Free code and guide
The Viral Remake Machine
How we pick every reel we film. Once a week it pulls the top posts in our niche, ranks them by comments, and breaks every one into the hook, the beats and the CTA. Then it writes our version.
So we aren’t guessing what works, we’re reading it. You don’t need to code any of this: hand the folder to your AI, tell it your niche, and it sets the whole thing up around your creators, not ours.
Want our team to build it? See the done for you version
What you get
The files
- remake-machine.zipEverything below in one folder. Unzip it and hand it to your AI.
- 00-README.mdThe full setup guide. Start here.
- fetch.pyPulls your creators' recent public posts through Instagram's official Graph API. No scraping, no logins.
- rank.pyRanks every post by comments (not likes) and spots the "comment KEYWORD" CTA.
- breakdown.pyDownloads one post, transcribes it word for word on your computer, and pulls keyframes and scene cuts.
- ANALYZE.mdThe playbook your AI follows to score each post and break it down beat by beat.
- REMAKE-SPEC.mdWhat every one of your versions must contain.
- creators.mdYour creator list. A template to fill in.
- reel-edit-skill.zipBonus: the skill our team uses to edit our reels (best take per line, no dead air, captions).
Every file, with a download and a copy button, is in the full setup below.
How it works
Four pieces that hand off
- 1. Pull: Instagram's official API pulls the top posts from the creators you pick.
- 2. Transcribe: a transcriber on your laptop turns every post into text with timestamps, plus keyframes.
- 3. Break down: your AI goes through each one shot by shot: the hook, the beats, the CTA, and why it worked.
- 4. Write: it writes your version: same structure, your story, your tools.
Pull, transcribe, break down, write. One run a week, and you know exactly what to film before you hit record.
What it looks like
A real run
Niche: AI systems for running your life and business. One run, and it:
- Pulled and ranked the posts in our creator list with the most comments. Most of the top ones were "comment KEYWORD" reels. That's the signal: thousands of comments on a keyword is a proven offer, not just a pretty video.
- Broke one down: a 30 second talking head reel. Hook: "You can now get [thing] for completely free." Then three short beats (what it is, how it works, the one detail people screenshot), then "comment WORD" and a DM with a link.
- Wrote our version: same hook pattern, same beat count, same CTA mechanic, our own stack. That became our COACH reel: a free AI accountability coach.
What you need
Setup and cost
| Thing | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Python 3.10+ | runs the three scripts | python.org, or brew install python |
| ffmpeg | pulls keyframes and audio | brew install ffmpeg, sudo apt install ffmpeg, or winget install Gyan.FFmpeg |
| faster-whisper | the transcriber, runs locally (first run downloads a 500 MB model once) | pip install faster-whisper |
| yt-dlp | downloads the reel when the API doesn't hand over the video file | pip install yt-dlp |
| Claude Code or Codex | does the breakdown and the writing | claude.com/claude-code, or Codex |
One time, about 20 to 30 minutes: an Instagram professional account (Creator or Business, free to switch) connected to a Facebook Page, and a Meta app with an access token (instagram_basic and pages_show_list). Your agent walks you through it. Set the token in your terminal, never paste it into a chat, a shared file or a screenshot. The scripts never print it.
- Instagram Graph API: free. It's Meta's own official API.
- Transcription and keyframes: free. Runs on your laptop.
- The breakdown and scripts: done inside the AI subscription you already pay for. No extra API key.
Realistic total: nothing extra if you already pay for an AI subscription. The full guide (00-README.md) has the manual setup, every command and troubleshooting.
Read this once
Fair use
- This is research, not a repost kit. You're studying hooks, structures and CTA mechanics, not republishing anyone's videos or transcripts.
- Remake the structure, not the words. Same hook pattern, same beats, your story, your tools, your numbers.
- Read only. Nothing here likes, comments, follows or DMs. Never automate that.
- The downloaded videos are working files. Delete them once a post is broken down; keep the notes.
Continue the setup
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Free
The files
- remake-machine.zipEverything below in one folder. Unzip it and hand it to your AI.Download
- 00-README.mdThe full setup guide. Start here.Download
- fetch.pyPulls your creators' recent public posts through Instagram's official Graph API. No scraping, no logins.Download
- rank.pyRanks every post by comments (not likes) and spots the "comment KEYWORD" CTA.Download
- breakdown.pyDownloads one post, transcribes it word for word on your computer, and pulls keyframes and scene cuts.Download
- ANALYZE.mdThe playbook your AI follows to score each post and break it down beat by beat.Download
- REMAKE-SPEC.mdWhat every one of your versions must contain.Download
- creators.mdYour creator list. A template to fill in.Download
- reel-edit-skill.zipBonus: the skill our team uses to edit our reels (best take per line, no dead air, captions).Download
The setup prompt, the playbook, the spec and the creator list are also below in full, with a copy button on each one.
The 5 minute version
Let your AI set it up
Step 1
Install an AI agent
Claude Code, Codex, or any AI agent that can run code on your computer.
Step 2
Download the folder
Download
remake-machine.zipabove and unzip it. You get aremake-machinefolder with all seven files.Step 3
Paste the setup prompt
Open your agent in that folder and paste this. Fill in the brackets. It takes it from there, including editing the niche line in ANALYZE.md and filling in creators.md for you.
The setup promptsetup-prompt.txtDownload You're my content research agent. Read 00-README.md and set this whole system up for me. MY NICHE: I make content about [topic] for [who it's for]. MY CREATORS: [5-15 Instagram handles: a few my size, a few big ones in my niche, 1-2 outside my niche whose format I like]. WHAT I GIVE AWAY: [the guide / template / setup I DM when people comment]. Do this as a checklist, end to end: 1. SETUP: fill in creators.md and the niche line at the top of ANALYZE.md. Then walk me through getting my IG_USER_ID and IG_ACCESS_TOKEN one click at a time. I'll set them in my terminal myself. Never ask me to paste the token into chat. 2. PULL: run fetch.py, then rank.py --top 40. Show me the top 10 by comments, and flag which ones use a "comment KEYWORD" CTA. 3. TRANSCRIBE: for the top 10, run breakdown.py on each one. 4. BREAK DOWN: follow ANALYZE.md. Score each post 1-10 for MY niche. For every 7+, look at the frames (don't guess from the caption) and give me the verbatim hook, the hook style, every beat with timestamps and what's on screen, and the CTA mechanic (comment WORD → DM what). One line on why it worked. 5. WRITE: pick the best 5 and write my version of each following REMAKE-SPEC.md: shot list, teleprompter script, caption, and a draft of the thing I'd DM. GUARDRAILS: Read-only on Instagram. Never like, comment, follow, DM or post anything. Remake the structure, never the words. Never invent a number, a result or a tool I don't use. Mark anything you can't verify as [CONFIRM]. I approve everything before I film.
The playbook
What your AI follows
Hand this to your AI with ranked.md and the posts folders from breakdown.py, and say: "Follow ANALYZE.md for the top 10 in ranked.md."
# ANALYZE.md: the playbook your AI follows for every post
> Hand this file to Claude / Codex / ChatGPT along with `ranked.md` and the `posts/` folders from `breakdown.py`.
> Say: **"Follow ANALYZE.md for the top 10 in ranked.md."**
## 0. My niche (EDIT THIS LINE)
**I make content about:** [what you make content about, and for whom]
**My offer / what I DM people:** [the guide, template or video you give away]
## 1. Score each post (1-10)
How useful is this post *as a template for me*? Not "is it good", but could I remake it honestly with my own stack and story?
- 9-10: same audience, a format I can film this week, and I have a real version of the deliverable
- 6-8: good format, but the topic needs a real twist for my niche
- 1-5: needs a studio, a team, or claims I can't back up. Skip it.
## 2. Break it down (only posts scoring 7+)
Use `transcript.md` (word timestamps) and the `frames/` contact sheets. Look at the frames; don't guess from the caption.
```
post: <url> · comments: <n> · length: <s> · format: talking head / screen rec / POV voiceover / carousel
hookStyle: problem-promise | contrarian-claim | list-tease | demo-first | story-frame | data-shock | identity-call | other
framing: shot size, setting, camera angle, props, what they wear
overlays: title box? caption style (font, size, words per caption, position)?
pace: number of cuts, b-roll seconds vs face seconds
beats:
- Hook [0.0-3.1]: "<verbatim>" | visual: ...
- Beat 1 [3.1-8.0]: "<verbatim>" | visual: ...
- ...
- CTA [x-y]: "<verbatim>" | mechanic: comment KEYWORD → DM <what>
caption: first line + length + hashtags
deliverable: what they DM (find it in their bio link / YouTube / blog / public pages; never comment to get it). If you can't find it, write INFERRED.
why it worked: one line
```
## 3. Write the remake (see REMAKE-SPEC.md)
Same structure, same number of beats, same hook pattern, same CTA mechanic. **My story, my tools, my numbers.**
## 4. Rules
- Never invent a metric, a client, or a tool I don't use. If a line needs a number I haven't given you, write `[CONFIRM]`.
- Never copy their exact words except the hook *pattern*.
- Read-only on Instagram: no likes, comments, follows or DMs from any script.
Then: "Write remakes for the best 5 following REMAKE-SPEC.md."
# REMAKE-SPEC.md: what every remake file must contain
One folder per remake: `remakes/<handle>-<shortcode>/`
## REMAKE.md
1. **Title + original link**, comments count, length, format.
2. **Setup:** location, framing, wardrobe, props, lighting, what to screen-record *before* filming.
3. **Shot list, beat by beat**, in a table: `# | time | shot | line (word for word) | on-screen text | b-roll / screen recording`
- Same beat count as the original (±1).
- Same hook pattern (e.g. "Everyone kept asking for X, so I'm giving the whole thing away").
- Same overlay style (title box, caption font/size/words-per-caption).
- Same CTA mechanic: "comment KEYWORD and I'll send it."
4. **Caption:** mirrors theirs in length and shape (first line = CTA if theirs was).
5. **Deliverable:** what gets DM'd, in the same format as theirs (web page / Notion / PDF / video).
6. **[CONFIRM] list:** every claim that needs checking before you film.
## teleprompter.txt
Only the spoken words, one beat per paragraph, no stage directions. Read it once out loud and time it against the original's length.
## deliverable/
The real thing you'll DM, ready to publish as a draft. Same format as theirs.
And the creator list. Mix 3 to 5 creators your size, 3 to 5 big ones in your niche, and 1 or 2 outside your niche whose format you like.
# Creators to study
One row per account. Only **Instagram professional (business/creator) accounts** can be read through the API. Personal accounts will error, which is fine.
Mix: 3-5 creators your exact size or a bit bigger + 3-5 big ones in your niche + 1-2 outside your niche whose *format* you like.
| Handle | Why I'm watching them | Format they're good at | Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| @creator_one | same audience as me | talking head + screen recording | yes |
| @creator_two | huge comment counts on keyword posts | carousels | yes |
| @creator_three | great hooks, different niche | POV voiceover | yes |
| @creator_four | paused for now | | no |
The weekly rhythm
Read patterns, stop scrolling
Once a week: fetch, rank, and skim ranked.md (5 minutes). Pick 3 to 6 you can film in one sitting. Batch film from the teleprompter files. Want it hands off? Ask your agent to schedule the fetch and rank weekly. Ours runs on an always on Mac, so the ranked list is waiting when we sit down to plan.
This is where the DIY gets heavy: tokens that expire, scheduling, wiring the output into your notes and your content calendar. If you’d rather have it built and running, our team does that. Book a call with our team
Bonus
Let your AI edit the reel too
Film your clips, drop them in a folder, and tell your agent "edit my reel". It transcribes every take, keeps the best one of each line, cuts the dead air, punches in, adds captions and levels the audio. It’s a skill file and three small scripts, and everything runs on your own computer.
Claude Code: unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/reel-edit/. Other agents: put the folder anywhere and say "Read SKILL.md in this folder and follow it to edit my clips."
- reel-edit-skill.zipSKILL.md, README.md, config.example.json, scripts/ and references/.Download
Done for you
Want it done for you?
This kit is one loop from the AI second brain our team uses to run its business. Our team builds yours.
Book a call with our teamWho it’s for
Founders, creators and small teams who want AI systems that actually run (research, content, notes, follow ups) without spending weekends wiring them up.
What you get
- One organized home for your notes, calls, people and projects, so your AI knows your business
- Your AI connected to the tools you already use, with approval rules so nothing posts or sends without your OK
- Loops like this one, set up around your niche and running on a schedule
- A walkthrough so you know exactly how to run it
What happens on the call
We look at how you work today, where things live and what eats your week, and we tell you what we'd build first. If it's a fit, we map out the build. If it's not, you still leave with the plan.