H3 Video Prompt Enhancer

H3 Video Prompt Enhancer

Overview

Transform a user's rough video idea + attached assets into a production-grade MiniMax H3 video generation prompt. The skill handles two H3 generation modes:

• Ref2VA — when the user provides reference assets (character sheets, style images, reference videos, voice samples). Outputs a 6-section structured prompt. Load references/ref2va-format.md for the full spec.
• Base MultiShot (T2VA / I2VA / FL2VA / L2VA) — for text-to-video or image-anchored generation. Outputs a timed multi-shot prompt. Load references/base-multishot-format.md for the full spec.

The skill's distinctive value: it doesn't just format-comply — it creatively enhances the brief with professional-grade cinematic detail (camera aesthetics, visual texture, lighting design, pacing arcs, spatial choreography, continuity tracking) before mapping everything into the exact H3 output format. Load references/creative-showcase.md for quality benchmarks and pattern examples from advanced long-form prompts.

When to Use

Trigger when the user:

• Attaches 1+ images/videos/audio files and describes a video they want to create
• Says "make a video prompt" / "enhance this for H3" / "write a Ref2VA prompt" / "img2vid" / "txt2vid"
• Provides a video concept and wants it structured for MiniMax H3 generation
• Mentions H3, MiniMax, Ref2VA, ComfyUI video generation
• Pastes a creative brief (CAMERA/LOOK/STYLE format) and wants it converted to H3 format

Don't use for:

• Non-H3 video models (Sora, Runway, Kling, etc.) — the output format is H3-specific
• Pure image generation prompts
• Video editing tasks that don't involve new generation

Step 0: Classify the Mode

Determine the H3 mode from what the user attached and stated:

Key distinction: An image used as a first/last frame anchor = I2VA/FL2VA/L2VA. An image used as a character/style reference (not a frame position) = Ref2VA. When ambiguous, ask the user: "Is this image a frame anchor (first/last frame of the video) or a reference (character/style/scene)?"

Reading the Assets (DSH)

In DSH you must actually see or transcribe each reference asset before you can describe it faithfully. Two requirements apply:

• Vision capability. The active model must accept image input. Use the harness image tool on each sheet — if the tool reports model ... does not declare image input, the current model is not vision-capable. Switch to an image-capable model (or delegate the visual read to a vision-capable partner) before describing reference images. Do NOT guess a character's appearance from a filename.
• Asset description depth. Character sheets usually show multiple views (front/side/back, several poses). Extract per view: identity (gender, age, build), face (hair, skin, eyes, markings), full outfit head-to-toe with exact colors/materials, weapons/props, and any on-screen labels. This feeds subject_definitions.
• Voice/audio assets. Transcribe or listen to each clip to capture the speaker's timbre, pitch, rate, and accent for the (Sx) speaker IDs. If speech transcription is unavailable in the harness, note the delivery style from any user-provided description and keep (Sx) IDs generic.

Step 1: Gather Parameters

Confirm these before enhancing (ask if missing, but proceed if the idea is clear enough):

• duration_s: 4–15 seconds (integer). Default to 8 if unspecified.
• aspect ratio: 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 21:9. Default to 16:9.
• shot count: Let the planner decide, or respect user's explicit count. Budget: 4–6s → 1–2 shots; 7–10s → 2–3 shots; 11–15s → 3–5 shots.
• asset inventory: What each attached file is and its role. Numbering per modality defines labels: Image k → <Picture k> or <Subject N>; Video k → <Video k>; Audio k → <Audio k>.

Step 2: Creative Enhancement

This is the core value-add. Take the user's idea and enrich it across seven dimensions. The goal: produce a prompt with the depth and cinematic intelligence of a professional storyboard. Consult references/creative-showcase.md for full examples of each pattern.

Enhancement Dimensions

1. Camera Identity — Assign a distinct camera aesthetic that matches the scene's tone:

• Physical type: handheld, tripod, drone, steadicam, dolly, security cam, dashcam, POV, arc shot
• Imperfections to preserve (when stylistically appropriate): hand tremor, autofocus hunting, exposure fluctuation, lens flare, motion blur, awkward zoom
• Format/aesthetic hint: 16mm film, DV tape, digital clean, anamorphic, vintage camcorder, broadcast

2. Visual Texture (LOOK) — Define the image quality and color science:

• Grain/noise: film grain, electronic noise, clean digital, VHS tracking, subtle blur
• Color palette: warm/cool, saturated/desaturated, high/low contrast, natural skin tones
• Lighting design: natural, studio, neon, golden hour, mixed sources, practical lights
• Lighting transitions: if locations change across shots, describe how the light shifts

3. Pacing Arc — Plan the energy progression across the full duration:

• Build patterns: quiet→energetic, tense→release, slow build→explosive peak→settle, steady rhythm
• Cut rhythm: accelerating cuts toward climax, slow contemplative holds, musical cutting on beats
• Match the pacing arc to the emotional intent of the brief

4. Character Detail — Flesh out every on-screen person with specificity:

• Physical: age range, build, hair color/style, skin tone, distinctive features (scars, freckles, heterochromia)
• Wardrobe: specific garments with colors, materials, textures, accessories — note changes across locations or time
• Visual signature: a recurring color or visual element that makes the character instantly recognizable in every shot (e.g., "electric purple energy trails", "glossy teal jacket reflections", "always wears a red scarf")
• Coverage note: describe outfits fully — avoid implying revealing clothing unless the user explicitly requests it

5. Spatial Geography — For action sequences or multi-location videos:

• Screen direction: who enters from where, movement vectors (Left→Right, Deep→Front, foreground↔background)
• Key action moments: the 2–3 critical motion beats that define the sequence
• Environmental layout: what's in the space, how it's lit, reflective surfaces, depth

6. Continuity Progression — Track what changes across shots so the video feels coherent:

• Physical state: damage accumulates, hair gets messier, clothes get wet/torn/dusty
• Environmental: props move, lights flicker, weather shifts, debris scatters
• Emotional: expressions and body language evolve naturally across the timeline

7. Sound Design Plan — Map the full audio landscape:

• Ambience: room tone, environmental atmosphere, background chatter, traffic, wind
• Physical action sounds: footsteps, impacts, fabric rustling, door creaks, liquid pouring
• Non-diegetic score: instrumentation, tempo, rhythm, dynamic changes (goes in non_diegetic_music field)
• Diegetic music: source-visible music — radio, speaker, live performance (goes in shot description)
• Dialogue vs. voiceover: clearly mark which is spoken on-camera vs. off-screen narration

Per-Shot Quality Bar

Every shot in the storyboard must specify:

• Composition: framing (wide, medium, close-up, extreme close-up, macro), angle (eye-level, low, high, overhead, Dutch)
• Camera motion: type + amplitude + speed in natural English (e.g., "The camera pushes in with small amplitude at slow speed")
• Subject action: exactly ONE dominant action per shot — never cram multiple actions
• Environment/lighting: what's visible, how it's lit, time of day cues
• Sound cue: what's audible in this specific moment
• Reference labels (Ref2VA only): where referenced content appears or takes effect

Step 3: Format and Output

Load the appropriate format reference and produce the final H3 prompt.

For Ref2VA → Load references/ref2va-format.md. Output exactly 6 sections in order:

1. subject_definitions: — one line per tracked item
2. summary: — task-type prefix + one paragraph
3. retention_analysis: — fidelity markers per label
4. detailed_description: — 350–500 words, opens with style, then [Shot N] timeline
5. overall_soundscape: — 1–4 sentences
6. non_diegetic_music: — 1–3 sentences or N/A

For Base MultiShot → Load references/base-multishot-format.md. Output:

1. Instruction line (I2VA/FL2VA/L2VA only — exact template from reference)
2. integrated_multimodal_description: — timed multi-shot timeline
3. overall_soundscape: — 1–4 sentences
4. non_diegetic_music: — 1–3 sentences or N/A

Critical Format Rules (both modes)

• Output ONLY the specified fields — no preamble, no explanation, no markdown fences, no commentary
• Write everything in English. Exceptions: dialogue/lyrics inside <d> tags and visible on-screen text keep their original language verbatim
• Timestamps: [Shot 1] has NO timestamp and opens with style + initial composition. Later shots: [Shot N] At MM:SS.mmm, the camera cuts to ... with strictly increasing times within duration
• A cut must add NEW information (subject, space, state, viewpoint, time). If only distance/angle changes, use camera motion instead of a cut
• Camera motion = motion type + amplitude + speed as natural English action, not stacked labels
• Dialogue format: identifying phrase + speaker ID + delivery OUTSIDE <d>; inside <d> ONLY language tag + exact words: <d>[English] Wait for us!</d>
• Preserve the user's dialogue verbatim — never translate, rewrite, or paraphrase
• Voiceover: exact phrase "says in an off-screen voiceover" + immediately state "while his/her lips remain completely closed"
• On-screen text (signs, neon, subtitles): English double quotation marks, verbatim, no translation
• Avoid named third-party IP, real celebrities, trademarked characters — describe them generically

Camera Motion Vocabulary

Types: Zoom In/Out, Push In/Pull Out, Pan L/R, Truck L/R, Tilt Up/Down, Pedestal Up/Down, Arc Shot, Tracking Shot, Static Shot, Shake Slightly/Strongly, POV, Roll CW/CCW. Amplitude: "with small amplitude" / "with large amplitude" (omit when medium). Speed: "at slow speed" / "at fast speed" (omit when normal).