the video looks professional; prioritize it over camera quality. Put nervous subjects at ease: brief them on the questions, tell them only short sections will be used, let them talk to the interviewer off-camera instead of staring into the lens, and let them restart any answer without penalty.
6. Plan B-roll as evidence. Capture the product in action or the details that prove the claims in the interview (wide for context, medium for action, close-up for detail). Custom footage beats stock. If vertical cuts will be needed, frame with that in mind at shoot time.
7. Edit the cut. See references/edit_recipe.md. Target 60-120 seconds. Open with the strongest moment, build problem to solution to results, close with a recommendation and a call to action. Keep natural pauses, trim filler, add captions for accessibility, loudness-master the dialog, and let the customer review the cut for factual mistakes before it ships.

Output Contract

• Delivered video: 60-120 seconds, dialog at -16 LUFS integrated / -1.5 dBTP true peak, captions (burned in or sidecar) meeting the readability rules in references/edit_recipe.md.
• Supporting files kept with the footage: signed release, approved question list, shot list, edit notes with the timestamps of selected moments.
• The customer signs off on the final cut before publication.

Operating Rules

1. Authenticity is the product. No scripts, no fed lines, no pressure. Open-ended questions only; never lead a witness with "wouldn't you say our service was excellent?"
2. Never invent numbers, dates, quotes, or results for the customer. If a claim can't be verified from the interview or the business's records, cut it or label it clearly as the customer's opinion.
3. No distracting music, no overlaid logos on faces, no heavy color work that hides who the person is. The production should disappear behind the story.
4. If a customer is uncomfortable, stop. One honest, nervous 30-second clip beats a polished performance that viewers can tell was coerced.
5. Keep every promised use inside the release. A testimonial licensed for the website does not get run as a paid ad without a fresh agreement.