ChatGPT Prompt for Storyboard: 12 Storyboarding Prompts

A ChatGPT prompt for storyboard planning turns a finished script into numbered frames with shot sizes, angles and timings your whole crew can follow. The 12 prompts below take you from script breakdown to a timed shot list, frame notes, continuity checks and an animatic. Replace each [variable] with details from your own script.

Rights and consent note: Board original characters and settings, not characters, logos or worlds from existing films, shows or games. If a frame is drawn or generated from a real person, such as an actor or a customer, get their written consent first, and never show someone saying or doing something they did not agree to.

Keep the model tied to your script: ask it to flag anything it would add rather than invent new scenes.

Break down the script

1. Scene breakdown

Read this script [paste] and list each scene with location, time of day, characters and the one story job the scene does.

2. Story beats

List the story beats in this script [paste] in order, one line each, and mark which beat is the turning point.

Plan the shots

3. Numbered shot list

Turn scene [number] of this script [paste] into a shot list numbered 1.1, 1.2 and so on, with shot size, angle, movement, action and dialogue for each.

4. Timing to runtime

Give every shot in this list [paste] a duration in seconds, show the sum, and adjust until the total is exactly [runtime] seconds.

5. Camera choices

For each shot in [shot list], suggest one camera angle and one movement that fits a [style] look, with a one line reason.

Describe the frames

6. Frame notes for an artist

Write two sentences per shot in [shot list] describing what is in the frame, where the subject sits and which way they look, for a [aspect ratio] frame.

7. Character look sheet

Write a short look sheet for each character in [characters] so their hair, clothes and props stay the same in every frame.

8. Image prompts per frame

Write one short image prompt per shot in [shot list] in a [style] style, keeping each character's look from [look sheet] identical, with no logos, readable signs or real people.

Check continuity

9. Continuity check

Check this shot list [paste] for screen direction, the 180 degree line in dialogue, matching props and wardrobe, and list every problem.

10. Location check

Compare these shots [paste] with the locations we can use [locations] and flag any shot that needs a place we do not have.

Hand off to the crew

11. Animatic timing sheet

Turn this storyboard [paste] into an animatic timing sheet with shot number, start time, end time, voiceover line and sound notes.

12. Shoot day order

Reorder these shots [paste] for an efficient shoot day by location and camera setup, and keep the original shot numbers.

Use the full storyboard prompt

The flagship Storyboard Prompt: Script to Numbered Frames and Shot Notes runs every step from one script: scene breakdown, a numbered shot list, a timing check that matches your runtime, frame notes, continuity, optional frame prompts and open questions. Its example boards a 30 second library tool lending spot in nine shots.

Related prompts

If you start from a scene list instead of a script, try the storyboard beat sheet prompt. For vertical video, use the YouTube Shorts storyboard prompt. Once the footage is shot, the video editing prompt turns your transcript into a cut list and captions. For moving pictures, see the ChatGPT prompt for animation video and the AI prompts for video generation.

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