Clipping

Deliver a small set of self-contained moments with clear value. Do not lower the editorial bar to fill a requested count.

Cover the complete source

Honor the audience, platform, count, duration, language, and format when supplied. Otherwise infer the likely goal from the content without automatically adding captions, B-roll, music, graphics, or reframing.

Review the entire source chronologically before final selection. Use a time-aligned transcript for speech-led material, a motion-and-sound pass for visual material, or both. For long sources, keep a coverage ledger across overlapping windows so no span is skipped or judged twice.

Record promising passages with their original timeline range, central idea, opening, payoff, context dependency, speaker or action, and any picture or sound question. Compare all candidates only after coverage is complete.

Select moments that survive alone

Prefer a strong claim, unexpected fact, useful mechanism, personal admission, transformation, prediction, conflict, perspective shift, memorable detail, natural viewer question, genuine emotion, humor, or visible proof.

A final moment should establish its subject quickly, develop one idea, resolve naturally, preserve the speaker's meaning, and have usable picture and sound. Reject passages that require hidden context, repeat a stronger candidate, wander without payoff, or become misleading when shortened.

Choose variety across a set. When two passages make the same point, retain the version with the cleanest wording, delivery, boundaries, and media.