cinematic-shot-direction

What it does

Direct cinematic shots and coverage for AI-assisted content production. Use when an agent must translate story intent into framing, shot size, lens and perspective, camera position, movement, blocking, screen direction, lighting-aware coverage, continuity, shot specifications, or diagnose why generated or filmed shots do not cut together.

How it works

Begin with a dramatic job sentence that states what the audience should notice, understand, and feel at a beat. Then identify the shot’s editorial function (Orient, Reveal, Witness, Identify, Compare, Isolate, Transition). Prefer a locked camera if movement has no specific job; movement should be motivated by the script and intended shot.

Build the frame from relationships by selecting shot size based on information, not prestige, and name framing landmarks for precision. Separate distance, height, and angle as independent controls, specify camera position as point of view, and choose lens/perspective in an order: place camera for perspective, choose angle of view, set aperture/focus behavior, then evaluate optical character after geometry works.

Choreograph movement and blocking together by first choosing what moves (subject, camera, both, or neither), and name movement geometrically with start frame, path, motivation, speed, end frame, and newly visible elements. Block with marks and beats, rehearse as a system, and track lighting and key/fill relationships. Preserve screen direction and editorial continuity by defining active axes and recording for each shot who is screen-left/right, gaze target, entry/exit edge, motion direction, axis side changes, props and action state, focus and lighting state, and start/end poses. Use match on action and eyeline, maintain continuity, and justify axis changes if needed.

Design coverage around beats: determine whose information controls the beat, whether geography must remain visible, if decisive events are simultaneous, uninterrupted duration, and editor entry/exit points. A robust minimal set often includes an orienting view, action/speaker view, reaction view, inserts for critical details, and transitions.

Write a generative production shot specification: describe one continuous shot per specification, keeping story context outside visual instructions when not affecting appearance. Use the provided order (SHOT ID / EDITORIAL FUNCTION, Intent, Duration, Subject and setting, Start frame, Lens / focus, Blocking, Camera movement, Lighting interaction, Continuity, Exclusions / tolerances, Review target) and prioritize a single dominant subject action and camera idea. If two moves are essential, state their sequence and cue rather than listing as simultaneous.

When to use it

Use when the task requires translating narrative intent into concrete cinematic direction, diagnosing misaligned shots, or ensuring continuity across generated or filmed coverage.

What it can touch

Describe and specify camera position, movement, shot size, lens, blocking, eyeline, axis direction, lighting states, and continuity conventions for each shot as outlined in the specification structure.

Caveats

License: MIT. The skill emphasizes production heuristics and editorial conventions; it requires adherence to documented editorial functions, shot sizes, and axis rules, and notes when to deliberately cross continuity lines (Production convention). No guarantees of outcomes are stated beyond the procedural guidance.