Cinematography Layer · VidVid Prompt Guide

Chapter 5 · P1×3 / P0×1

Cinematography Layer: Composition · Color · Depth · Movement

Determines what the audience sees and how they see it. The four fields together organize visual storytelling.

CompositioncompositionP1

Five-Level Shot Scale

Shot Scale	English	Frame Coverage	Narrative Function
Extreme Long Shot	Extreme Long Shot	Subject <10% of frame height	Establishes space and scale
Long/Full Shot	Long/Full Shot	Full body, 50–70%	Body-environment relationship
Medium Shot	Medium Shot	Above knee, 60–80%	Most common narrative shot
Close-Up	Close-Up	Chest up, >80%	Intensifies emotional connection
Extreme Close-Up	Extreme Close-Up	Eyes / lips / detail	Focuses on a single detail

Subject Position Description (choose one)

Rule of thirds: subject positioned at the left/right third intersection
Center composition: subject centered in frame, symmetrical negative space on both sides
Symmetrical composition: perfectly symmetrical composition, mirror along the vertical axis

Vague descriptions like put the person a bit to the left should be standardized as subject positioned at the left third intersection, face turned toward the right negative space.

Color / Tonecolor_paletteP1

Four-dimensional description: dominant color (40–60%), accent color (10–20%), saturation (five levels), contrast (three levels).

Example: dominant teal-cyan tone, accented with warm amber highlights, muted saturation at 60%, high contrast with deep shadows

Common Tone Templates

Template	Main / Accent Color	Saturation	Use Case
Warm-Cold Contrast	Cool (teal/steel blue) + warm (amber)	60–80%	Sci-fi / mystery / urban night
Monochromatic	Single hue with varying brightness	30–50%	Artistic / memory / dream
Vintage Film	Warm yellow (sepia/amber)	40–60%	Period drama / nostalgia
High-Saturation Commercial	Vivid brand colors	80–100%	Ads / fashion / animation

Depth of Fielddepth_of_fieldP1

Three elements: focus position + blur degree + clear range.

Example: shallow depth of field, focus on the subject's face, background heavily blurred with creamy circular bokeh

Type	Equivalent Aperture	Clear Range	Use Case
Shallow DoF	f/1.4–f/2.8	<1 m	Character close-up, subject separation, dreamy/memory
Deep DoF	f/8–f/16	>10 m	Environment exposition, wide scenes, documentary/architecture

Single subject defaults to shallow depth of field; multiple subjects / environment showcase default to deep depth of field. Shallow DoF must specify the focus point to avoid drift.

Camera Movementcamera_movementP0

Seven basic camera movements; each must include movement type + speed + start/end timing:

Camera Move	Movement Trait	Speed	Emotional Function
Push In	Move closer along optical axis	Slow 0.5–1m/s; fast 2–4m/s	Focus, tension, intimacy
Pull Out	Move away along optical axis	Slow 0.3–0.8m/s; fast 1.5–3m/s	Distance, release, wide view
Pan	Horizontal rotation	Slow 5–15°/s; fast 30–60°/s	Exploration, flow
Track	Move perpendicular to optical axis	Constant 0.5–2m/s	Participation, objectivity
Follow	Continuously follow subject	Auto-adapt to subject speed ±10%	Companionship, urgency, immersion
Crane	Vertical up/down	Up 0.2–1m/s; down 0.3–1.5m/s	Turning point, elevation
Orbit	Arc around subject	Slow 10–30°/s; fast 45–90°/s	Ritual, dramatic tension

Full format: slow push in toward the protagonist's face, 0.5m/s constant speed, starting from medium shot, ending close-up, duration 3 seconds

Camera movement must match narrative rhythm: rising tension favors push-ins / fast pans, emotional release favors pull-outs / slow cranes. Speed changes must note the curve: starting at [slow], accelerating to [fast].

Next: Character Layer — Character / Costume / Makeup / Action →