Cinematography

Cinematography with vg generate

Use this skill when the user needs cinematic direction, not generic "make it cinematic" prompting. Load references as needed:

• references/shot-language.md
• references/lighting-lens-color.md
• references/examples.md

Load model-catalog alongside this skill for default endpoint choices.

Write concrete visual direction. Avoid empty prestige words and em dashes.

Inputs to collect

Ask only for what affects the shot:

• Subject and action.
• Medium: still image, video, image-to-video, edit, storyboard frame.
• Genre and mood.
• Framing: close-up, medium, wide, overhead, POV, profile, locked-off.
• Camera motion for video: push-in, dolly, tracking, handheld, crane, drone.
• Lens feel: wide, normal, telephoto, macro, shallow or deep focus.
• Lighting: natural, practical, studio, noir, high key, low key, backlit.
• Output: aspect ratio, duration, first frame, last frame, download path.
• Preferred model, if the user wants a specific cinematography model or quality/cost profile.

Genmedia workflow

Follow the standard workflow in the generate skill: resolve endpoint → inspect schema/pricing → upload references (first/last frame, style, continuity) → run (stills inline, video --async + status) → download to ./outputs/cinema/{request_id}_{index}.{ext}. Default endpoint IDs are in the Model routing section below.

Prompt build order

Use the SCLCAM structure:

1. Subject: who or what is in frame.
2. Context: location, time, weather, story moment.
3. Lens/framing: distance, angle, focal length feel, depth of field.
4. Camera motion: only for video or if motion blur is desired.
5. Atmosphere: haze, rain, practicals, reflections, texture.
6. Mood/color: palette, contrast, grade, exposure style.
7. Output controls: aspect ratio, duration, first-frame continuity.

Example structure:

[subject] in [context], framed as [shot size and angle], [lens feel],
[lighting setup], [camera movement if video], [color grade], [texture],
[duration or aspect ratio], [continuity constraints]

Model routing

• Premium realistic still: use openai/gpt-image-2.
• Premium stylized still: use openai/gpt-image-2, then fal-ai/nano-banana-pro, then fal-ai/nano-banana-2.
• Fast draft still: use fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b.
• Highest quality video: use bytedance/seedance-2.0/text-to-video or bytedance/seedance-2.0/image-to-video.
• Motion from a strong frame: use bytedance/seedance-2.0/image-to-video.
• Fast or lower-cost video: use xai/grok-imagine-video/text-to-video or xai/grok-imagine-video/image-to-video.
• Complex camera language: inspect Seedance 2.0 first, then Kling v3 when multi-prompt or element controls matter.
• Story sequence: use the storytelling skill with this skill as shot-language support.
• Character or product continuity: use the relevant domain skill first, then apply cinematography as the variable block.

Quality bar

Before returning, check:

• Camera movement is physically plausible for the scene.
• Lens, shot size, and camera angle do not contradict each other.
• Lighting direction is clear and consistent.
• Color grade supports the mood without flattening subject detail.
• Video prompt describes one shot unless the selected model supports multiple prompts or shot lists.
• Downloaded files come from downloaded_files[].

If a result looks generic, improve specificity in camera, blocking, light, and environment before adding more adjectives.