Video & Scriptwriting / Storyboarding
Break down a script into individual shots with camera angles, duration, and transitions — production-ready shot lists.
Why This Prompt Exists
A script describes what happens. A storyboard describes how it’s seen. Without shot-by-shot breakdowns, productions waste time on set figuring out coverage.
You get:
- shooting without a shot list (chaotic, missed coverage)
- inconsistent shot sizes across similar scenes
- no planned transitions (editing puzzles later)
- overly long or short shots (pacing problems)
- no visual continuity planning
But shot sequences have structure:
- shot number: sequential ID for production tracking
- shot size: ECU, CU, MCU, MS, WS, EWS
- camera angle: eye-level, low, high, Dutch, POV, over-shoulder
- duration: estimated seconds per shot
- transition: cut, fade, dissolve, wipe, match cut
- visual description: what’s in frame, action, dialogue
Without storyboards, directors and editors disagree.
This prompt generates professional shot sequences.
The Prompt
Assume the role of a storyboard artist who creates shot-by-shot breakdowns. Your task is to convert a script into a timed shot sequence. Generate: 1. SCRIPT OVERVIEW - Title: [scene/video title] - Length: [X seconds/minutes] - Tone: [dramatic/comedic/educational/intense] 2. SHOT SEQUENCE TABLE | Shot | Duration | Shot Size | Camera Angle | Action/Description | Dialogue | Transition | |------|----------|-----------|--------------|---------------------|----------|------------| | 1 | Xs | [size] | [angle] | [visual description] | [lines] | [to shot 2] | | 2 | Xs | [size] | [angle] | [visual description] | [lines] | [to shot 3] | 3. SHOT TIMING GUIDELINES | Shot Type | Typical Duration | Purpose | |-----------|------------------|---------| | Establishing shot | 3-5s | Set location | | Wide shot | 2-4s | Show action/scale | | Medium shot | 2-3s | Dialogue, interaction | | Close-up | 1.5-3s | Emotion, reaction | | Extreme close-up | 1-2s | Detail, intensity | | Cutaway | 1-2s | B-roll, coverage | 4. COVERAGE PATTERNS | Scene Type | Shot Sequence Pattern | Purpose | |------------|----------------------|---------| | Dialogue (two people) | MS A → MS B → CU A → CU B → MS A | Coverage for editing | | Action | WS → MS → CU → WS | Establish, detail, return | | Emotional moment | MS → CU → ECU | Build intensity | | Scene opening | EWS → WS → MS | Orient viewer | | Scene closing | CU → WS → fade | Emotional release | 5. SCRIPT EXAMPLE WITH SHOT SEQUENCE **Script:** "A detective enters a dark room. Finds a clue on the desk. Reacts with surprise." **Shot sequence:** | Shot | Dur | Size | Angle | Description | Transition | |------|-----|------|-------|-------------|------------| | 1 | 3s | WS | Eye-level | Detective at doorway, room visible | Cut to | | 2 | 2s | MS | Follow | Detective walks toward desk | Cut to | | 3 | 2s | CU | High angle | Hand reaches for envelope | Cut to | | 4 | 2s | ECU | Eye-level | Envelope marked "EVIDENCE" | Cut to | | 5 | 3s | CU | Eye-level | Detective's face, surprise | Hold | 6. PRODUCTION NOTES - Total estimated runtime: [X] seconds - Number of setups: [X] (camera positions) - Estimated shooting time: [X] hours - Special equipment needed: [tripod/gimbal/dolly/slider] 7. COMMON STORYBOARD MISTAKES | Mistake | Why It Fails | Correct Approach | |---------|--------------|------------------| | Too few shots | Coverage gaps | Minimum 1 shot per 5 seconds | | All same shot size | Visually boring | Vary sizes (WS, MS, CU) | | No establishing shot | Disoriented viewer | Start with WS or EWS | | No coverage for editing | Can't cut | Shoot coverage (over-shoulder, reverses) | | Shots too long | Slow pacing | Cut every 2-4 seconds | INPUTS: Script or scene description: [PASTE SCRIPT OR DESCRIBE SCENE] Target length: [E.G., "30 seconds", "60 seconds"] Scene tone: [DRAMATIC / COMEDIC / EDUCATIONAL / INTENSE / CALM] Production constraints (if any): [E.G., "Single camera, no dolly", "Green screen"] RULES: - Minimum 1 shot for every 5 seconds of runtime (6 shots per 30 seconds) - Vary shot sizes: establish with WS, detail with CU, emotion with ECU - Every shot needs a transition to the next shot (plan for editing) - Coverage means shooting from multiple angles (over-shoulder, reverses) - Dialog scenes: alternate between speakers, add reaction shots - Action scenes: wider shots for movement, close-ups for impact - Establish location before moving to action (audience needs context)
How To Use It
- Minimum 1 shot for every 5 seconds of runtime — 6 shots per 30 seconds.
- Vary shot sizes: establish with WS, detail with CU, emotion with ECU.
- Every shot needs a transition to the next shot — plan for editing during storyboarding.
- Coverage means shooting from multiple angles — over-shoulder, reverses, close-ups.
- Dialog scenes: alternate between speakers, add reaction shots.
- Action scenes: wider shots for movement, close-ups for impact.
- Establish location before moving to action — the audience needs context.
Example Input
Script or scene description:
“A young woman receives a phone call with life-changing news. She goes from sitting at her desk to standing up, then looking out the window in disbelief.”
Target length:
“25 seconds”
Scene tone:
“DRAMATIC, EMOTIONAL”
Production constraints:
“Single camera, no dolly”
Why It Works
Most productions go to set without a shot list — wasting time figuring out coverage while the crew waits.
This framework improves outcomes by forcing:
- shot-by-shot breakdown (shot number, duration, size, angle, action, dialogue, transition)
- shot timing guidelines (how long each shot type typically runs)
- coverage patterns (shot sequences for dialogue, action, emotion)
- production notes (runtime, setups, equipment needed)
- mistake prevention (too few shots, no establishing shot, no coverage)
Failure modes this prevents:
- Shooting without a shot list (chaotic, missed coverage)
- Inconsistent shot sizes across similar scenes
- No planned transitions (editing puzzles later)
- Overly long or short shots (pacing problems)
This improves on: Generic “shot list” advice. Detailed shot sequences enable efficient production.
Related to: SB-02 (Camera Movement) for motion; SB-04 (Shot Size) for visual grammar.
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