Reaction First
Best for: Reactions, results, surprises
The hook
- Do
- Open on a big reaction before you show what caused it.
- On screen
- My face when I checked my views
The first 3 seconds
- 0.0sYour face with a big, real reaction.
- 0.5sCaption: “My face when I checked my views”.
- 1.0sCut to what caused it.
- 3.0sThe viewer wants the full story and your verdict.
Why it works
Faces are the fastest thing the brain reads. A strong emotion makes people need to see the cause.
What you need
- Something that causes a real reaction: results, a surprise, a reveal
- Your phone filming you as you see it for the first time
- Good light on your face
Step by step
Plan
- Set it up so you see the thing for the first time on camera: opening results, tasting, a reveal.
- Plan where you'll come back to your face for the verdict at the end.
Film
- Put the phone on a stand facing you before you look. Don't look until it's recording.
- React for real. A small, honest reaction beats a big fake one.
- Film the cause separately afterwards if you need to: the screen, the dish, the gift.
Edit
- Put the strongest half-second of your reaction at 0:00.
- Cut to the cause, then back to your face for the verdict.
Use it in your niche
- ExamsA shocked face, then the grade: “My face when I opened my results”
- FoodA disgusted face, then the dish: “I tried the most hated pizza topping”
- GamingA scream, then the clip: “I finally beat the boss on hard mode”
Pro tips
- Get closer than feels normal. A face that fills more of the frame reads faster.
- A real gasp or laugh makes people turn the sound on.
Avoid
- Over-acting. People spot fake reactions and scroll.
- Showing the cause first. The reaction has to come before the reason.
