What Is a Video Brief?
Last updated 27 October 2026.
A video brief is a short document that tells an editor or production team the purpose of a video, its intended audience, the key messages and where it will be published. Together with the footage and the script, it is the main input to a project.
A good brief fits on a single page. It identifies the audience, the single action you want them to take, the length, the format for each channel and any brand rules the editor has to follow.
What should a video brief include?
Start with the goal and the audience, then list the must-have messages in order of priority. Add the deadline, the length, the aspect ratio for each channel and links to two or three example videos you like.
If the video has a script, attach it to the brief, because editors work fastest when the words are settled before they start cutting.
How Shootsta handles it
Shootsta clients tell us what they want the video to do and write the script, or book scripting as a creative service. Every plan comes with dedicated account support, so you have one contact to ask when a brief needs a second look.