Long Prompt Guide - Production Brief Method

Structured methodology for complex scenes requiring dialogue and continuity.

When to Use Long Prompts

✅ Ideal For:

• Scenes with dialogue

• Multiple characters with continuity

• Structured settings (foreground/midground/background)

• Multi-beat action sequences (>3 beats)

• Recurring characters across shots

• Emotional narrative moments

• Complex choreography

❌ NOT Suitable For:

• Simple filler shots

• Quick B-roll

• Atmosphere-only scenes

• Single-subject static shots

Decision Rule

Use long if: Scene needs dialogue OR >3 action beats OR character continuity

Use short if: Scene is simple filler or atmospheric

For short prompts, see: short-prompt-guide

Production Brief Framework

The Production Brief consists of 11 blocks. Include only relevant blocks - skip non-applicable ones.

Block 1: Format & Tone (MANDATORY)

Purpose: Establish overall genre and emotional direction

What to include:

• Genre: Cinematic ad, UGC reaction, music video, mini-scene, documentary

• Tone: Emotional realism, nostalgic, tender, gritty, comedic, suspenseful

• Rhythm: Fast-paced, slow contemplative, rhythmic, atmospheric

Example:

Format & Tone: Cinematic mini-scene - emotional realism with soft romantic rhythm and atmospheric intimacy. Tone: nostalgic, tender, immersive.

Block 2: Main Subject(s) (MANDATORY)

Purpose: Define characters and their chemistry

What to include:

• Number of characters

• Brief physical description (age, key features)

• Relationship dynamic

• Emotional state

Example:

Main Subject(s): A young couple standing close under one umbrella in the rain - their chemistry quiet but electric, eyes locked, hesitant smiles.

Block 3: Wardrobe and Props (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

Purpose: Ensure visual continuity across cuts

What to include:

• Specific clothing colors and styles

• Key accessories (jewelry, watches, etc.)

• Props that play narrative role

• Items that reflect light interestingly

Why critical: AI must recreate exact wardrobe across multiple shots. Without specifics, colors/styles will vary.

Example:

Wardrobe and Props: She wears beige trench coat, pearl earrings, carries transparent umbrella; he wears navy jacket, white shirt, wristwatch reflecting streetlight. Props: umbrella, takeaway coffee cup gently steaming.

Block 4: Location & Framing (MANDATORY)

Purpose: Establish spatial relationships and composition

What to include:

• Specific location with sensory details

• Foreground elements (closest to camera)

• Midground elements (main action area)

• Background elements (depth and context)

• Shot size and angle guidance

Why critical: FG/MG/BG structure prevents "floating in void" feeling. Spatial anchoring maintains coherence.

Example:

Location & Framing: Rain-soaked cobblestone street at dusk outside softly glowing café. Foreground: falling raindrops and bokeh reflections. Midground: the couple framed beneath the umbrella. Background: café sign glowing amber, blurred city silhouettes. Camera alternates between gentle dolly-ins, over-shoulder close-ups, and slow ¾ circular arcs to preserve emotional depth.

Block 5: Lighting & Palette (MANDATORY)

Purpose: Define visual mood and color consistency

What to include:

• Primary light sources (practical, natural, artificial)

• Color palette (3-5 specific colors) - COLOR ANCHORS

• Light direction (key, fill, back)

• Atmospheric effects (haze, diffusion, bloom)

Continuity rule: Repeat color anchors in every related shot for consistency.

Example:

Lighting & Palette: Warm café light spilling onto cool blue-gray rain. Light sources: diffused streetlight key from camera left, amber window backlight. Color anchors: blush pink, amber gold, navy blue, cool gray, ivory skin tones. Soft diffusion lens and wet reflections maintain continuity.

Block 6: Continuity Rules (CRITICAL FOR MULTI-SHOT)

Purpose: Lock elements that MUST remain constant across cuts

What to include:

• Weather conditions

• Time of day

• Lighting conditions

• Wardrobe (reference Block 3)

• Location atmosphere

Why critical: Without explicit rules, AI may change weather, time, or lighting between shots.

Example:

Continuity Rules: Consistent light rain throughout, dusk lighting (blue hour), café window glow always visible in background, wardrobe unchanged.

Block 7: Actions & Camera Beats (MANDATORY FOR SEQUENCES)

Purpose: Choreograph precise timing of subject actions and camera movement

Structure: Time-bounded beats, each with:

• Time range (e.g., 0-4s)

• ONE subject action

• ONE camera movement (from camera-movements vocabulary)

Critical rules:

• One beat = ONE camera movement (prevent conflicts)

• Use standardized vocabulary

• Subject action paired with camera action

• Timing explicit (avoids ambiguity)

Example:

Actions & Camera Beats (0-12s):

0-4s - Wide shot: camera slowly pushes in through rain toward couple; she adjusts umbrella, faint smile.

4-8s - Medium shot: he reaches for her hand; droplets cascade down joined fingers; camera drifts laterally, catching reflection of neon light across faces.

8-12s - Close-up: their foreheads gently meet; camera rises slightly, focusing on breath mixing in rain-haze before fading into soft blur.

Block 8: Montage Plan (OPTIONAL - FOR COMPLEX EDITS)

Purpose: Define cut types, pacing, and transitions

What to include:

• Cut types (jump cut, match cut, L-cut, J-cut)

• Insert shots (detail emphasis)

• Transitions (whip-pan, flash-frame, crossfade)

• Pacing rhythm (fast/slow)

Example:

Montage Plan: Three inserts: (raindrop hitting umbrella → fingertip touch → smile). Smooth match cuts guided by piano rhythm; final 0.5-second emotional hold before fade-out. Transitions use natural lens flares from passing car headlights.

Block 9: Dialogue (IF APPLICABLE)

Purpose: Scripted speech with proper formatting

Format: Character name: "Dialogue text"

Options:

• With subtitles (default)

• Without subtitles: add (no subtitles) after dialogue

Example:

Dialogue: Whisper (female): "Stay a little longer." He exhales softly, smiling. (no subtitles)

Block 10: Sound & Foley (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

Purpose: Layer realistic soundscape

What to include:

• Micro-sounds (peel, snap, pour, shoe squeak, breath)

• Ambient audio (environmental base layer)

• Music (if applicable, with timing)

• Silence (explicitly note if intentional)

Why detailed: Generic "rain sounds" vs "soft rainfall, muffled footsteps, umbrella fabric tension" creates immersion difference.

Example:

Sound & Foley: Soft rainfall, muffled footsteps on wet cobblestone, umbrella fabric tension, faint breath, distant café hum, soft piano underscore with subtle reverb.

Block 11: Finish (OPTIONAL - FOR STYLE POLISH)

Purpose: Post-processing aesthetic touches

What to include:

• Film grain intensity

• Halation (glow around highlights)

• LUT intent (color grading direction)

• Chromatic effects

• Poster frame (final memorable image)

Example:

Finish: Light film grain, warm halation on highlights, gentle chromatic bloom around neon reflections. LUT intent: vintage romance with balanced teal-amber contrast. Poster frame: their hands clasped beneath umbrella, neon reflections rippling across puddled ground like living light.

Progressive Detail Strategy

Start core, expand as needed:

Minimum Viable (4 blocks):

• Format & Tone

• Main Subjects

• Location & Framing

• Actions & Camera Beats

Standard (7 blocks):

Add: 3. Wardrobe & Props, 5. Lighting & Palette, 10. Sound & Foley

Maximum (all 11 blocks):

For flagship content, multi-shot continuity, or client work

Integration with Other Skills

Camera movements: Use camera-movements vocabulary in Block 7

Validation: Cross-reference with great-prompt-anatomy to ensure 8 core components present

Quick scenes: If scene simpler than expected, fall back to short-prompt-guide

Common Mistakes

❌ Vague Timing:

"At some point he smiles"

✅ Precise Timing:

"4-8s: he smiles as she touches his hand"

❌ Multiple Movements Per Beat:

"0-4s: Dolly in while arc left"

✅ One Movement Per Beat:

"0-4s: Dolly in" OR "0-4s: Arc left"

❌ Missing FG/MG/BG:

"They stand on street"

✅ Spatial Anchors:

"FG: raindrops, MG: couple, BG: café glow"

❌ Generic Colors:

"Nice lighting"

✅ Color Anchors:

"Amber gold, navy blue, blush pink"

Complete Examples

For 3-5 full Production Brief implementations with all blocks, see: references/complete-examples.md

For blank template with fill-in guidance, see: references/production-brief-template.md

Load examples when:

• Need to see complete workflow

• Learning Production Brief structure

• Want genre-specific patterns

• Building first long prompt

Load template when:

• Ready to create own prompt

• Need structured fill-in guide

• Want step-by-step instructions

Stay in SKILL.md when:

• Just need block reminders

• Quick reference for structure

• Understanding methodology