---
slug: "ai-shortfilm-prompts"
source_type: "readme"
source_url: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts@main/README.md"
repo: "https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts"
source_file: "README.md"
branch: "main"
---
# ai-shortfilm-prompts
> ๐ **Browse the prompt library online โ [prompts.aiolaola.com](https://prompts.aiolaola.com)** โ view any template/case and copy it with one click, no install.
> ๐งฉ **Or skip straight to the [prompt builder](https://prompts.aiolaola.com/en/build.html)** โ pick one of 21 genres, fill a few blanks, get the full multi-shot prompt + negative prompt. No Claude Code needed.
> ๐ **ๅ
่ดน้
ๅฅๅญฆไน ** โ [ไป้ถๅญฆไผ AI ็ผ็จ](https://aiolaola.com/?utm_source=github&utm_campaign=shortfilm)๏ผ180 ่ๅ
่ดนๅฎๆ่ฏพ + ใAI ็ผ็จๅฎๆไธๅทไนฆใๅจ็บฟ้
่ฏป + ๅฎๆ็คพๅบ ยท ๆฐธไน
ๅ
่ดน
[](./LICENSE)
[](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts)
[](https://x.com/aibuzhiyu/status/2056426660577288645)
[](#install-claude-code)
> **A Claude Code Skill that turns any idea into a cinematic, model-ready
> video prompt** โ for Sora ยท Kling ยท Veo ยท Seedance. 21 genre templates,
> a 5-stage structure, eval-tested. Distilled from
> **[*Zombie Scavenger*](https://x.com/aibuzhiyu/status/2056426660577288645)**
> by Mx-Shell โ the AI short Hollywood director PJ Ace called
> *"one of the best short films I've seen in years."*
**[ไธญๆ็ โ](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/README.zh.md)**
> โก **Quick start:** [one-page cheat sheet](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/cheatsheet.md) ยท
> [failureโfix gallery](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/cases.md)
๐งฉ The no-install prompt builder โ 21 genres ยท full multi-shot output ยท negative prompt included ยท runs entirely in your browser
---
## ๐ฌ The tweet that started it all
> *"This is one of the best short films I've seen in years.*
> *Very soon, we'll stop calling it 'AI film' and just call it film."*
>
> *Film name: Zombie Scavenger by MX-Shell.*
>
> โ **PJ Ace** ([@PJaccetturo](https://x.com/PJaccetturo)),
> [May 10, 2026](https://x.com/aibuzhiyu/status/2056426660577288645)
| 13.4M views | 82K likes | 7.4K reposts | 39K bookmarks | 2.3K replies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stats are from PJ Ace's original tweet ([@PJaccetturo](https://x.com/PJaccetturo), May 10, 2026), as of mid-May 2026.
This repository is **the complete workflow behind that film**, made
available because Mx-Shell himself published his prompt collection
documents and walked through his entire method on a public Douyin
livestream.
---
## โก The single-line magic prompt (try it tonight)
Copy this into Sora / Seedance / Kling / Veo. Replace `{{...}}`:
```
Anamorphic widescreen cinematic. Simulated IMAX film camera +
Panavision C-series lens (35mm focal, f/4 aperture). Handheld
shot โ extremely subtle, breath-like camera float throughout.
{{your scene description}}.
No score. Production audio only.
```
**Why this works**: real camera bodies + "breath-like float" anchor
the AI to actual film aesthetics โ not the vague "cinematic feel"
keyword everyone else uses. Full breakdown in
[methodology.md](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/methodology.md).
---
## โ vs โ
โ what the method actually changes
Same idea: *a female mech warrior raises an energy shield in a thunderstorm.*
**โ The naive prompt** (what most people write):
```
Epic cinematic shot of a beautiful female mech warrior activating a
stunning energy shield in the rain. Highly detailed, 4K, photorealistic,
movie-quality, dramatic lighting.
```
Vague praise โ *epic / stunning / 4K / movie-quality* โ gives the model
nothing concrete to anchor to. You get generic game-CG output.
**โ
With the 5-stage method** (excerpt):
```
Core theme: gritty hard sci-fi mech | rainy dock | battle-damage aesthetic | energy shield | post-apocalyptic live-action
Atmosphere: simulated IMAX film camera + Panavision C-series (35mm, f/4). Low-saturation teal base, film grain.
Camera: handheld โ extremely subtle, breath-like float throughout.
9โ12s: hexagonal energy cells light up unevenly, some flicker as if faulty; rain bends around a 2m dome.
Ending: no dialogue, no light burst โ just rain vaporizing on the shield, a lightning flash across the dock.
```
Real camera/lens names + physical reactions + battle damage + an empty
ending = visceral realism. Full sample with the 10-item self-check:
[examples/02-skill-output-sample.md](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/skills/shortfilm-prompt/examples/02-skill-output-sample.md).
---
## The story
May 2026. A 29-year-old vocational-school graduate from rural Yunnan,
China โ handle **Mx-Shell** โ used **10 days** and ~20,000 RMB of
cloud credits to make a 3-minute AI short called *Zombie Scavenger*:
an atomic-punk robot wanders into a beachfront villa after a zombie
apocalypse, meets a confused ostrich, and starts dancing
1980s-style breakdance moves while kicking a zombie's head across
the floor.
> On the cost: the widely-quoted "3,000 RMB" figure came from Mx-Shell
> himself, but on livestream he later revised it to "tens of thousands /
> 20k+." The real spend was likely well above 3,000 โ still far below a
> comparable live-action shoot.
Hollywood director **PJ Ace (@PJaccetturo)** retweeted the film,
calling it *"one of the best short films I've seen in years"* and started a
search for the author.
A few weeks later Mx-Shell went on a Douyin livestream and **gave
away his entire workflow** โ the prompts, the camera language, the
failure modes, the reroll counts.
This repo is the result of digesting 130,000 characters of his
materials into a structured, reusable system.
---
## What's in here
```
ai-shortfilm-prompts/
โโโ README.md You're here. English entry point.
โโโ README.zh.md Chinese version.
โโโ cheatsheet.md One-page cheat sheet (the whole method at a glance).
โโโ cheatsheet.zh.md Chinese version.
โโโ cases.md Failureโfix gallery: common bad output and the fix.
โโโ cases.zh.md Chinese version.
โโโ methodology.md The 5-stage prompt structure, explained.
โโโ methodology.zh.md Chinese version.
โโโ faq.md Q&A: tools, failures, costs, edge cases.
โโโ faq.zh.md Chinese version.
โโโ credits.md Sources & attribution.
โโโ credits.zh.md Chinese version.
โโโ showcase.md Things people made with the method.
โโโ CONTRIBUTING.md Submission template & rules for new prompts.
โโโ LICENSE MIT (this work)
โโโ NOTICE Attribution + Mx-Shell ARR details (dual-licensing)
โ
โโโ prompts/ Mx-Shell's complete original prompts.
โ Body kept in Chinese (his authorial
โ voice), with English header on each file.
โ โโโ README.md Index of all prompt archives
โ โโโ index.json Machine-readable index of every prompt
โ โโโ zombie-scavenger.md *Zombie Scavenger*
โ โโโ kamen-rider-transformations.md Kamen Rider transformation ร 6 (5 riders + flight)
โ โโโ kaisa-transformation.md LoL Kai'Sa transformation ร 3 versions
โ โโโ pacific-rim-gundam.md Pacific Rim + Gundam mech-drop
โ โโโ cyber-wuxia.md Shaw Brothers + steampunk wuxia template
โ โโโ metal-gear-charge-combat.md Weapon-charge + combat composite
โ
โโโ templates/ IP-stripped generalized templates (EN + .zh.md siblings).
โ Authored by jnMetaCode based on Mx-Shell's structure.
โ โโโ 15s-transformation.md 15-second transformation
โ โโโ multi-shot-narrative.md Multi-shot edited narrative
โ โโโ atmosphere-prefabs.md 8 reusable atmosphere/look prefabs
โ โโโ negative-prompts.md Reusable negative-prompt prefab (per-model)
โ โโโ genre-camera-sop.md Camera-movement SOP for 5 film genres
โ โโโ camera-move-library.md 50 camera moves in 5 technique modules
โ โโโ pet-lifetime-narrative.md Worked example: pet ร family emotional narrative
โ โโโ family-recipe-farewell.md Worked example: a mother's recipe handed down
โ โโโ elderly-cat-companion.md Worked example: grandmother & cat, empty-nest
โ โโโ product-commercial.md Worked example: beat-driven product hero ad
โ โโโ food-asmr.md Worked example: food ASMR / native synced audio
โ โโโ animal-vlog.md Worked example: talking-animal selfie vlog
โ โโโ movie-trailer.md Worked example: escalating teaser trailer
โ โโโ cyberpunk-city.md Worked example: atmospheric neon-city roam
โ โโโ claymation.md Worked example: 12fps stop-motion / claymation
โ โโโ nature-timelapse.md Worked example: landscape timelapse, locked grade
โ โโโ found-footage-horror.md Worked example: CCTV / security-cam dread
โ โโโ anime-to-real.md Worked example: 2D character โ live-action
โ โโโ music-video.md Worked example: beat-synced performance MV
โ โโโ sports-slowmo.md Worked example: high-speed slow-motion sports
โ โโโ fashion-film.md Worked example: editorial fashion film
โ โโโ travel-vlog.md Worked example: travel vlog, sense of place
โ โโโ drone-fpv.md Worked example: FPV/aerial continuous flight
โ โโโ micro-drama.md Worked example: vertical short-drama (hook+cliffhanger)
โ โโโ sci-fi-space.md Worked example: hard sci-fi space / zero-G
โ โโโ car-commercial.md Worked example: automotive commercial
โ โโโ dance.md Worked example: continuous-motion dance film
โ
โโโ assets/ Diagrams + the README hero-demo prompt.
โ โโโ demo-prompt.md Copy-paste 15s prompt the Skill wrote (hero slot)
โ โโโ 5-stage-structure.svg The structure diagram
โ
โโโ skills/shortfilm-prompt/ Claude Code Skill
โ โโโ SKILL.md How Claude should generate prompts (7 hard rules + 10-item checklist)
โ โโโ TESTING.md How to run rigorous skill tests in another Claude window
โ โโโ examples/ 4 test cases (5 files) with expected outputs
โ
โโโ .claude-plugin/ Plugin metadata (plugin.json + marketplace.json)
```
---
## TL;DR โ The 5-stage prompt structure
Every Mx-Shell video prompt follows the same skeleton. The order matters:
```
1. Core theme โ 3-6 style tags separated by |
2. Character & scene โ Face / clothing / environment
3. Atmosphere & quality โ Visual base / color tone / style core
4. Camera rules โ Single-shot or multi-shot / angle / breathing
5. Storyboard โ Per-second OR per-shot breakdown
```
### Three counter-intuitive rules
1. **Specify real camera + lens models.**
Don't write *"cinematic feel"*. Write
*"simulated IMAX film camera, Panavision C-series lens, 35mm focal,
f/4 aperture."* AI training data binds those exact strings to real
movie aesthetics.
2. **Describe imperfections.**
*"Battle-damaged armor, paint worn off, oil in the joints, minor
facial blemishes preserved."* Perfection looks fake. The visceral
realism comes from the flaws.
3. **Leave the ending empty.**
*"No dialogue. No explosion. No blinding light.
Just a figure standing in the smoke, a meteor crossing the sky."*
Full methodology in [methodology.md](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/methodology.md).
---
## Install (Claude Code)
### Option 1 โ Plugin Marketplace โญ (one-line install)
```
/plugin marketplace add jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts
/plugin install ai-shortfilm-prompts@ai-shortfilm-prompts
```
Then in Claude Code:
```
/ai-shortfilm-prompts:shortfilm-prompt Help me write a 15-second prompt for a
robot transformation, green color palette,
energy core in the belt buckle,
post-apocalyptic jungle background
```
### Option 2 โ Try it inside this repo
```bash
git clone https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts.git
cd ai-shortfilm-prompts
claude --plugin-dir . # then: /ai-shortfilm-prompts:shortfilm-prompt
```
### Option 3 โ Make it available globally (manual copy)
```bash
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
cp -r ai-shortfilm-prompts/skills/shortfilm-prompt \
~/.claude/skills/
```
### Option 4 โ As a submodule in your own project
```bash
git submodule add https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts.git \
vendor/ai-shortfilm-prompts
claude --plugin-dir vendor/ai-shortfilm-prompts # loads the plugin + skill
```
The Skill walks through the 5-stage structure, runs a 10-item self-check,
and warns you about IP names that may be blocked by Seedance 2.0.
---
## Compatible video models
The 5-stage structure is **model-agnostic**. Here's how the major 2026
engines compare โ single-shot ceiling, negative-prompt support, IP filter,
preferred prompt language, and the one gotcha that trips people up:
| Model | Max single shot | Negative prompt | IP filter | Lang | Notes / gotcha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **[Seedance 2.0](https://dreamina.onelink.me/yKT4/dw7oxbdd)** (Doubao / Jimeng / [Xiaoyunque](https://xiaoyunque.jianying.com/s/ufhQBHB9CHg/), ByteDance) โ *Mx-Shell's primary engine* | ~10โ15s โ but the **Doubao app is locked to 5s/10s preset buttons**; the full 4โ15s range only on Jimeng/Dreamina web + VolcEngine console | Partial โ no reliable dedicated field in the consumer app; negate by describing what you *do* want | Strict โ domestic platforms aggressively reject named celebrities + branded IP | Either (ZH native, EN works) | Duration depends entirely on the front-end. Don't promise 15s if the user is on the Doubao app. Native synced audio-video is its standout strength. |
| **[Veo 3 / 3.1](https://deepmind.google/models/veo/)** (Google) | 8s per clip (4/6/8s); Extend adds 7s hops up to ~148s, but quality degrades after 4โ5 extensions | Yes โ dedicated field. List unwanted elements as plain nouns (`extra limbs, glitch morphs`); **no `no`/`don't` command phrasing** | Strict โ rejects public figures, brands, voice/likeness; scans prompt *and* frames | EN | The negative field wants descriptive phrases, not commands โ `no rain` style instructions can backfire. Best-in-class native audio + realism. |
| **[Kling 2.x / 3.0](https://klingai-share.kuaishou.com/h5-app/invitation?code=6BCGZXWZRMA9)** (Kuaishou) | 2.5: 5โ10s (Pro ~12s); **3.0: up to ~15s single-prompt** multi-shot | Yes โ dedicated field. Use for stability artifacts (sliding feet, extra fingers, morphing), not generic "quality" words | Strict โ a pre-gen banned-word filter rejects the **whole prompt** on one match; hypersensitive | Either (ZH native, EN strong; 3.0 multilingual dialogue) | The banned-word filter is notoriously over-sensitive โ a benign body/contact word can block a clean prompt. Sanitize wording first. Excellent action/motion realism. |
| **[Hailuo / MiniMax](https://hailuoai.video/)** (02 / 2.3) | ~6โ10s โ 1080p caps ~6s, 768p extends ~10s | Yes โ but vendor guidance says use sparingly, for specific artifacts not as a primary lever | Moderate โ more permissive than Sora/Veo, still blocks named celebs + overt IP | Either (ZH native, EN solid) | Resolution and duration trade off โ you can't get max of both. Pick the axis that matters per shot. Strong motion at low cost. |
| **[Wan 2.x](https://tongyi.aliyun.com/)** (Alibaba, open-source) | 2.2: ~3โ8s @ 24โ30fps; 2.5/2.6 extend ~10โ15s by mode | Yes โ robust field; defaults like `morphing, warping, face deformation, flickering` | Lenient โ open-weights/self-hostable, so **no enforced filter when run locally** (hosted APIs may add their own) | Native ZH (both, but ZH-trained) | Leans Chinese โ first/last-frame mode especially; EN-only prompts can underperform, add ZH for tricky shots. Self-hostable, full ComfyUI control, renders legible ZH/EN on-screen text. |
| **[Runway Gen-4 / 4.5](https://runwayml.com/)** | 5s or 10s per generation | **No โ does NOT support negatives.** `avoid X / no X` can produce the opposite. Describe only what *should* appear | Strict โ blocks celebs, real people, copyrighted characters/brands | EN | Negative prompts are actively harmful here โ `no distorted hands` can summon distorted hands. The single biggest mistake when porting prompts. Director-grade camera control + mature pro pipeline. |
| **[Pika](https://pika.art/)** (2.2 / 2.5) | Standard + Pikascenes: 5s or 10s; **Pikaframes (keyframe) up to ~25s** | Partial โ 2.5 supports negatives (`no morphing, no extra limbs`); 2.2 unclear, verify in-app | Moderate โ blocks overt celebs/IP, generally more relaxed than Sora/Veo | EN | Only the Pikaframes keyframe path reaches ~25s โ ordinary text/image-to-video is still 5s/10s. Fast, effects/transition-driven, great for stylized short-form. |
| **[Sora 2 / 2 Pro](https://sora.com/)** (OpenAI) | Up to ~25s continuous single-pass on Sora 2 Pro (standard tier shorter) | No dedicated field โ negate in-prompt with guardrails like `original characters only, no logos or text` | Strict โ triple-layer moderation; blocks named IP **and visual lookalikes** even without the name | EN | The filter catches *descriptions*, not just names โ `a spiky-haired ninja in an orange jumpsuit` still trips it (matches Naruto). Avoid recognizable trait-bundles, not only proper nouns. Leading prompt comprehension + world coherence. |
Durations and negative-prompt mechanics for Veo 3.1, Runway Gen-4, Kling,
Wan, and Sora are consistent across multiple 2026 vendor/help-doc sources;
Seedance 2.0 and Hailuo figures lean on third-party guides (treat `~` as
approximate). "Veo ~148s", "Sora/Pika ~25s" come from extension/keyframe
features, **not** plain single-shot generation. IP-filter "strictness" labels
are qualitative.
Tool names link to their sign-up pages; Xiaoyunque / Jimeng / Kling are invite links (both sides get free credits).
---
## Sister projects (by the same author)
This is the video-prompt sibling of the AI-coding ecosystem maintained
by [@jnMetaCode](https://github.com/jnMetaCode):
- [superpowers-zh](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/superpowers-zh) โ Chinese-enhanced edition of `obra/superpowers` (TDD / debug / git workflow skills)
- [agency-agents-zh](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/agency-agents-zh) โ 211 plug-and-play AI expert personas
- [agency-orchestrator](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/agency-orchestrator) โ Multi-agent collaboration orchestrator
- [ai-coding-guide](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-coding-guide) โ 66 Claude Code tips
- [shellward](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/shellward) โ AI Agent security middleware
- [ai-coding-trilogy](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-coding-trilogy) โ AI coding three-volume book
All projects share the same `SKILL.md` format. The video skill stacks
freely with any of them.
---
## Contributing
The roadmap is to collect more AI-shortfilm creators' methods, structured the
same way. New prompts, templates, fixes, and translations are welcome โ see
[CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/CONTRIBUTING.md) for the submission template and rules
(public source required, credit the original creator).
Made something with the method? It goes on the [showcase](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/showcase.md).
---
## Follow ยท ๅ
ณๆณจไฝ่
ๅพฎไฟกๅ
ฌไผๅทใ**AI ไธๆญข่ฏญ**ใ ยท ๆ้ณ **@AIไธๆญข่ฏญ**๏ผAIBZY๏ผ ยท [X @jnMetaCode](https://x.com/jnMetaCode) ยท [aiOlaOla โ ๅ
่ดนๅญฆ AI ็ผ็จ](https://aiolaola.com/?utm_source=github&utm_campaign=shortfilm)
๐ Live prompt library โ **[prompts.aiolaola.com](https://prompts.aiolaola.com)**
---
## License
**[MIT License](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/tree/HEAD/LICENSE)** for everything authored by jnMetaCode
(methodology, FAQ, templates, Skill, metadata). Free for any use
including commercial โ just keep the copyright notice.
Mx-Shell's original prompts and document excerpts โ sourced from his
fan-group documents and public Douyin livestream that he himself
distributed โ remain **ยฉ Mx-Shell, all rights reserved**. Archived here
for educational reference; commercial use requires contacting Mx-Shell
directly. Full dual-licensing details: [NOTICE](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/tree/HEAD/NOTICE) ยท
attribution: [credits.md](https://github.com/jnMetaCode/ai-shortfilm-prompts/blob/HEAD/credits.md).
---
## A line worth remembering
> *"For creation, the equipment is not what matters.
> The idea is what matters."*
> โ Mx-Shell, May 12, 2026 livestream