{
    "merge": [
        {
            "find": "LOWER_THIRD_PANEL",
            "replace": "https://templates.shotstack.io/basic/asset/image/overlay/slanted-panel-cyan-highlite.png"
        },
        {
            "find": "HIGHLITE_COLOR",
            "replace": "#00f4e9"
        }
    ],
    "timeline": {
        "soundtrack": {
            "src": "https://assets.mixkit.co/music/download/mixkit-driving-ambition-32.mp3",
            "effect": "fadeOut"
        },
        "fonts": [
            {
                "src": "https://templates.shotstack.io/basic/asset/font/roboto-bold.ttf"
            }
        ],
        "tracks": [
            {
                "clips": [
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>It's estimated global temperatures will rise <u>1.5 degrees Celcius</u> in the next 2 decades.</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff; font-size: 46px; text-align: left;} u { color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; text-decoration: none; }",
                            "width": 960,
                            "height": 120
                        },
                        "start": 0.5,
                        "length": 4.5,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "offset": {
                            "x": 0.03,
                            "y": 0.135
                        },
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>The last <u>10 years</u> have been the warmest on record.</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff; font-size: 46px; text-align: left; } u { color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; text-decoration: none; }",
                            "width": 960,
                            "height": 120
                        },
                        "start": 5.5,
                        "length": 4.5,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "offset": {
                            "x": 0.03,
                            "y": 0.135
                        },
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>More than <u>1 million</u> species are at risk of extinction by climate change.</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff; font-size: 46px; text-align: left; } u { color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; text-decoration: none; }",
                            "width": 960,
                            "height": 120
                        },
                        "start": 10.5,
                        "length": 4.5,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "offset": {
                            "x": 0.03,
                            "y": 0.135
                        },
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>Climate change is <u>detrimental to human life</u> and it's already happening.</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff; font-size: 46px; text-align: left; } u { color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; text-decoration: none; }",
                            "width": 960,
                            "height": 120
                        },
                        "start": 15.5,
                        "length": 4.5,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "offset": {
                            "x": 0.03,
                            "y": 0.135
                        },
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>Many world leaders still aren't taking it <u>seriously</u>.</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: #ffffff; font-size: 44px; text-align: left; } u { color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; text-decoration: none; }",
                            "width": 960,
                            "height": 120
                        },
                        "start": 20.5,
                        "length": 4.5,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "offset": {
                            "x": 0.03,
                            "y": 0.135
                        },
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>LIKE</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; font-size: 44px; text-align: center;}",
                            "width": 800,
                            "height": 200
                        },
                        "start": 25.5,
                        "length": 0.8,
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideDown",
                            "out": "slideDown"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>COMMENT</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; font-size: 44px; text-align: center; }",
                            "width": 800,
                            "height": 200
                        },
                        "start": 26.3,
                        "length": 0.8,
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideDown",
                            "out": "slideDown"
                        }
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "html",
                            "html": "<p>SHARE</p>",
                            "css": "p { font-family: 'Roboto'; font-weight: bold; color: {{HIGHLITE_COLOR}}; font-size: 44px; text-align: center; margin: 50px;}",
                            "width": 800,
                            "height": 200
                        },
                        "start": 27.1,
                        "length": 0.8,
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideDown",
                            "out": "slideDown"
                        }
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "clips": [
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "image",
                            "src": "{{LOWER_THIRD_PANEL}}"
                        },
                        "scale": 0.24,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        },
                        "offset": {
                            "y": 0.1
                        },
                        "start": 0,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "image",
                            "src": "{{LOWER_THIRD_PANEL}}"
                        },
                        "scale": 0.25,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        },
                        "offset": {
                            "y": 0.1
                        },
                        "start": 5,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "image",
                            "src": "{{LOWER_THIRD_PANEL}}"
                        },
                        "scale": 0.25,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        },
                        "offset": {
                            "y": 0.1
                        },
                        "start": 10,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "image",
                            "src": "{{LOWER_THIRD_PANEL}}"
                        },
                        "scale": 0.25,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        },
                        "offset": {
                            "y": 0.1
                        },
                        "start": 15,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "image",
                            "src": "{{LOWER_THIRD_PANEL}}"
                        },
                        "scale": 0.25,
                        "position": "bottomLeft",
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideRight",
                            "out": "slideLeft"
                        },
                        "offset": {
                            "y": 0.1
                        },
                        "start": 20,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "image",
                            "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/logos/news-white.png"
                        },
                        "fit": "none",
                        "scale": 0.65,
                        "transition": {
                            "in": "slideUp"
                        },
                        "start": 28,
                        "length": 3
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "clips": [
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "video",
                            "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/footage/sun-clouds.mp4"
                        },
                        "start": 0,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "video",
                            "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/footage/desert-overhead.mp4",
                            "trim": 5
                        },
                        "start": 5,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "video",
                            "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/footage/lemur-eating.mp4",
                            "trim": 5
                        },
                        "start": 10,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "video",
                            "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/footage/shanty-town-overhead.mp4",
                            "trim": 5
                        },
                        "start": 15,
                        "length": 5
                    },
                    {
                        "asset": {
                            "type": "video",
                            "src": "https://shotstack-assets.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/footage/podium-speach.mp4"
                        },
                        "start": 20,
                        "length": 6,
                        "transition": {
                            "out": "fade"
                        }
                    }
                ]
            }
        ]
    },
    "output": {
        "format": "mp4",
        "resolution": "hd"
    }
}

An information news summary style video. Perfect for telling a short factual story or news headlines.

Open in Studio

No account needed until you render.

Render with your AI assistant

Open in Claude Open in ChatGPT

Add the Shotstack MCP server to your editor, then paste the prompt

When you want to automate this

Turn every story into a video, on publish.

1
See it
OutputMP4
Size1280 × 720 (16:9)
Length31s
Frame ratedefault (25 fps)
Tracks / clips3 / 19
Assets used8 html, 6 image, 5 video
Soundtrackyes
Merge fields2
2
Make it yours

Send a merge array with your values for these fields:

FieldDefault value
{{ LOWER_THIRD_PANEL }}https://templates.shotstack.io/basic/asset/image/overlay/slanted-panel-cyan-highlite.png
{{ HIGHLITE_COLOR }}#00f4e9
3
Run it once

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 --watch

Sandbox renders are free and watermarked. Production: the v1 endpoint and key. SDKs

4
Automate it

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 2 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

Common questions

How do I change the text and media without editing the JSON?

Use the 2 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.

Can I render this in full HD or 4K for YouTube?

Yes. This template renders 1280×720 by default. Set output.resolution to "1080" or output.size to a larger 16:9 size in the JSON; the layout scales with it.

Can I swap the footage for my own video?

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.

How do I change the text and fonts?

Edit the text on each 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.