Reply To: How can AI help me create storyboards and shot lists for commercials?

Spot on — the 2-pass workflow is the signal. Your preflight and A/B/C prioritization turn AI drafts into a calm, schedule-ready shoot. Let’s add one more layer: a “board pack” that the AI can produce in one go — beats, shots, coverage, storyboard prompts, CSV, and risks — so you move from idea to call sheet without retyping.

Why this works: AI is great at structured outputs. Give it a tight brief, a clear priority system, and a coverage rule, and it will return a usable storyboard and shot list you can refine with your DP in minutes.

What you’ll need

• One-paragraph script or treatment
• Two-sentence objective (message + mood)
• Beats with rough seconds per beat
• 3 mood keywords or 3 reference images
• Constraints: budget band, camera/lenses, locations, max crew

Step-by-step (preflight + board pack)

1. Preflight 10: Purpose (what must the viewer feel/do), People (how many on camera), Places (where/time of day). Note three A-priority shots.
2. Beat grid: 3–8 beats with seconds. Tag must-have moments with an asterisk.
3. Director pass: Ask for two visual options per beat (emotion, framing, blocking).
4. Pick A-shots: Lock your three must-haves. Everything else becomes B or C.
5. Production pass: Translate chosen visuals into specs (INT/EXT, framing, move, lens suggestion, simple gear, minutes per shot).
6. Coverage rule: Use a “coverage triad” where it matters — Wide (context), Mid (action), Close (emotion). You can drop C shots if time tightens.
7. Export: Ask AI for a CSV-friendly block to paste into your spreadsheet.
8. Storyboard prompts: Generate simple image prompts for 6–12 frames you’ll show stakeholders.
9. Risk + buffer: Flag time sinks, add ~20% buffer to any complex shot, and list one fallback angle per A-shot.

Copy-paste AI prompt: Commercial Board Pack (director + production in one)

Project: “[TITLE]”. Objective (2 sentences): “[message + mood]”. Script (one paragraph): “[paste]”. Beats with durations: [Beat 1 – 5s; Beat 2 – 7s; Beat 3 – 8s]. Mood keywords: [e.g., warm, energetic, modern]. Constraints: budget [low/med/high], camera [model], lenses [list], locations [list], max crew [#].
Output as a board pack:
1) Beat summary: intent, emotion, and key action for each beat.
2) Shot list per beat with priority A/B/C: number, INT/EXT, action, framing (W/M/CU), camera move, approx duration (sec), and one visual reference keyword.
3) Production notes per shot: lens suggestion, tripod/handheld, minimal gear, estimated minutes to shoot, and any dependency (talent, prop, light).
4) Coverage triad for each must-have moment: Wide (context), Mid (function), Close (emotion). If time is tight, suggest which to drop first.
5) Storyboard image prompts: one sentence per shot describing the frame for a simple sketch (include subject, light, color mood, and composition cue).
6) CSV block for spreadsheet: Shot #, Priority, Beat, INT/EXT, Framing, Move, Duration (sec), Lens, Gear, Est. Minutes, Dependency.
7) Risks + contingency: list top 3 time-risk shots and propose a fallback angle for each. Add a 20% time buffer to complex shots and show the adjusted total minutes.
Keep language simple and non-technical.

Worked micro-example (15s, 3 beats)

• Objective: Show a local gym as friendly and energizing. Mood: warm, motivating, real-people.
• Beats: 1) Arrival smile – 5s, 2) Quick workout montage – 7s, 3) Post-workout glow + CTA – 3s.
• A-shots: A1 warm entrance wide; A2 close-up effort moment; A3 satisfied smile + logo.

1. Shot 1 (A) — INT, 5s: Wide lobby as member enters; move: gentle push-in; visual: morning warmth. Prod: 24–28mm, tripod/slider, 10 min.
2. Shot 2 (B) — INT, 3s: Mid treadmill feet; move: slight pan; visual: rhythm. Prod: 35–50mm, tripod, 6 min.
3. Shot 3 (A) — INT, 3s: Close-up effort face; move: static; visual: determination. Prod: 85mm, handheld, 8 min.
4. Shot 4 (C) — INT, 3s: Dumbbell rack insert; move: rack focus; visual: sleek metal. Prod: 50mm, tripod, 6 min.
5. Shot 5 (A) — INT, 4s: Mid smile with logo wall; move: slow dolly out; visual: achievement. Prod: 35mm, slider, 10 min.

Coverage triad note: Beat 2 uses Mid (feet), Close (effort), optional Wide (floor patch); drop C first if timing slips. Total est. shooting minutes (incl. setup): ~40–45 with 20% buffer.

Insider tricks

• Same-lights alternate: Ask AI for a “same-light alt” for each A-shot (new angle, same key light) — gives you an instant backup without re-lighting.
• Transition anchors: Request 1–2 neutral cutaways (hands, signage) to smooth edits and salvage continuity.
• Shot economy ratio: Plan for 60% A, 30% B, 10% C time allocation; it keeps focus on what sells the story.

Common mistakes & fixes

• Vague objectives — Fix: force two sentences before anything else.
• Too many moves — Fix: cap to one purposeful move per A-shot; static for B/C.
• No durations — Fix: seconds per beat + minutes per shot, always.
• Skipping fallbacks — Fix: require one alternate for each A-shot.

3-day action plan

1. Day 1: Preflight 10 + beat grid; pick three A-shots.
2. Day 2: Run the Board Pack prompt; review with DP; adjust priorities and minutes.
3. Day 3: Generate 6–12 storyboard frames; export CSV to your schedule; lock 48–72 hours before shoot.

What to expect: a first board pack in 20–40 minutes, then one review pass to tighten lens/gear and a final pass to lock risks and buffer. The result is a storyboard and shot list your crew can follow without guesswork.

Final nudge: Use AI to structure, prioritize, and timebox. Keep human judgment for taste, blocking, and safety. Get your A-shots first, and let B/C expand only if time allows.