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Quick Start

Quick Start

Step-by-step guide to making movies with ShotForward.

Initialization

The first step is to create a project and let AI set up the story structure.

  1. Click New Project on the home page.
  2. Enter a project name (e.g., 'My Sci-Fi Short').
  3. Inside the editor, tell the Director your idea in the RIGHT chat panel:
Option A: Specific Count
"Create a storyboard about a cyberpunk detective, 3 scenes, 5 shots each."

AI will strictly follow your structure.

Option B: Auto-Split
"Design a storyboard about a breakup in the rain."

AI decides the pacing and number of shots automatically.

Tip: You can use any language. The AI adapts to your input language.

Characters

Ensure consistency by defining characters via Upload, AI Generation, or Import.

🌍 Global Import

Click Import (top-right of Character panel) to reuse characters from other projects.

Visual References

  • Option A: Upload
    Click the Upload button in the Inspector to upload photos.
  • Option B: AI Create
    Command: 'Generate a reference image for [Name]'. AI auto-binds it.

Voice References

  • Option A: Upload
    Upload a 10-30s clean speech audio file.
  • Option B: AI Design
    Click Design Voice, describe traits, and generate unique tone.

Scene Ops

Segments (Scenes) are story chapters. Manage them via manual clicks or AI commands.

Create Scene

  • Manual: Hover between scenes and click the blue + button.
  • AI Command: Type: 'Add a chase scene after Scene 1'.

Update & Delete

  • Rename: Click title text or AI: 'Rename Scene 1 to X'.
  • Delete: Click trash icon or AI: 'Delete second scene'.

Shot Ops

Shots are the basic blocks. ShotForward provides card-based interactions.

Create Shot

  • Create: Click green + or AI: 'Add a wide shot at the end'.
  • Edit: Click Prompt or Script on the card to edit.
  • Duration: Use +/- to adjust shot length.

Update & Delete

  • Delete: Click the trash icon on the card; or AI Command: 'Delete the last shot'.

Image Gen

Reference Mechanism

Images in the chat panel are passed directly to the model.

  • Ensure character photos are in chat before generating.
  • You can also pass environment sketches or style refs.

Character Image Gen

Type command: 'Generate a reference image for [Name]'. You can include a detailed description or upload a reference photo. AI generates and auto-binds it.

Shot Image Gen

Select card -> Click Image Icon -> AI synthesizes frame.

Advanced: You can add custom prompts or upload reference images (from assets or local files). The system automatically includes images from the previous and next shots (if available) as context to ensure visual continuity.

Video Gen

🪄Standard Mode (First Frame)

Click the Wand button.

  • Case A: From Image: Uses the current shot's image as the start frame.
  • Case B: From Prev Tail: If NO image, automatically uses the previous shot's last frame. Ensures seamless continuity.

📈Interpolation (First & Last)

Click the Activity button.

  • Case A: Image to Image: Connects Current Image to Next Image.
  • Case B: Tail to Image: Connects Prev Video Tail to Next Image.
  • Case C: Image to Head: Connects Current Image to Next Video Head.
  • Case D: Tail to Head: Connects Prev Video Tail to Next Video Head (Dual Alignment).

Duration Adjustment

Use **+/-** buttons on the card. **Note**: Must match the model's supported durations (e.g., 5s, 10s), otherwise a warning will appear.

Audio Gen

The audio pipeline is divided into three core modules:

Part 1: Character Voice Design

You don't need to upload any assets; simply describe the voice to let AI create a unique sample for your character.

  1. Select a character in the Character Inspector.
  2. Click the AI Design Voice (Design Voice) button.
  3. Enter a description in the chat (e.g., 'A deep, confident, slightly raspy adult female voice').
  4. AI generates a demo and binds it to the character for future dialogues.

Part 2: BGM & Music Generation

Create full soundtracks or songs directly via chat commands. The system calls the most appropriate model based on your needs.

Example Command:
"Generate an upbeat folk song with lyrics about spring and travel."

Generated audio auto-populates on the timeline below.

Part 3: AI Voice Conversion

ShotForward provides both automated and manual voice conversion workflows.

  • Auto Conversion: Once a shot video is generated, the system auto-detects voices and applies the character's voice anchor automatically.
  • Manual Conversion: To try different voices, select an audio track (or a specific segment) in the right Inspector, choose a character, and click AI Voice Conversion.

Timeline Ops

The bottom Timeline is where you sync sound and visuals. ShotForward provides an intuitive interface for multi-track management.

Multi-Track Management

The timeline consists of these core track types:

  • V1 (Video): Video track. Displays shot images or videos. Drag assets here to replace visuals.
  • A1 (Global Audio): Global audio. For BGM or SFX spanning multiple scenes. Supports layering.
  • A2 (Voice): Voice track. Character dialogue linked to shots (Original or AI converted).

Interaction Guide

  • Zoom & Navigate: Use the + / - buttons or slider to zoom for precise editing.
  • Edit & Trim: Drag clips to move. Drag left/right edges to trim start/end times.
  • Asset Drop: Drag audio/video from the Asset Library directly onto the timeline.
  • Inspector Controls: Select any clip to adjust Volume, Fade In, and Fade Out in the right panel.

Tip: The A1 track supports unlimited layering, allowing you to stack multiple SFX for rich ambience.