Text Storyboard - The Translation Layer from Script to Screen
This is the creative starting point of the entire system. It is not a simple retelling of the script, but a complete description of the images in your mind, just like explaining the play to the production team.
Core Tasks
When the script writes "He stands on the platform, and the train slowly goes away", the text storyboard should turn it into:
At the railway station at dusk, the announcement of the upcoming train departure comes from the broadcast. He stands outside the yellow safety line, clutching a crumpled ticket in his hand. The train whistles once, the wheels start to turn slowly, and the wind on the platform blows the hem of his clothes. The camera slowly pans up from his hand to his face, his eyes follow the direction where the train is going, his lips move slightly but he says nothing. The warm yellow sunset slants from behind him, casting a long shadow on the track.
Text Storyboard Rules
1. Use specific physical actions instead of abstract concepts
- ❌ Wrong: "She is very sad"
- ✅ Correct: "Her shoulders tremble slightly, and her fingers unconsciously scratch the fabric of the sofa armrest"
2. Use continuous action chains to make the picture "move"
- The character's actions should have a sequence to form a coherent motion flow
- Do not describe individual actions in isolation
3. The camera movement should have a clear direction
- Push/pull/pan/tilt/dolly/follow, there must be a starting point and an end point
- Clearly describe where the camera starts and where it ends
4. Light and shadow description should be specific to direction, color temperature, intensity
- Direction: Coming from the left / falling from the top / penetrating through the window
- Color temperature: 3200K warm light / 5600K daylight / cold white street light
- Intensity: Soft / strong / weak / dazzling
5. Fusion narration of all dimensions
Picture content, character actions, lines and sounds, camera movement, light and shadow atmosphere - do not list them separately, integrate them with natural and smooth narration.
6. Strictly control the duration of 15 seconds
- Each text storyboard segment corresponds to a 15-second video clip
- The described actions, camera movements, and plot development should be accurately controlled to be completed within 15 seconds
- Avoid describing content that is too complex and requires longer time to present
Significance of the Translation Layer
Downstream storyboard artists do not need to understand the narrative intention of the script, they only need to faithfully transcribe the pictures described in the text storyboard into the prompt format that Seedance 2.0 can understand. Creative judgment is concentrated in the text storyboard stage, and storyboard artists focus on technical execution.
Text Storyboard Output Format
# 文字分镜 - [作品名称]
## Clip 1
### 基础信息
- 人物：[人物描述]
- 场景：[场景描述]
- 时长：15秒
- 内容概述：[这段Clip的核心内容概括]
### 分镜列表
- [时间区间1]: [画面描述，融合动作、镜头、光影、声音]
- [时间区间2]: [画面描述，融合动作、镜头、光影、声音]
- [时间区间3]: [画面描述，融合动作、镜头、光影、声音]
- ...（根据剧情需要灵活划分时间区间）
## Clip 2
### 基础信息
- 人物：[人物描述]
- 场景：[场景描述]
- 时长：15秒
- 内容概述：[这段Clip的核心内容概括]
### 分镜列表
- [时间区间1]: [画面描述，融合动作、镜头、光影、声音]
- [时间区间2]: [画面描述，融合动作、镜头、光影、声音]
- [时间区间3]: [画面描述，融合动作、镜头、光影、声音]
- ...（根据剧情需要灵活划分时间区间）
...
Note: The time interval is flexibly determined by the plot rhythm, there is no fixed number and duration division, as long as the total duration is controlled within 15 seconds.
Single Shot Duration Reference Guide
- Short drama: 1-3 seconds; hit fast-paced dramas ≈ 1 second, conflict reversal 0.3-0.8 seconds
- Domestic long dramas: 4-8 seconds; urban life 5-8 seconds, costume/criminal investigation 3-6 seconds
- Chinese animation: 2-5 seconds; 3D action 2-4 seconds, 2D Chinese style 3-6 seconds, fighting climax can be as low as less than 1 second
The default reference is the shot duration design of short dramas, because fast rhythm is popular now.
Rhythm Selection:
- Fast rhythm: Action scenes, chase scenes, climax paragraphs, fast switching of short shots
- Slow rhythm: Emotional scenes, nostalgia scenes, atmosphere creation, slow advance of long shots
Text Storyboard Example
Example: Bamboo Forest Sword Fight (Fast Rhythm)
Input (Script/Novel)
The female sword immortal fights the villain in the bamboo forest.
Output (Text Storyboard)
Text Storyboard - Bamboo Forest Sword Fight
Clip 1
Basic Information
- Characters: Female Sword Immortal (in white, holding a long sword), Villain (in black robe, holding a ghost head knife)
- Scene: Bamboo forest at noon
- Duration: 15 seconds
- Content Overview: The female sword immortal fights fiercely with the villain in the bamboo forest
Storyboard List
- 0-1s: Extreme close-up of eyes, the female sword immortal's pupils contract suddenly, her eyes lock on the front like a sharp blade, 5600K daylight reflects the cold light of the sword edge in her eyes, and her breathing is slightly rapid
- 1-2s: The camera pushes forward quickly, medium shot, the female sword immortal's white clothes flutter, she holds the scabbard in her right hand, draws the sword out of its sheath with her left hand, the clear sword sound is audible, the sunlight hits the sword edge and reflects dazzling light
- 2-3s: Reverse shot, close-up of the villain, the black robe flutters in the wind, the ghost head knife slashes diagonally from the right, the knife wind lifts the fallen leaves on the ground, low-angle upward shooting shows momentum
- 3-4s: Follow shot, the female sword immortal shakes her figure and leaps up like a white crane, the camera follows from bottom to top, the white clothes stretch like clouds in the sun
- 4-5s: Slow motion, the sword light flashes like lightning, side light hits the sword edge, several bamboos are cut off at the root, and bamboo leaves scatter in the air
- 5-6s: Close-up, the female sword immortal taps her toe lightly on a falling bamboo leaf and lands lightly, the camera slowly pans up from her feet to her face
- 6-7s: Medium shot, the villain cuts empty with a knife, the ghost head knife heavily劈 on the bamboo body, the bamboo breaks with a sound, debris splashes everywhere, the camera shakes slightly to enhance the impact
- 7-8s: Side follow shot, the female sword immortal rushes towards the villain, the long sword points straight at the other's heart, the camera moves quickly, the sunlight hits from the side, plating a layer of gold on her body
- 8-9s: Close-up of collision, the villain raises the knife to block, there is a loud clang, sparks splash everywhere, the camera captures the moment when the sword and knife collide, slow down by 0.5 times
- 9-10s: 360-degree surrounding shot, the female sword immortal spins in the air, the sword flowers are rolled up, the white clothes rotate into a circle, the camera rotates around her quickly
- 10-11s: Medium follow shot, the villain is forced back three steps, his steps are unsteady, a trace of blood overflows from the corner of his mouth, the camera follows closely to create a sense of oppression
- 11-12s: Fast cut shot, the female sword immortal pursues the victory, the sword moves are like flowing clouds and flowing water, every move hits the key point, the camera quickly switches between different angles
- 12-13s: Close-up, the villain has several more wounds on his body, the black robe is dyed red with blood, the camera quickly moves from the wound to his frightened face
- 13-14s: Low-angle upward shot, the female sword immortal uses the ultimate move, the sword light pours down like a galaxy, backlight shooting, she is like a god descending to earth
- 14-15s: Freeze frame close-up, the tip of the sword stops one inch in front of the villain's throat, the wind rolls bamboo leaves falling between the two, the camera stops for 3 seconds to create a sense of tension
Key Requirements
- Avoid abstract words: Sad, happy, nervous, scared, eyes shining, face ashen - do not write these directly, express them through actions, expressions, light and shadow
- The picture has a beginning and an end: Each storyboard segment should have a clear start and end
- Keep the narration smooth: It is like describing a scene that is happening, not making a list
- Camera and content are synchronized: Camera movement should serve the content, serve emotion and narrative
- Accurately control the 15-second duration: The content of each Clip must be strictly controlled to be completed within 15 seconds, and the rhythm of actions and camera movements should conform to the 15-second time span
- Flexible division of storyboard time: The time interval is flexibly determined by the plot rhythm, there is no fixed number and duration division, as long as the total duration is controlled within 15 seconds
- Complete basic information: Each Clip must contain four basic information: characters, scene, duration, and content overview
Usage Scenarios
- Visual conversion when adapting novels into film and television projects
- Text storyboard creation at the script stage, providing clear picture guidance for subsequent production
- Communicate creative intentions with the team to ensure that everyone has a unified understanding of the picture
- Provide high-quality input for storyboard-prompt-generator