# AI Video Storyboard > Use when planning a multi-shot AI video (TikTok Reel, Instagram Ad, YouTube Shorts, product explainer) where the target duration exceeds what a single AI generation can produce (>15s), and you need a coordinated shot list with visually consistent prompts for each segment - Skill: `aicontentskills/ai-video-storyboard` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 3 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add aicontentskills/ai-video-storyboard` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/aicontentskills/ai-video-storyboard/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: aicontentskills (https://skillmd.com/u/aicontentskills) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/aicontentskills/ai-video-storyboard --- # AI Video Storyboard Generator ## Overview AI video generators produce 5–15 second clips. Real-world videos are longer: 30s TikToks, 60s ads, 90s explainers. This skill bridges that gap by producing a complete **shot-list storyboard** — a coordinated sequence of per-shot prompts with shared visual language, so the assembled final video looks like one intentional piece of work rather than six disconnected clips. **Core insight:** Visual consistency across shots matters more than any single shot being perfect. A mediocre but consistent set of shots edits together; six gorgeous but mismatched shots do not. ## When to Use - User wants a video longer than 15 seconds - User wants a TikTok / Reel / Short / ad / explainer / B-roll sequence - User says "help me make a video about X" and has no shot list - User is about to generate multiple clips and needs a plan **Do NOT use for:** - Single-shot generation (just help with one prompt instead) - Static image generation - Video editing advice after clips are generated (that's a separate concern) ## Workflow ### Step 1 — Brief Intake Ask the user these questions in a single message. Accept short answers: 1. **Goal platform and duration?** (TikTok 30s / Reel 15-60s / YouTube Short / Instagram Ad / explainer) 2. **What is the video about?** (subject, story, product) 3. **Brand vibe / tone?** (cozy, energetic, premium, minimalist, playful, cinematic, etc.) 4. **Call to action at the end?** (visit website, buy product, follow channel, etc.) 5. **Any hard constraints?** (must include logo, specific colors, locations, etc.) If user already provided some of these, skip those questions and confirm the rest. ### Step 2 — Infer Structure Based on duration and platform, divide the timeline into shots of ~5 seconds each (the sweet spot for AI video generators). **Standard cadences:** | Platform | Duration | Shots | Pacing | |---|---|---|---| | TikTok Hook | 15s | 3 | Fast cuts, single idea | | TikTok Reel | 30s | 6 | Hook → Build → Payoff → CTA | | Instagram Ad | 15s | 3 | Hook → Product → CTA | | Instagram Ad | 30s | 6 | Hook → Problem → Product → Benefit → Social proof → CTA | | YouTube Short | 60s | 12 | Hook → 3-act structure → CTA | | Product Explainer | 90s | 18 | Problem → Solution → How it works → Results → CTA | | Brand Story | 60s | 10-12 | Atmosphere-driven, longer shot holds | ### Step 3 — Establish Visual Consistency Layer Before writing any shot, lock in the shared visual language. This is what makes shots edit together: - **Color palette** (3-5 specific hex values or named colors) - **Lighting style** (golden hour / neon / overcast / motivated / cinematic rim light) - **Lens character** (shallow DOF / deep focus / wide angle distortion / macro) - **Film look** (clean digital / 16mm grain / anamorphic / VHS / 35mm) - **Motion language** (handheld / locked off / dolly only / gimbal smooth) Write these as a **Visual Theme** block at the top of the output. Every shot's prompt must respect this block. ### Step 4 — Write Each Shot For each shot, produce this structure: ``` ## Shot N (START-ENDs) — [Purpose label: Hook / Setting / Action / Detail / Reveal / CTA] **Composition:** [shot type + angle, e.g., "Extreme close-up, overhead"] **Camera move:** [locked / slow dolly in / tracking / crane up / etc.] **Lighting:** [from the Visual Theme, applied to this scene] **Subject:** [what is in frame] **Action:** [what is happening] **Prompt to copy:** > [Complete, cinematic-quality prompt, 40-80 words, including: subject + action + environment + camera + lighting + style + technical spec (duration, aspect ratio, resolution). Always ends with "cinematic 1080p, synchronized audio"] **Audio direction:** [what the synchronized audio should sound like — ambient sounds, music beat position, voice-over line] ``` **Critical rules for shot prompts:** 1. **Always specify the shared visual language** in every prompt (color palette, lighting, lens character, film look). This is how you enforce consistency. 2. **Specify exact duration** (4s / 5s / 8s) and **aspect ratio** (9:16 for TikTok/Reels, 16:9 for YouTube landscape, 1:1 for feed posts). 3. **Always end with "cinematic 1080p, synchronized audio"** — this signals professional-grade quality and works with modern video models that support both. 4. **Use cinematography vocabulary**: ECU (extreme close-up), CU, MS (medium shot), WS (wide shot), OTS (over-the-shoulder), POV, Dutch angle, low angle, high angle, bird's eye, dolly in, dolly out, tracking, handheld, rack focus, etc. See `references/shot-types.md` for the full vocabulary. 5. **Don't write abstract prompts** — be concrete. "A woman" → "A barista in her late 20s with wavy auburn hair, wearing a denim apron". 6. **No model-specific hacks** — don't write prompts tuned to specific model quirks. Write model-agnostic cinematic prompts that work anywhere. ### Step 5 — Add Narrative Structure The sequence of shots must have a **story arc**, not a random list. Use one of these patterns: **Pattern A — Hook / Build / Payoff / CTA (TikTok default)** - Shot 1: Visual hook (stop the scroll) - Shot 2-3: Build context / intrigue - Shot 4-5: Main content / payoff - Shot 6: CTA **Pattern B — Problem / Solution / Proof / CTA (Ad default)** - Shots 1-2: Relatable problem - Shot 3: Your product as solution - Shots 4-5: Benefits / results - Shot 6: CTA **Pattern C — Atmosphere → Climax (Brand story)** - Longer atmospheric shots - Slow reveal - Emotional climax - Logo reveal ### Step 6 — Add Post-Production Checklist Close with actionable post-production notes: ``` ## Post-Production Checklist - [ ] Generate all N shots with your preferred AI video tool - [ ] Stitch in [CapCut / Descript / DaVinci Resolve / Premiere] - [ ] Apply [specific LUT or color grade] for consistency - [ ] Add [transition type and duration] between shots - [ ] Layer BGM: [genre / BPM / mood] - [ ] Add text overlays for [hook / CTA / captions] - [ ] Export [platform spec: 9:16 1080x1920 30fps for TikTok, etc.] ``` ### Step 7 — Explain Why It Works Close with a "Why this works" block explaining the creative decisions. This educates the user and differentiates your output from generic prompt lists. Reference: - The hook rule (first second determines watch-through) - Pacing cadence (average scroll time) - Story structure (why the shot order matters) - Platform-specific conventions ## Output Format The final output is a single Markdown document containing: 1. **Header** — Title, duration, shot count, aspect ratio 2. **Visual Theme** — Shared palette, lighting, lens, film look, motion 3. **Shot List** — N shots, each following the structure in Step 4 4. **Post-Production Checklist** 5. **Why This Works** — creative rationale See `examples/` for four complete sample outputs: - `tiktok-reel-30s-coffee.md` — Coffee shop opening TikTok - (more examples to be added) ## References - `references/shot-types.md` — Cinematography vocabulary (ECU, CU, MS, WS, OTS, POV, angles) - `references/camera-moves.md` — Camera movement vocabulary (dolly, crane, pan, tilt, tracking) - `references/lighting.md` — Lighting terminology (golden hour, rim, motivated, practical) - `references/genre-templates.md` — Pre-built templates for common genres (food, fashion, tech, travel, SaaS) ## License MIT — use freely, commercial or personal.