Storyboard templates · 2026
One shot list,four models
Vertical drama episodes follow a hook, an escalation, a reversal and a cliffhanger. Choose a trope and an episode shape, lock your characters, setting and light, and copy the same storyboard in the format Kling, Veo, Seedance or Runway expects.
Every character, setting and line is original. Each rule about a model’s syntax is labelled as either what the vendor says, with a link, or a practitioner tip.
Storyboard prompt builder
Build one episode
Trope
The person everyone wrote off walks back in holding the leverage, and the room turns.
Episode shape
The rival toasts a win, the outcast walks in, is mocked, then lays down the proof and leaves one more secret hanging.
Locks
Edit the wording and every shot uses it. Character descriptions are repeated word for word in each shot.
Shot list
5 shots, 15s on the storyboard. Each shot has one job.
- Shot 1 · hookmedium shot · static · 3s
Show Grant Hale celebrating a victory in the first seconds so the fall lands harder.
Grant Hale lifts the crystal champagne glass toward the empty chairs and smiles slowly.
Grant Hale: “To the company. Finally mine.”
- Shot 2 · escalationmedium wide shot · static · 3s
Bring Nora Vale into the room as the threat nobody invited.
Nora Vale steps through the doorway, shoulders squared, gripping the black leather folder at the side.
- Shot 3 · escalationmedium close-up · slow push-in · 3s
Raise the stakes: Grant Hale humiliates Nora Vale in front of the room.
Grant Hale lets out a short laugh, lowers the glass and tilts the head toward the door.
Grant Hale: “Security will walk you out.”
- Shot 4 · reversalclose-up · static · 3s
Flip the power: the document shows Nora Vale now controls the company.
Nora Vale opens the folder with two fingers and slides the signed share-transfer document with the red seal across the table, eyes steady.
Nora Vale: “I own sixty percent. Sit down.”
- Shot 5 · cliffhangerclose-up · slow push-in · 3s
End on a second secret so the next episode is a must-watch.
Nora Vale leans close to Grant Hale's ear; Grant Hale's jaw tightens and the champagne glass trembles in one hand.
Nora Vale: “And I know who started the fire.”
Model and prompts
Higgsfield offers several video models in one app. Higgsfield website ↗ (affiliate link: ReelPulse may earn a commission, at no change to your price. Disclosure)
Kling multi-shot prompt
Characters: Nora Vale, a woman in her early thirties with shoulder-length black hair, a charcoal wool coat over a white shirt and small silver hoop earrings; Grant Hale, a man in his late thirties with slicked-back brown hair, a navy three-piece suit and a gold tie pin. Scene: a glass-walled corporate boardroom at night, a long walnut table, city lights behind the windows. Lighting: cool blue window light mixed with warm overhead pendant lamps. Style: cinematic vertical short drama, realistic, shallow depth of field. Shot 1 (3s): Medium shot, static camera on Grant Hale. Grant Hale lifts the crystal champagne glass toward the empty chairs and smiles slowly. Grant Hale says: "To the company. Finally mine." Shot 2 (3s): Medium wide shot, static camera on Nora Vale. Nora Vale steps through the doorway, shoulders squared, gripping the black leather folder at the side. Shot 3 (3s): Medium close-up, slow push-in on Grant Hale. Grant Hale lets out a short laugh, lowers the glass and tilts the head toward the door. Grant Hale says: "Security will walk you out." Shot 4 (3s): Close-up, static camera on Nora Vale. Nora Vale opens the folder with two fingers and slides the signed share-transfer document with the red seal across the table, eyes steady. Nora Vale says: "I own sixty percent. Sit down." Shot 5 (3s): Close-up, slow push-in on Grant Hale and Nora Vale. Nora Vale leans close to Grant Hale's ear; Grant Hale's jaw tightens and the champagne glass trembles in one hand. Nora Vale says: "And I know who started the fire."
Why it is written this way
- Kling says: A multi-shot prompt holds at most 6 shots. Kling blog: Kling 3.0 multi-shot guide (checked 2026-10-08)
- Kling says: Write shots in order as Shot 1, Shot 2…, each with shot size, subject and camera movement in plain words. Kling blog: Kling 3.0 multi-shot guide (checked 2026-10-08)
- Kling says: Set up the scene, characters and style first, then give every shot a different purpose. Kling blog: Kling 3.0 multi-shot guide (checked 2026-10-08)
- Kling says: Total length is 3–15 seconds; custom mode accepts seconds per shot. Kling blog: Kling 3.0 multi-shot guide (checked 2026-10-08)
- Kling says: Name the character who speaks so each line stays with that character. Kling blog: Kling 3.0 multi-shot guide (checked 2026-10-08)
- Practitioner tip: Use one unique character label throughout and avoid pronouns; describe the action before the line; mark a change of speaker with a word like "Immediately". fal: Kling 3.0 prompting guide (checked 2026-10-08)
Use only references, faces, voices and source material you have permission to use.
Beats by trope
Where each beat lands
Revenge & Comeback
The person everyone wrote off walks back in holding the leverage, and the room turns.
Reveal episode: the boardroom return
The rival toasts a win, the outcast walks in, is mocked, then lays down the proof and leaves one more secret hanging.
- 0s · HookOpen on the rival celebrating, so the viewer knows who is about to fall.
- 3s · EscalationThe outcast arrives uninvited and is publicly dismissed.
- 9s · ReversalThe signed document flips who holds power in the room.
- 12s · CliffhangerA whispered second secret cuts off on the rival's face.
Opening hook: the firing
The rival fires the outcast in public; she takes it quietly, leaves the proof behind, and the rival's smile dies.
- 0s · HookOpen mid-humiliation: the rival drops the folder in front of her.
- 3s · EscalationShe does not argue, which is what makes the room uneasy.
- 6s · ReversalShe sets the signed document face down by his glass and walks out.
- 9s · CliffhangerHe turns it over and sees the red seal.
Cliffhanger ending: the key
She puts a hidden key on the table, the rival's composure breaks, and someone arrives behind her.
- 0s · HookHe gives her sixty seconds, so the clock is running from the first frame.
- 3s · EscalationShe sets down the brass key, the one object he never expected to see.
- 6s · ReversalHis glass slips: the key opens something only he thought he knew about.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe doors open behind her and she is not surprised.
Hidden Identity
Everyone treats her as the lowest person in the building, until one small detail shows who actually owns it.
Opening hook: the missed spot
A manager scolds the housekeeper in public, she answers politely, and a gold key card and a stranger at the door change the mood.
- 0s · HookOpen on the scolding so the viewer is on her side right away.
- 3s · EscalationShe answers politely and her stillness feels deliberate.
- 6s · ReversalA gold master key card slides out from under the towel.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe old man at the door addresses her by a title, and the manager turns around.
Reveal episode: the ledger
The manager fires her, the chairman opens the ownership ledger, and the page shows her name at the top.
- 0s · HookHe fires her in front of the guests.
- 3s · EscalationShe makes one calm request that sounds like a warning.
- 9s · ReversalThe ledger shows who owns the hotel.
- 12s · CliffhangerHe tries to deny it and his composure cracks.
Cliffhanger ending: the last page
After the reveal, the new owner finds a changed signature on the last page and locks the doors.
- 0s · HookShe turns the last page of the ledger in silence.
- 3s · EscalationA line shows a signature was altered.
- 6s · ReversalThe old chairman admits he knew.
- 9s · CliffhangerShe locks the doors and nobody leaves.
Billionaire / CEO
A cold, exact CEO and the assistant who finally pushes back: power, a quiet debt and one decision made after dark.
Opening hook: the resignation
She is four minutes late with a coffee and a resignation letter, and he already wrote the same letter first.
- 0s · HookHe opens on a cold remark about her being late.
- 3s · EscalationShe sets down an envelope and quits.
- 6s · ReversalHis pen stops: he did not expect this.
- 9s · CliffhangerHe pushes the envelope back and says he wrote that letter first.
Reveal episode: the buy-back
He signs the last page of a deal and shows her what he bought: her family's old company.
- 0s · HookHe signs a deal without explaining it.
- 3s · EscalationShe reads the name on the screen.
- 6s · ReversalHe took off his glasses and said it was for her.
- 10s · CliffhangerShe asks what he wants in return.
Cliffhanger ending: the vote
Tomorrow the board votes him out, only her signature can stop it, and the office door handle begins to turn.
- 0s · HookHe says the board votes against him tomorrow.
- 3s · EscalationShe answers: then let them vote.
- 6s · ReversalOnly her signature makes the move legal.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe door handle turns; somebody else has a key.
Contract & Flash Marriage
Two adults sign a marriage on paper with a rule against feelings, and the rules start to slip.
Opening hook: clause nine
She signs the last page with one rule, no feelings, and both of them are less sure of it by the end.
- 0s · HookOpen on the signing and the rule.
- 3s · EscalationHe pushes the ring box across the table.
- 6s · ReversalHer hand shakes as she puts the ring on.
- 9s · CliffhangerHe admits he is no better at pretending.
Reveal episode: clause ten
She finds a new line added to the contract, and what it asks is not about money.
- 0s · HookShe finds a clause that was not there yesterday.
- 3s · EscalationHe admits he added it himself.
- 6s · ReversalShe reads the clause aloud.
- 10s · CliffhangerHe says it out loud, and her pen rolls away.
Cliffhanger ending: the early guest
His grandfather is coming to dinner and thinks they are in love; the doorbell rings ten minutes early.
- 0s · HookHe hangs up the phone with news.
- 3s · EscalationThe grandfather will be there tonight.
- 6s · ReversalHe will know they are lying within seconds.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe doorbell rings early.
Heiress & Rich Family
The real daughter walks into the family dining hall while the stand-in sits in her seat, and one old piece of jewelry decides who belongs.
Opening hook: the delivery entrance
The real heiress arrives with a worn suitcase and is mistaken for staff, until the grandmother notices her bracelet.
- 0s · HookThe stand-in tells her to use the back door.
- 3s · EscalationShe answers calmly.
- 6s · ReversalThe grandmother notices the bracelet.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe grandmother asks where she got it.
Reveal episode: the pendant
The stand-in shows off a sapphire pendant that is not hers, and the engraving on the back says whose it is.
- 0s · HookThe stand-in claims the pendant.
- 3s · EscalationThe real heiress asks her to turn it over.
- 6s · ReversalThe engraving reads a name.
- 10s · CliffhangerThe stand-in's smile freezes.
Cliffhanger ending: the man at the table
The grandmother clears the room, tells the real heiress her mother was sent away, and says who did it is still seated.
- 0s · HookShe clears the room except for one person.
- 3s · EscalationThe stand-in is pushed out.
- 6s · ReversalShe says the mother was sent away, not gone.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe one who did it is still at the table.
Werewolf & Supernatural
A woman walks into a forest where an old pack has waited for one pendant to glow, and nobody has to be hurt for the scene to land.
Opening hook: the pendant glows
A woman walks the forest path alone, a stranger steps out of the trees, and her pendant lights up for the first time.
- 0s · HookA lantern, mist and a distant howl in the first second.
- 3s · EscalationA stranger warns her to leave.
- 6s · ReversalThe pendant begins to glow.
- 9s · CliffhangerHis eyes turn amber: it only wakes for one person.
Reveal episode: the pack
He explains what the glow means, and the whole pack is watching from the tree line.
- 0s · HookHe says he has waited years for that light.
- 3s · EscalationShe steps back and asks what he is.
- 6s · ReversalHe names her as the pack's Luna.
- 10s · CliffhangerPairs of amber eyes appear in the mist.
Cliffhanger ending: don't turn around
He warns that something comes at midnight for the pendant, the lantern goes out, and a third pair of eyes opens behind her.
- 0s · HookHe states the deadline.
- 3s · EscalationShe offers to give the pendant back.
- 6s · ReversalHe tells her it only glows for her.
- 9s · CliffhangerThe lantern goes out; someone is behind her.
Evidence
Tested vs untested
Tested means we ran that exact trope, episode shape and model combination and published the result in our test ledger.
Untested template means the prompt follows the model’s documented syntax but has not been generated and checked by us. Today every combination is untested. Treat the output as a starting point and run a short pilot first.
Vertical video and subtitles
Seedance says… vertical video is more prone to stray subtitles than landscape. Its guide suggests constraint words such as “keep it subtitle-free” and “do not generate a watermark”, and the Seedance prompts here include them by default.
BytePlus ModelArk: Seedance 2.0 prompt guide ↗Checked 2026-10-08
Cost
The builder shows the seconds the selected model will generate, not the storyboard length, because clip-length limits change the total. Enter that number in the calculator to include retries and rejected clips.
Open the cost calculator →FAQ
Before you copy a prompt
Do these templates use an AI model to write the prompts?
No. The prompts are assembled from fixed templates and the locks you edit, so the same inputs always give the same output. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Why does the same shot list give different seconds on each model?
Each model has its own clip lengths. Veo generates 4, 6 or 8 second clips, Runway makes one clip per shot, and Kling and Seedance split long episodes into several prompts. The builder shows the seconds the selected model will generate, which is what you pay for, not the seconds on the storyboard.
Why does Runway give two prompts for every shot?
Runway says 9:16 output is only available through image-to-video, so a vertical reference image comes first and the motion prompt then describes only what moves. Each shot shows both prompts separately so you can copy them one at a time.
Does a template guarantee consistent characters or a usable result?
No. Repeating the same character wording and keeping one camera move per shot can reduce drift and make shots easier to control, but every model can still fail. Run a short test and count your attempts before you commit to an episode.
Can I use real actors, existing dramas or my own face?
The templates use original characters and lines. Use only references, faces, voices and source material you have permission to use.