Video Caption & On-Screen Hook Writer (v2)

On-screen text is the #1 visual element in short-form video. It does the PRIMARY work of stopping a scroll. A viewer sees the text and decides in <1 second whether to stop. This skill creates the text that makes them stop.

Previous version: SKILL_v1_archive.md (basic Triple Word Score, retired Feb 2026)

The Complementarity Principle

The central insight: On-screen text should NOT label or repeat the audio. It should ADD context that makes the audio land harder. The gap between what you read and what you hear creates curiosity.

This works exactly like title + thumbnail on YouTube: together they create a fuller picture than either alone. Andrew Muto: "You read the title, and then the thumbnail is offering you a little extra."

Bad (labeling): On-screen says "Kids know." → Audio is about teacher dissatisfaction. Vague label, no gap.

Good (complementary): On-screen says "A kindergartner can tell" → Audio reveals that 55% of teachers want to quit, and every morning a five-year-old walks into a classroom and senses it. The childlike framing + the adult data = productive tension.

The 6 Complementarity Patterns