Zoia Shpak
CapCut Template Creator & Visual Storyteller
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Title: Beauty is a Choice: A Baudelaire-Inspired Arthouse Experiment
Description:
"Can we still turn mud into gold, or has decay simply become content?"
For my CapCut Video Studio challenge submission, I wanted to step away from bright, commercial AI generations and create a dark, philosophical arthouse piece inspired by Charles Baudelaire. The goal was to build a melancholic "Dark Academia" visual poem entirely driven by the CapCut Video Studio—a completely new tool for me.
The Workflow & Experience
Ideation: I used the CapCut Studio Chat and fed it my essay, "From Flowers of Evil to Fields of Ash — a meditation on Charles Baudelaire," asking the bot to break my text down into specific visual scenes. The AI suggested visual directions which I then refined and redirected according to my aesthetic vision.
Canvas to Storyboard: I then used the "Image to Video" feature to breathe life into the generated images. Once the assets were ready, I created a storyboard where I arranged the scenes and wrote the accompanying on-screen text.
The Final Polish: The editing feature allowed me to seamlessly transition into the classic CapCut editor. There, I applied cold cinematic filters, animations, video effects, and a dark ambient soundscape to unify the disparate fragments into one cohesive, haunting film.
The Challenges (Filters & Geolocation)
Working from Luxor, Egypt, I encountered significant geolocation restrictions and server delays. Currently, the model available to me is Dreamina Seedance 2.0 (Human face not supported).
More importantly, I had to actively wrestle with the AI's content safety filters. The AI ecosystem often leans toward sterile, safe imagery, meaning words like 'macabre,' 'decay,' or 'skeleton' are instantly blocked by the system's community guideline filters.
Because of this, I had to let go of many initial ideas and work strictly within the studio's available capabilities. When many video generations failed or were blocked, I decided to mix static images with the successfully generated videos. My goal was to build this entirely with CapCut's native models without resorting to external AI tools. The objective was to creatively bypass these barriers and retain the raw, gothic aesthetic the piece required.
Creator Feedback
Despite the regional limitations, the CapCut Studio ecosystem is incredibly promising. Having the ability to chat with the AI, generate on a canvas, and move straight into a professional timeline—all in one place—is a game-changer for storytellers. I am eagerly waiting for the day when these features are fully and smoothly accessible in Egypt without constraints.
Beauty is a choice. And sometimes, you have to fight the algorithm to create it.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zoia-shpak_capcutvideostudio-aiart-capcutai-ugcPost-7445899120990543872--bKA?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAC9jGvsBfbVehV2mjBhbU5RGD-jVDfYub94
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I don't just write literary essays. I build their entire visual identity — covers, mood, atmosphere.
This editorial cover was created using CapCut AI Design Studio for my Baudelaire essay, currently slated for publication in Illumination on Medium.
Concept, design, storytelling — all mine.
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What’s inspiring you outside the screen right now? - love, love, love —
in the quiet between thoughts. What About You ?
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Project Title: Dark Triad Aesthetic — CapCut Pro Template (Official US Challenge Entry)
Role: Visualist • Motion Designer • Sound Designer • CapCut Template Creator
Tools: CapCut (mobile)
I designed and submitted a complex multi-layered CapCut Pro Template that explores the psychological concept of the “Shadow Self”. Combining Carl Jung’s archetype of the Shadow with the modern Dark Triad model (Narcissism, Machiavellianism, Psychopathy), the template transforms any four clips into a powerful cinematic story of internal fragmentation and integration.
Key technical elements: • 11 overlays with precise diagonal and freeform masking • Advanced keyframe animation synchronized to industrial beats • Custom glitch, chromatic aberration and flash effects • Central pulsing Black Triangle as the symbolic core
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Wanda: Dark Queen: CapCut Pro Template
I just created a cinematic CapCut template for International Women's Day — and submitted it to the #proniche challenge.
The concept:
Dark feminine power through Wanda Maximoff's iconic line: "I don't need you to tell me who I am."
Technical execution:
4-layer Cutout depth (text behind + in front of the character)
35mm film grain,noise
Synced animation (flicker, glitch effects)
Beat-matched transitions
Custom sound design (whoosh, fire crackle, energy explosion)
Why this matters:
This isn't just an edit — it's a visual manifesto. Women don't need permission to define themselves. The aesthetic (witch, flame, shadow) mirrors the message: transformation through darkness, not escape from it.
Available now in CapCut's Pro Template library-Wanda: Dark Queen.
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Title: Inner Goddess Transformation (Option B Entry)
Hi Contra & CapCut Team!
I successfully published my template and reached the Silver tier, but my CapCut profile is bugged and the live template link isn't showing up yet. As advised by support, I am submitting via OPTION B.
Here is the link to my generated video preview: > https://www.capcut.com/sv2/ZS9eQmXrUBGkJ-nc09D/
Attached are the required files:
My final exported video.
The 30-second screen recording of my CapCut workspace.
Challenge requirements met:
Main Character: Maddie
2 Variations (Dark Academia Gothic & Ancient Egyptian Priestess)
AI Effect: Video Fusion
On-screen text & Music included
Thank you! Zoia Shpak — Zoé Mira (CapCut User: ZoeMiraStudio)
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Emotion Over Product
I made this video because I wanted to feel Christmas. Not to sell a cup, not to show off editing skills, but to capture that elusive sense of warmth we all need right now.
I'll be honest: I'm new here and on other platforms. And my first realization is rather bitter — it seems almost impossible to break through where everything is already taken, paid for with subscriptions, and ruled by algorithms. It's discouraging.
But there's another side. At 46, I'm finally doing what brings me true joy. And if this is my path, then the numbers in my profile are just decoration.
Thank you, 2025. You brought meaning into my life and my personal "Holy Grail" of self-expression. It turns out that doing what you love is the highest form of success.
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I produced this video to explore that restless human energy. It is my attempt to translate the weight of existence into a visual format. Sometimes, simply observing the cycle is better than constantly fighting against it.
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Feminist Wall Art for Emotional Healing - “I Exist” Set
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LET THEM SPEAK What Wishes Cost — An October Reckoning
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When Stars Remember Your Name
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Zoé Mira brand.
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