FILMMAKING NOTES / VANSH RASTOGI
How to Brief an AI Brand Film
Start with the decision your film needs to support.
Define the purpose before the visual style
A beautiful shot is easier to judge when the job of the film is clear. Decide whether the viewer should understand a product, remember a brand, explore a story or start a conversation. Pick one main purpose for the first cut. The opening image, information and ending can then work toward the same decision rather than compete for attention.
Describe the audience and viewing context
Explain who will watch and where the film will appear. A vertical reel viewed without sound needs a different information rhythm from a horizontal brand film on a website. Specify the language, intended region, approximate running time and whether subtitles or text overlays are needed. Share the placement dimensions before scene generation so framing can be planned from the beginning.
Supply reliable product and brand references
Provide clear front, side and detail photographs when the product must stay consistent. Include the correct packaging, colors, logo assets and approved wording. Mark which features are essential and which can be interpreted. If text must be exact, planning it as a controlled graphic in the edit can offer more reliable spelling than asking a moving generative shot to reproduce small labels.
Separate story requirements from reference style
A reference can describe lighting, pacing, a camera move or a mood. State what you like about it rather than asking for an identical copy. List the must-have story beats and any subjects to avoid. For recurring characters, provide usable identity and wardrobe references. Brand names, fictional characters and music also need appropriate usage rights for the intended publication.
Agree the deliverables and review stages
Specify the main film, cutdowns, aspect ratios, subtitle versions and final file requirements. Decide when the script, visual direction and edit will be reviewed. A change to the concept after scene production can affect several connected shots, so early feedback should focus on the story and key frames. Later feedback can focus on pacing, audio, color and delivery details.
Plan sound and the final handoff
Tell the filmmaker whether the project needs dialogue, voiceover, music or a sound-led edit. Include pronunciation notes and approved lines. At delivery, review the film at its intended size and with the intended sound conditions. Check spelling, product identity, framing and the final contact or brand message. Keep the approved brief alongside the delivered versions so future cutdowns follow the same direction.