Most viewers decide whether to keep watching in the opening seconds. This template keeps the body of an ad you already own and rebuilds only the first three seconds, so you can test several hooks against each other with everything else held constant.
It suits any team running paid social with a body cut that already performs. For opening line ideas grouped by type, see our guide to best video ad hooks.
Shot-by-shot structure
| Time | Shot | On-screen text | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1s | Pattern-interrupt visual | Hook line, large type | Stop the scroll |
| 1–3s | Product or problem close-up | Hook line continues | Earn the next second |
| 3–6s | Original body begins | Unchanged | Hold attention |
| 6–11s | Original demonstration | Unchanged | Deliver value |
| 11–15s | Original end card | Unchanged | Call to action |
What to keep vs change in Clone Cut
| Keep unchanged | Change |
|---|---|
| Everything after the third second | Opening visual |
| People on screen, unchanged | Opening caption or line |
| Audio bed and pacing of the body | Optional background for the first shot |
Existing people in your reference stay unchanged. Edits are limited to products, objects, backgrounds, logos and text.
Assets you need
- Your existing ad, owned or licensed
- Three to five hook lines to test
- A product close-up for the opener
- Logo
Sample brief
Keep my licensed ad unchanged after 0:03. Rebuild only the first three seconds: open on a close-up of my mug from the attached photo with the caption “Your coffee is cold again.” Keep people unchanged. Make three versions with these alternative captions: “Still reheating?”, “Hot for six hours” and “The last mug you’ll buy.”
Adapt the product name, captions and timings to your own reference. Our UGC ad brief template explains how to describe each shot.
Compliance notes
- Hooks must match what the rest of the ad delivers; no bait-and-switch openings.
- Avoid fake urgency such as invented countdowns.
- Keep any claim in the hook provable.
Make only claims you can prove, disclose AI-generated content where the platform or law requires it, and never publish fake testimonials or endorsements.
How to use this template
Upload a reference you own or have licensed, plus your product images, logo and copy, in the video studio. Paste or adapt the sample brief, review the plan and credit quote, and confirm. Check the finished video in your Library before you publish. For the full method, see how to clone viral video ads.