The human reaction library

Your next video starts with a real reaction.

Find the expression. Add your product demo and a line that makes it yours.

Explore the library Compressed previews · One-time access to originals

App demos

Make an app ad with a reaction clip and a screen recording

You can make a useful product video without organizing a new shoot. You still need to show the product doing something worth watching.

On this page
The useful bit

Build the middle first. A reaction clip is an opening; the screen recording is the part that makes the video useful.

A compressed sample from the library

Hover or tap to see the motion. This is source footage, ready to combine with your own demo. Paid members can browse and download the originals.

What comes with a clip

Write a one-action brief

Finish this sentence: “After watching, someone should know how to ___.” Use a visible action, such as saving a collection or finding an overdue task. Avoid goals like “understand our platform,” which usually produce a rushed tour of several screens.

Prepare the app with sample data. Put the starting state near the action so you do not spend half the video navigating. If an action requires setup, mention it rather than implying that an unprepared account can do the same thing instantly.

  • Product action: the exact task shown.
  • Starting state: what is already set up.
  • Payoff: the state visible after the action.
  • Next step: the one thing a viewer can do afterwards.

Record evidence, then choose the expression

Record the action at a readable pace. Leave a short pause before touching the control and after the result appears. Those pauses give you room to trim. Remove private notifications and account details before recording, rather than relying on a blur you might miss.

Next, try a reaction that supports the story. Curiosity can introduce a hidden control; a small smile can punctuate a completed task. If the action is subtle, avoid an expression so dramatic that it becomes the entire video.

Assemble a first draft

Place the reaction and demo next to each other before adding transitions. A direct cut makes it easier to judge whether the idea connects. Add one line of text only where it gives the opening a clear job.

Time in this examplePictureText or sound
0–2 secondsA curious expression“Where did I save that?”
2–7 secondsYour real search actionA short instruction if needed
7–10 secondsThe correct item opensLet the result be visible
10–12 secondsHold the product stateA relevant next step

Check what the finished video implies

Watch with the sound off. Can someone see the problem and the answer? If not, a longer caption may not fix it; you may need a clearer product shot. Then watch with sound and check that the music does not conceal a useful spoken instruction.

Do not describe the source creator as a customer or put an unverified personal outcome above their face. This workflow uses an illustrative reaction plus your own demonstration. It does not create a testimonial. Save the project file so you can try a second opening without rebuilding the action.

Watch the sequence

The reaction introduces the idea; the screen recording shows the action. This is an editing demonstration, not a customer result.

Hover or tap to play. The final edit starts with the reaction, then cuts to the demo.

Questions & answers

Does “without filming” mean no work at all?

It means no new creator shoot. You still need a screen recording or other product evidence, editing and a final export.

How long should the reaction be?

Use only the part that sets up the next shot. One to three seconds is a useful draft range, but the actual movement and readability should decide the cut.

Find the opening for your next edit.

See the public samples, then unlock the library when you’re ready to work with the originals.

Explore the library