The short-form video terms worth knowing
Plain-English definitions of the concepts behind videos that travel — and how OpenNolan handles each one so you don't have to.
Videos that travel are built from a small set of repeatable moves — the hook, the jump cut, B-roll, burned-in captions and the vertical 9:16 frame. Knowing the vocabulary makes every reel you plan sharper.
These plain-English definitions explain each concept in the context of short-form that actually gets watched — and how OpenNolan handles each one for you, so you don't have to.
What is short-form video?
The definition, the format, why it dominates discovery, and the playbook builders use to get seen.
Read more →What is a video hook?
The first ~1 second that stops the scroll. Hook types, founder examples, and the mistakes to avoid.
Read more →B-roll: definition and how to use it
The supporting footage that adds motion, makes your point, and keeps people watching. Plain-English guide.
Read more →Jump cut: the pacing trick explained
Cut the dead air inside one shot so your subject jumps forward. The engine of short-form pace.
Read more →Burned-in captions, plainly explained
What open captions are, how they beat soft subtitles on social, and how to style them for vertical.
Read more →Vertical video (9:16) explained
What portrait 9:16 footage is, why it wins on mobile feeds, and how to compose vertical-first.
Read more →