majiayu000 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