One Shoot, Two Platform-Ready Shorts
The capstone project for Video Editing for Social Media — a free Creative course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 6 steps
- Pass mark 65%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
A single shared document link (Google Doc, Word or Notion, set to 'anyone with the link can view') containing: a note on the source footage used, links to BOTH exported shorts (each for a different platform, with captions and correct aspect ratio), the track/source used for music on each, and a 150-250 word retention note explaining your hook, your dead-air cuts, the platform differences, and one improvement.
What to do, step by step
- Get one piece of raw footage to work with — film something simple on your phone (a 1-3 minute talking-head tip, a mini product demo, an event moment) OR download one free clip from Pexels/Pixabay. Note which footage you used and why it has at least one good 'hookable' moment.
- Cut that SAME footage into TWO different shorts for TWO different platforms (for example one 9:16 TikTok/Reel and one for YouTube Shorts or a 1:1/4:5 feed post). Each short must use the correct aspect ratio for its platform, open with a 3-second hook (use the cold-open trick from Lesson 1 if it helps), cut out the dead air, and run no longer than about 60 seconds.
- Add accurate, well-timed captions to BOTH shorts (auto-caption then proofread — fix any mangled names or numbers), style them for silent viewing, and keep all captions, text and faces inside the safe zone so the platform buttons never cover them.
- Add at least one extra craft element to each short — for example a beat-matched cut, a b-roll cutaway, a punch-in zoom, a subtle sound effect, or a clean text label — and use only copyright-safe or in-app-licensed music (state which track and source you used and why it is safe for that platform).
- Export both shorts as 1080p MP4, preview them on an actual phone to catch cut-off captions or wrong crops, then upload/post them so you can share working links.
- Write a short retention note (about 150-250 words) explaining your choices: what your hook is and why it grabs in 3 seconds, where you cut dead air, how the two versions differ for their two platforms, and one thing you would improve. Put both video links plus the note in ONE shared document and submit that document's link.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Two distinct shorts cut from the SAME footage, each in the correct aspect ratio for a different platform and trimmed tight (dead air removed, under ~60s) | 30% |
| A genuine 3-second hook on each short that gives the viewer a clear reason to keep watching (cold open, bold promise, or open question) | 25% |
| Accurate, well-timed, readable captions on both, with all text/faces inside the safe zone for silent, small-screen viewing | 20% |
| At least one extra craft element per short (beat cut, b-roll, punch-in, sound effect, or text label) and only copyright-safe/in-app-licensed music, correctly identified | 15% |
| A clear 150-250 word retention note explaining the hook, dead-air cuts, platform differences and one improvement, with both working links in one tidy shared document | 10% |
You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish Video Editing for Social Media before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Video Editing for Social Media is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
Video Editing for Social Media is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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