| name | ai-video-storyboard |
| description | 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 |
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:
- Goal platform and duration? (TikTok 30s / Reel 15-60s / YouTube Short / Instagram Ad / explainer)
- What is the video about? (subject, story, product)
- Brand vibe / tone? (cozy, energetic, premium, minimalist, playful, cinematic, etc.)
- Call to action at the end? (visit website, buy product, follow channel, etc.)
- 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:
- Always specify the shared visual language in every prompt (color palette, lighting, lens character, film look). This is how you enforce consistency.
- Specify exact duration (4s / 5s / 8s) and aspect ratio (9:16 for TikTok/Reels, 16:9 for YouTube landscape, 1:1 for feed posts).
- Always end with "cinematic 1080p, synchronized audio" — this signals professional-grade quality and works with modern video models that support both.
- 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.
- Don't write abstract prompts — be concrete. "A woman" → "A barista in her late 20s with wavy auburn hair, wearing a denim apron".
- 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:
- Header — Title, duration, shot count, aspect ratio
- Visual Theme — Shared palette, lighting, lens, film look, motion
- Shot List — N shots, each following the structure in Step 4
- Post-Production Checklist
- 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.
