World Building Skill
Purpose
Create immersive, consistent worlds that support storytelling through production design. Every visual element—locations, props, costumes—should reinforce theme, character, and narrative while maintaining internal consistency.
World Parameters
Establishing the Rules
| Parameter | Questions to Define |
|---|---|
| Time Period | When does this take place? |
| Geography | Where in the world? |
| Technology | What's possible? |
| Society | How is it organized? |
| Economy | How do people live? |
| Culture | What do people believe? |
| Rules | What's possible/impossible? |
World Building Layers
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MACRO WORLD ├── Geography (continents, nations, cities) ├── History (what came before) ├── Politics (power structures) ├── Economy (how things work) └── Culture (beliefs, customs) MICRO WORLD ├── Neighborhoods (local areas) ├── Buildings (structures characters use) ├── Interiors (rooms and spaces) ├── Props (objects characters touch) └── Details (texture and specificity)
Location Design
Location Profile Template
markdown
## [LOCATION NAME] ### Basic Info - **Type:** INT/EXT - **Category:** [Home, workplace, public, etc.] - **Story Function:** [What happens here] - **Scenes:** [Scene numbers] ### Physical Description - **Size/Scale:** - **Architecture:** - **Layout:** - **Key Features:** - **Entry/Exit Points:** ### Atmosphere - **Lighting:** - **Color Palette:** - **Textures:** - **Sound Environment:** - **Mood:** ### Production Notes - **Set vs. Location:** - **Special Requirements:** - **VFX Needs:** - **Time Variations:** ### AI Image Prompt [Detailed prompt for visualization]
Location Types
| Type | Considerations |
|---|---|
| Public Spaces | Crowds, geography, time of day |
| Domestic | Character expression, lived-in feel |
| Workplace | Function, hierarchy, activity |
| Transit | Movement, transition, anonymity |
| Nature | Weather, scale, accessibility |
Production Design Elements
Props
Hero Props (story-critical):
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- Name and description - Story significance - Detailed specifications - Handling characters - Visual prompts
Action Props (character-used):
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- Category (weapon, tool, device) - Function - Period accuracy - Scene appearances
Set Dressing (environmental):
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- Location-specific lists - Period/style appropriate - Storytelling elements - Background texture
Costume Design
Character Wardrobe Approach:
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## [CHARACTER] Costume Concept ### Overall Direction - Style influences - Color palette - Silhouette - Character expression ### Signature Look - Key pieces - Accessories - Styling notes - Visual prompt ### Wardrobe Arc - How costume evolves - Key changes - Story meaning
Color Palette
World Color Strategy:
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Primary: [Dominant colors] Secondary: [Accent colors] Accent: [Highlight/contrast] Avoid: [Colors to exclude] Character Color Coding: - Protagonist: [Colors] - Antagonist: [Colors] - Support: [Colors]
Visual Consistency
Style Guide Elements
markdown
## Visual Style Guide ### Overall Aesthetic [Description of visual approach] ### Architecture - Period: [Historical reference] - Style: [Modern, Victorian, Art Deco, etc.] - Materials: [Wood, steel, concrete, etc.] ### Texture Palette - Surfaces: [Rough, smooth, worn, etc.] - Materials: [Fabric, metal, glass, etc.] - Wear level: [Pristine, lived-in, decayed] ### Color Temperature - Warm/Cool bias - Saturation level - Contrast approach ### Visual References - Films: [Reference movies] - Art: [Artists, periods] - Photography: [Styles, photographers]
Environment Categories
Urban
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Street level, building facades, interiors, public transit, parks, nightlife, commercial
Suburban
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Residential, yards, schools, strip malls, community spaces, domestic interiors
Rural
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Open land, farms, small towns, nature, isolation, simplicity, work spaces
Fantasy/Sci-Fi
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Imagined architecture, impossible spaces, future/past technology, altered physics
VFX Planning
VFX Categories
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Invisible | Wire removal, set extension |
| Environment | CG locations, weather |
| Creature | Digital characters, animals |
| Action | Explosions, destruction |
| Enhancement | Color, atmosphere |
VFX Shot Template
markdown
## VFX Shot [ID] - **Scene:** [Number] - **Description:** [What's the effect] - **Category:** [Invisible/Environment/Creature/Action] - **Complexity:** [Simple/Moderate/Complex/Hero] - **Approach:** [How to achieve] - **Plate Requirements:** [What to shoot] - **AI Video Prompt:** [For generation]
World Bible Structure
markdown
# [PROJECT] World Bible ## Overview - Time period - Geographic scope - World rules ## Visual Approach - Color palette - Texture palette - Style references ## Locations ### [Location 1] [Full profile] ## Production Design ### Props [Master list] ### Costumes [Character wardrobe guides] ## VFX Requirements [Breakdown] ## Reference Gallery [Image prompts and descriptions]
Quality Checklist
- • World rules are consistent
- • Locations serve story
- • Props are period-appropriate
- • Costumes express character
- • Color palette is cohesive
- • VFX are identified
- • Production is feasible
- • Visual references clear