# Teaser shot grammar

A 15–20 s destination teaser is a promise, not a tour: where it is, what it feels like to be there, one thing you will do, and the place at its best. Four to six shots of 3–4 s each, in this order. `scripts/build-shot-list.mjs` writes it; this file says what goes in each slot.

## The slots

| # | Slot | Shows | Size and angle | Camera | On screen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aerial | The place in its landscape: coast, valley, skyline, desert | Drone, 60–150 m, 30–45° down | Slow glide forward or descent toward the property | 3.5–4 s |
| 2 | Detail | One detail that says the season and the standard: a window, linen, a set table, a doorway | Close, 85 mm | Very slow push-in while something moves | 3–3.5 s |
| 3 | Amenity (5–6 shots) | The signature experience: pool, sauna steam, terrace, bar, boat, spa | Medium wide | Slow rise or slow lateral move | 3–3.5 s |
| 4 | People | One person or a couple enjoying it, from behind or in profile | Medium | Locked off or very slow push-in | 3–3.5 s |
| 5 | Activity (6 shots) | Something to do on site: a walk, a swim, a ride, dinner served | Wide, figures small or from behind | Gimbal follow or tracking | 3 s |
| last | Hero | The whole property at its best moment, calm; the shot a caption sits on | Wide, low or eye level | Slow push toward it or slow pull back | 3.5–4 s, then a 0.5 s fade |

Four shots: aerial, detail, people, hero (each generated at 5 s and held about 4 s). Five shots: add the amenity. Six: add an activity.

## Rules for short vertical edits

- Hard cuts, about every 3–3.5 s. At most one dissolve, where inside becomes outside or day becomes night.
- Each cut changes size: wide → close → medium → wide. Never two wides in a row except aerial into hero at the very end of a 4-shot teaser.
- Something moves in every frame: snow, steam, water, flames, curtains, leaves. A still frame reads as a slideshow.
- One time of day, or one clear progression (afternoon → golden hour → blue hour). Do not jump back and forth.
- The first frame matters most on social: the aerial (or the most striking shot) goes first, with movement from frame one.
- End on a hold, not on action, so the user's caption or logo has room.

## By destination type

| Destination | Aerial | Detail | Amenity | People | Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine lodge, winter | Lodge in snowy forest, peaks behind, blue hour | Frosted window, candle lantern, snow falling | Hot tub or sauna steam into cold air | Couple by a stone fireplace, from behind | Lodge from the meadow, windows glowing, snow |
| Beach resort | Coastline, reef, villas | Linen curtain, shells, breakfast tray | Infinity pool edge, boat on the lagoon | Swimmer from behind, walk on a pier | Villas at sunset |
| City hotel | Skyline at blue hour, the building lit | Lobby lamp, key on marble, cocktail garnish | Rooftop bar, spa pool | Guest at the window looking out, from behind | Facade from across the street at night |
| Countryside, vineyard | Rolling hills, rows of vines, the house | Wine pour, stone wall, bread on a board | Long table under trees, pool among olives | Couple walking a vine row | House at golden hour |
| Desert camp | Dunes, tents in a pattern | Lantern, woven rug, tea pour | Fire pit, stargazing deck | Figure on a dune crest in silhouette | Camp glowing under stars |
| Safari lodge | River and plains, the lodge on stilts | Binoculars, canvas, morning coffee | Deck over the river, plunge pool | Guests in a vehicle, small, from behind | Lodge at dusk with a fire |
| Spa, wellness | Valley or forest setting | Steam, stones, towels, herbs | Thermal pool, treatment room | Person in a robe from behind by the water | Building lit at dusk |
| Ski or mountain town | Village in the valley, lifts | Boots, skis by a door, mulled wine | Gondola, slope at first light | Skiers small on a ridge | Village lights at dusk |
| Cruise, boat | The boat on open water | Rope, teak, a glass on the rail | Deck pool, sunset bow | Figure at the bow from behind | Boat lit at night at anchor |

## Seasons

- Winter: blue hour is the money light (warm windows against blue snow). Snowfall, breath, steam, firelight.
- Summer: early morning or golden hour; midday light looks flat and harsh. Water, linen, shade, glare.
- Autumn: warm side light, mist in valleys, leaves falling, fireplaces.
- Spring: soft overcast or morning light, blossom, fresh greens, open windows.
- Rainy season: wet reflections at night, rain on glass, a covered terrace; make the weather part of the charm.

## Real places

When the teaser is for a real property and the user gives photos of it:
- Use the photos as references for every keyframe (`--place-photos`, up to 3: one exterior, one interior, one detail). The prompts say "exactly the real one … do not add buildings, pools or features it does not have".
- Only show rooms, views and amenities the place really has. If the user asks for something it does not have (a hot tub, a sea view), say it would misrepresent the property and suggest labelling the video as a concept, or leaving it out.
- Compare each keyframe with the photos side by side: roof shape, window count, materials, surroundings. Re-roll anything that changed the building.
- Guests and staff shown are always fictional; never generate a real guest or staff member from a photo.

## Lengths

- 15 s (4–5 shots), 20 s (5–6 shots). Each shot is generated at 4 s (Seedance minimum; 5 s for 4-shot teasers) and trimmed: skip the first 0.2 s and stop before anything odd.
- A 6–8 s bumper: aerial + hero, `assemble-teaser.mjs --only 1,5 --max-shot 3.5`.