{
"timeline": {
"background": "#FFFFFF",
"tracks": [
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "rich-text",
"text": "{{STATUS}}",
"font": {
"family": "Montserrat SemiBold",
"size": 31,
"weight": 600,
"color": "{{ SHAPE_COLOR }}",
"opacity": 1
},
"style": {
"letterSpacing": 0,
"wordSpacing": 0,
"lineHeight": 1,
"textTransform": "none",
"textDecoration": "none"
},
"align": {
"horizontal": "center",
"vertical": "middle"
}
},
"start": 0.2,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": 0.21,
"y": 0.221
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "fade"
},
"width": 100,
"height": 60
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "svg",
"src": "<svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\"><rect width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"{{ SHAPE_COLOR }}\"/></svg>"
},
"start": 0.2,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": 0.184,
"y": 0.221
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "fade"
},
"width": 20,
"height": 20
},
{
"asset": {
"type": "luma",
"src": "https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/3c12be39-240c-4061-a84f-ceaffdf24040/source.png"
},
"start": 0.2,
"length": 19.8
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "rich-text",
"text": "{{HEADLINE}}",
"font": {
"family": "Montserrat ExtraBold",
"size": 50,
"weight": 800,
"color": "{{ FONT_COLOR_2 }}",
"opacity": 1
},
"style": {
"letterSpacing": 0,
"wordSpacing": 0,
"lineHeight": 1,
"textTransform": "none",
"textDecoration": "none"
},
"align": {
"horizontal": "left",
"vertical": "middle"
},
"animation": {
"preset": "fadeIn",
"style": "word"
}
},
"start": 0.6,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": -0.084,
"y": -0.357
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideRight"
},
"width": 1500,
"height": 200
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "rich-text",
"text": "{{NEWS_SLUG}}",
"font": {
"family": "Montserrat ExtraBold",
"size": 40,
"weight": 800,
"color": "{{ FONT_COLOR_1 }}",
"opacity": 1
},
"style": {
"letterSpacing": 0,
"wordSpacing": 0,
"lineHeight": 1,
"textTransform": "none",
"textDecoration": "none"
},
"align": {
"horizontal": "center",
"vertical": "middle"
}
},
"start": 0.4,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": -0.346,
"y": -0.194
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideRight"
},
"width": 450,
"height": 70
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"length": "end",
"asset": {
"type": "video",
"src": "{{ VIDEO_PRESENTER }}"
},
"start": 0.2,
"scale": 1,
"offset": {
"x": 0.2962690170020388,
"y": 0.015299562509994119
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideLeft"
},
"fit": "contain",
"width": 519,
"height": 521
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "svg",
"src": "<svg viewBox=\"0 0 568 570\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\"><rect width=\"568\" height=\"570\" fill=\"{{ FONT_COLOR_2 }}\"/></svg>"
},
"start": 0.2,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": 0.296,
"y": 0.015
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideLeft"
},
"width": 568,
"height": 570
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "svg",
"src": "<svg viewBox=\"0 0 600 400\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\"><rect width=\"600\" height=\"400\" fill=\"#ffffff\"/></svg>"
},
"start": 0.2,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": -0.353,
"y": -0.194
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideRight"
},
"width": 600,
"height": 400
},
{
"asset": {
"type": "luma",
"src": "https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/43608213-7189-4c48-8522-f4970111a4bc/source.mp4"
},
"start": 0.2,
"length": 19.8
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "svg",
"src": "<svg viewBox=\"0 0 1000 600\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\"><rect width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" fill=\"#ffffff\"/></svg>"
},
"start": 0.6,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": 0.26,
"y": -0.527
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideLeft"
},
"width": 1000,
"height": 600
},
{
"asset": {
"type": "luma",
"src": "https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/decc5bd0-5f43-4a6b-8b81-75ea093d7da6/source.mp4"
},
"start": 0.6,
"length": 19.4
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "svg",
"src": "<svg viewBox=\"0 0 1580 190\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\"><rect width=\"1580\" height=\"190\" fill=\"#0000c1\"/></svg>"
},
"start": 0.4,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": -0.089,
"y": -0.352
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideRight"
},
"width": 1580,
"height": 190
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"asset": {
"type": "svg",
"src": "<svg viewBox=\"0 0 2000 300\" xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\"><rect width=\"2000\" height=\"300\" fill=\"{{ SHAPE_COLOR }}\"/></svg>"
},
"start": 0,
"length": "end",
"offset": {
"x": 0,
"y": -0.361
},
"position": "center",
"transition": {
"in": "slideRight"
},
"width": 2000,
"height": 300
}
]
},
{
"clips": [
{
"length": 20,
"asset": {
"type": "video",
"src": "{{ VIDEO }}"
},
"start": 0,
"fit": "contain",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1108,
"offset": {
"x": 0,
"y": 0.012995461506685574
}
}
]
}
]
},
"output": {
"format": "mp4",
"fps": 25,
"size": {
"width": 1920,
"height": 1080
},
"destinations": [
{
"provider": "shotstack"
}
]
},
"merge": [
{
"find": "HEADLINE",
"replace": "ECONOMY ADJUSTS AS NEW DOLLAR RATE SHIFTS, IMPACTING TRADE, PRICES, AND MARKET STABILITY"
},
{
"find": "NEWS_SLUG",
"replace": "TOP STORY"
},
{
"find": "STATUS",
"replace": "LIVE"
},
{
"find": "VIDEO_PRESENTER",
"replace": "https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/246a7e79-4bed-48d3-a63e-2138b30f2da4/source.mp4"
},
{
"find": "VIDEO",
"replace": "https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/45924650-4fda-4f83-a05c-6ece1f53b88e/source.mp4"
},
{
"find": "FONT_COLOR_1",
"replace": "#000000"
},
{
"find": "FONT_COLOR_2",
"replace": "#ffffff"
},
{
"find": "SHAPE_COLOR",
"replace": "#c40202"
}
]
}Command immediate attention with our 'Top Story: Headline & Impact Template.' This template is meticulously designed for situations where you need to elevate specific information to paramount importance, ensuring it captures your audience's focus as the most critical update. Whether you're announcing a pivotal company milestone, a significant industry shift, an urgent public announcement, or any key development that demands prime placement, this template provides the perfect framework. Its clean, direct, and powerful design allows your main message to shine through without distraction. Easily customize the headline, sub-text, and supporting details to articulate the core of your 'Top Story' and its immediate implications. The template emphasizes clarity and urgency, making it ideal for communication that needs to be absorbed quickly and understood thoroughly. Utilize this template to create a focal point for your most important communications, ensuring that your audience immediately grasps the significance and impact of your message. It’s a versatile solution for any entity—corporate, public, or media—looking to present vital information with the prominence it deserves
No account needed until you render.
Render with your AI assistant
Add the Shotstack MCP server to your editor, then paste the prompt
| Output | MP4 |
|---|---|
| Size | 1920 × 1080 (16:9) |
| Length | 20s |
| Frame rate | 25 fps |
| Tracks / clips | 11 / 14 |
| Assets used | 3 luma, 3 rich-text, 6 svg, 2 video |
| Soundtrack | no |
| Merge fields | 8 |
Send a merge array with your values for these fields:
| Field | Default value |
|---|---|
{{ HEADLINE }} | ECONOMY ADJUSTS AS NEW DOLLAR RATE SHIFTS, IMPACTING TRADE, PRICES, AND MARKET STABILITY |
{{ NEWS_SLUG }} | TOP STORY |
{{ STATUS }} | LIVE |
{{ VIDEO_PRESENTER }} | https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/246a7e79-4bed-48d3-a63e-2138b30f2da4/source.mp4 |
{{ VIDEO }} | https://templates.shotstack.io/top-story-headline-impact-template-breaking-news-major-announcement-critical-update/45924650-4fda-4f83-a05c-6ece1f53b88e/source.mp4 |
{{ FONT_COLOR_1 }} | #000000 |
{{ FONT_COLOR_2 }} | #ffffff |
{{ SHAPE_COLOR }} | #c40202 |
Save the JSON above as template.json, then render in the free sandbox:
# Save the JSON above as template.json, then:
curl -X POST https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render \
-H "x-api-key: $SHOTSTACK_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d @template.json
# Poll until status is "done", then download response.url
curl https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render/RENDER_ID -H "x-api-key: $SHOTSTACK_API_KEY"import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
const headers = { 'x-api-key': process.env.SHOTSTACK_API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' };
const edit = JSON.parse(readFileSync('template.json', 'utf8'));
const { response } = await fetch('https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render', {
method: 'POST', headers, body: JSON.stringify(edit)
}).then((r) => r.json());
let render;
do {
await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 3000));
render = (await fetch(`https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render/${response.id}`, { headers }).then((r) => r.json())).response;
} while (!['done', 'failed'].includes(render.status));
console.log(render.status, render.url);import json, os, time, requests
headers = {"x-api-key": os.environ["SHOTSTACK_API_KEY"]}
with open("template.json") as f:
edit = json.load(f)
render_id = requests.post("https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render", json=edit, headers=headers).json()["response"]["id"]
while True:
render = requests.get(f"https://api.shotstack.io/edit/stage/render/{render_id}", headers=headers).json()["response"]
if render["status"] in ("done", "failed"):
break
time.sleep(3)
print(render["status"], render.get("url"))npm install -g @shotstack/cli
export SHOTSTACK_API_KEY=your_sandbox_key
shotstack validate template.json # offline schema check, free
shotstack render template.json --env stage --watchSandbox renders are free and watermarked. Production: the v1 endpoint and key. SDKs
Trigger a render from your CMS or RSS feed and each story ships with its own video.
Paste into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor — your AI assistant builds the workflow around your data.
Node.js, one render per CSV row, wired to this template's 8 merge fields. Setup steps in the header.
Guides: Bulk-create from a CSV · Webhooks · Templates endpoint · Render your first video
AI assistants: Markdown () · · · CLI skill: SKILL.md () · MCP server
Use the 8 merge fields listed above. Send a merge array with your own values for each field and the API swaps them in at render time, so one template can produce thousands of unique videos.
Yes. This template renders 1920×1080 by default. Set output.resolution to "1080" or output.size to a larger 16:9 size in the JSON; the layout scales with it.
Yes. Replace the video asset's src with a public URL of your file (MP4 works best). Use trim and length on the clip to pick the part you want, and the template's effects apply to your footage.
Edit the text on each rich-text asset in the JSON. Fonts come from the timeline fonts list or the asset's font family; add your own font file URL to timeline.fonts to use a brand typeface.
