# /cinematic-ad-generator > Generates **cinematic action-based video ads** with strong hooks, pattern interrupts, and character consistency. # Skill: `/` ## Overview Generates **cinematic action-based video ads** with strong hooks, pattern interrupts, and character consistency. Characters NEVER talk to camera — they perform actions, react, and the ElevenLabs voiceover narrates over the visuals. This is the **proven flow** for generating scroll-stopping Facebook/Meta video ads. Built after extensive testing of HeyGen, multi-shot, lip sync, and Veo — none of which produced as reliable results as this per-scene cinematic approach. **What this skill produces:** - 5-6 cinematic video clips (5s each) generated via Kling 3.0 image-to-video - Each clip starts from a precision-crafted Nano Banana 2 image - ElevenLabs German voiceover (per-scene MP3s + full track) - Character consistency across scenes via NB2 reference image - All files in Drive ready for CapCut assembly (5 min editing) **What this skill does NOT do:** - Talking heads / lip sync (intentionally — looks fake without audio API) - Multi-shot mode (loses control over dramatic visuals) - Final video stitching (CapCut step gives you full creative control) --- ## The Golden Rules 1. **NO talking-to-camera shots.** Characters do actions: throw papers, burn money, walk, gesture, react. The voiceover is the narrator, the visuals are the metaphor. 2. **Hook in the first 3 seconds.** Pattern interrupt — something visually unexpected. Burning money. Throwing papers. Slamming a laptop. Action that stops the scroll. 3. **Character consistency via NB2 reference.** Generate one strong character portrait first, reuse as `imageUrls` reference for all scenes featuring that character. 4. **Per-scene NB2 → Kling.** Each scene starts from its OWN precision-crafted NB2 image. This is the only way to get dramatic visuals (burning money, etc.) — multi-shot won't follow text-only prompts for action shots. 5. **Catbox for image URLs.** Always upload NB2 images to catbox.moe before passing to Kling — Krea CDN URLs are unreliable for Kling's image fetcher. 6. **ElevenLabs as separate track.** Kling direct API has no audio. ElevenLabs generates the German VO. CapCut overlays both. --- ## Preflight (run BEFORE any expensive Krea/Kling/ElevenLabs call) A cinematic-ad batch is the most expensive video pipeline in this workspace (6 NB2 images + 6 Kling 3.0 videos + ElevenLabs VO). Validate everything BEFORE spending credits. 1. **Client exists** in `clients.json` (3-step cascade). Resolve canonical key. 2. **Required env vars**: `KREA_API_KEY`, `KLING_ACCESS_KEY`, `KLING_SECRET_KEY`, `ELEVENLABS_API_KEY` all set in `.env`. If any missing → abort, name the missing ones. 3. **Catbox.moe is reachable** — quick GET request. If down → abort with "catbox.moe upload host is down, retry later". 4. **`drive_folder_id` is present and reachable** via `listFiles()`. 5. **Slack channel resolves** if reporting enabled. 6. **Kling duration cap**: scene durations must be `5` or `10` for Kling 2.6, OR `3-15` for Kling 3.0. Reject anything else. 7. **Scene count is sane**: 4-8 scenes. More than 8 = burns through credits with no quality return. 8. **Language is supported by ElevenLabs** for `` (HR, BS, DE, EN, ES, FR, IT, etc.). If unsupported → abort. 9. **Disk space** ≥ 1 GB free in client folder (videos are big). 10. **CLIENT.md exists** (or proceed with brief-only and explicitly note the gap). If all checks pass, log "preflight: OK (n scenes × {duration}s each, est cost: ~Y compute units + ~Z s of VO)" and proceed. --- ## Step-by-Step Workflow ### Step 0 — Identify Client Look up in `ACME Agency/clients/clients.json` (or 3-step cascade per Paradox CLAUDE.md). Extract: - `drive_folder_id` (for upload) - `slack_channel` (for report) - `market` and language ### Step 1 — Brief Collection Ask up to 5 questions (skip any the user already answered in their initial message): 1. **Target audience** — who exactly? (e.g. "Selbstständige earning >75K", "Angestellte 30-50 with chronic back pain") 2. **The offer / transformation** — what they get from acting 3. **Existing script?** — paste it, or skip (default: write one for them) 4. **Hook concept?** — specific visual idea (e.g. "burning money") or skip (default: propose 2-3) 5. **Target duration?** — 15 / 20 / 30 / 45 / 60 seconds (default: 30) Detect language from `client.market` → Germany = de, Croatia/Bosnia = hr, etc. ### Step 2 — Write the Script (the most important step) This step has TWO paths — either the user gave you a script, or you write one. #### Path A: User provided a script 1. Parse it for: hook, problem, mechanism, solution, result, CTA 2. Validate word count vs target duration: - German/Croatian: `seconds × 2.4` words max - English: `seconds × 2.6` words max 3. If too long, trim — cut filler, not core message 4. Split into N scenes (see "Scene Count by Duration" table below) 5. **Skip to Step 2.5 (Approval Gate)** #### Path B: No script provided — WRITE ONE using direct-response principles **FIRST: Read `.claude/skills/copywrite/PRINCIPLES.md`** to load the 12 direct-response copywriting principles. This is non-negotiable — that file has the frameworks you need. Then apply this **6-beat video ad framework** (maps directly to copywriting principles): ``` BEAT 1 — HOOK (Pattern Interrupt — Principle 2 hook type #4) → 3-7 word VO question that names the audience by their identity → Must stop the scroll in first 3 seconds → Examples: "Selbstständig in Deutschland?", "Verdienst du über 77.000 brutto?" BEAT 2 — PROBLEM (specificity + emotion — Principles 3 + 4) → 8-12 word VO with concrete number, not vague pain → Fear of loss > desire for gain → Example: "Die GKV kostet dich jeden Monat über 900 Euro." BEAT 3 — MECHANISM REVEAL (Principle 5 — your unique explanation) → 8-12 word VO that names WHY it works / what most people don't know → This is the differentiator — gives the viewer a reason to believe → Example: "Was die meisten nicht wissen: Dein Arbeitgeber zahlt die Hälfte mit." BEAT 4 — PROOF / SOLUTION (specificity — Principle 4) → 8-12 word VO with the product/service in action + a number → Example: "ACME Agency prüft in 60 Sekunden, ob du sparen kannst." BEAT 5 — RESULT (identity payoff — Principle 3) → 5-10 word VO showing the new state, the transformation → Example: "Bis zu 400 Euro weniger. Jeden Monat." BEAT 6 — CTA (risk removal — Principle 8) → 5-8 word VO with the action + risk removal → Example: "Jetzt kostenlos prüfen — dauert 60 Sekunden." ``` **Total VO word count must equal:** ` × 2.4` (de/hr) or `× 2.6` (en). - 15s ad → ~36 words / ~6 words per beat - 30s ad → ~72 words / ~12 words per beat - 60s ad → ~144 words / ~24 words per beat (use longer beats or add scenes) **For longer ads (45s+):** Add an extra PROOF beat or a TESTIMONIAL beat between MECHANISM and RESULT. **For shorter ads (15-20s):** Compress to 4 beats: HOOK + PROBLEM + SOLUTION + CTA. ### Anti-AI sweep (Principle 12) — REQUIRED before approval gate Before showing the script to the user, scan it for and remove: - Em-dashes mid-sentence (—) — replace with comma or period - "It's not X, it's Y" patterns - Emoji clusters - Formulaic openings ("In a world where...", "Imagine...", "Discover...") - Corporate filler ("iskoristite prednosti", "leverage", "unlock") - Two-word sentence fragments used as paragraphs - Anything that sounds translated rather than natively written Read it aloud. If it sounds like an AI wrote it, rewrite it. ### Scene Count by Duration | Target Duration | Scenes | Per-Scene Duration | Word Budget (de/hr) | |-----------------|--------|--------------------|----------------------| | 15s | 3 | 5s each | ~36 words | | 20s | 4 | 5s each | ~48 words | | 25s | 5 | 5s each | ~60 words | | **30s (default)** | **6** | **5s each** | **~72 words** | | 45s | 9 | 5s each | ~108 words | | 60s | 12 | 5s each | ~144 words | Kling 3.0 image-to-video produces 5s clips reliably. Keep all scenes uniform at 5s. ### Step 2.5 — Script Approval Gate (REQUIRED) After writing the script (Path A or B), ALWAYS show the user this breakdown BEFORE generating any images: ``` ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SCRIPT — [Client Name] | [Audience] | [Duration]s | [N] scenes ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Scene | Visual Hook | Voiceover ([Lang]) ------|------------------------------|-------------------------------- 1 | Burning euro bills | "Selbstständig in Deutschland?" 2 | Frustrated at desk | "Die GKV kostet dich..." 3 | Phone shows comparison | "ACME Agency prüft in 60 Sek..." 4 | Walking into clinic | "Sofort zum Facharzt..." 5 | Relaxed, smiling | "Bis zu 400 Euro weniger..." 6 | Branded CTA card | "Jetzt kostenlos prüfen." Voice: Chris Norddeutscher (German) VO word count: 68 / 72 max (within target) ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ``` Then ask: > "Approve this script and proceed to image generation? Or any scene you want to revise?" Wait for explicit approval. Do not spend Krea credits without it. ### Step 3 — Generate Character Reference Image (if needed) If the ad features a recurring person, generate ONE strong NB2 portrait first: ```javascript import { } from './ACME Agency/scripts/lib/krea.mjs'; const result = await ({ prompt: 'Portrait of a [age] [nationality] [gender], [hair], [outfit], [setting], confident eye contact, photorealistic, editorial portrait, 1:1', aspectRatio: '1:1', batchSize: 2, // generate 2 to pick the best resolution: '2K', }); // Pick the best one — show user, get confirmation ``` Save the chosen CDN URL — use it as `imageUrls[characterRef]` in later NB2 calls for character consistency. ### Step 4 — Generate 6 Scene Images via NB2 For EACH scene, write a precision NB2 prompt. Use these templates: **Hook scene (action close-up):** ``` Extreme close-up macro shot of [DRAMATIC OBJECT/ACTION]. [SPECIFIC DETAILS]. Held in [hand/context]. Dark moody background, dramatic low-key lighting. Cinematic, intense, attention-grabbing. Shallow depth of field. 9:16 vertical ``` **Character scene (use character reference):** ``` The person in the reference image [SPECIFIC ACTION/EMOTION], [POSITION/POSE], [ENVIRONMENT DETAILS]. [LIGHTING]. [MOOD]. Photorealistic, 9:16 vertical → Pass character ref via imageUrls ``` **Product/UI scene (no character):** ``` [Subject — phone/equipment/product] showing [SPECIFIC UI/DETAIL]. [BRAND COLORS]. [LIGHTING]. Shallow depth of field. Photorealistic, 9:16 vertical ``` **CTA card (no character):** ``` Bold [brand color] solid background. Large [accent color] text reading [CTA TEXT] centered. Clean geometric heavy sans-serif. [Brand logo] below. Minimalist premium. 9:16 vertical ``` Generate all 6 sequentially via `()`. Save locally to `ACME Agency/clients//video-ads//reference-images/`. ### Step 5 — Upload Images to catbox.moe (CRITICAL) Krea CDN URLs are unreliable for Kling's image fetcher. Always upload NB2 images to catbox first: ```javascript import { uploadToCatbox } from './ACME Agency/scripts/lib/kling.mjs'; const catboxUrls = {}; for (const [name, localPath] of Object.entries(images)) { catboxUrls[name] = await uploadToCatbox(localPath, 'image/png'); } // Save catbox URLs to a JSON file in the reference-images folder for re-use ``` ### Step 6 — Animate Each Scene with Kling 3.0 Direct For each scene, call `()` from `ACME Agency/scripts/lib/kling.mjs`: ```javascript import { } from './ACME Agency/scripts/lib/kling.mjs'; for (const scene of scenes) { const videoPath = await ({ prompt: scene.animationPrompt, // describes MOTION, not the static frame model: 'kling-v3', aspectRatio: '9:16', duration: 5, startImage: catboxUrls[scene.name], }); await copyFile(videoPath, `clips/${scene.name}.mp4`); } ``` **Animation prompt rules:** - Describe MOTION, not the scene (the scene is already in the start image) - Examples: "The flames intensify and crawl up the bills", "The man leans forward with sudden interest", "Slow cinematic dolly through the equipment" - Do NOT re-describe what's in the image — Kling already sees it ### Step 7 — Generate ElevenLabs Voice (auto-selected by language) **Voice selection priority** (highest first): 1. `--voice ` CLI flag (user override) 2. `client.elevenlabs_voice_id` from clients.json 3. Auto-selection by client language **Voice by language table** (verified IDs from current ElevenLabs account): | Language | Voice ID | Name | Notes | |----------|----------|------|-------| | `de` (German) | `j46AY0iVY3oHcnZbgEJg` | Chris Norddeutscher | North German pro, authoritative | | `de` (alt) | `TUKJhQmz3RPYBNAgC5A1` | Clark Clear | German pro, alternative | | `de` (alt) | `DtAQqD4yK3kXSVPx7wFc` | Pascal R | German narrator/storyteller | | `hr` (Croatian) | `ZLYZToA7aDsMbHwM9AOr` | Luka | Croatian male, calm | | `hr` (alt) | `FXFcxnjikw0naYO1PPrU` | Adnan | Croatian male, casual | | `en` (English) | `JBFqnCBsd6RMkjVDRZzb` | George | British storyteller, premade (free) | | `en` (alt) | `EXAVITQu4vr4xnSDxMaL` | Sarah | American female, mature, premade | Note: German + Croatian voices are "professional" and require a paid ElevenLabs plan. English premade voices work on free plan. ```javascript import { , generateSpeech } from './ACME Agency/scripts/lib/elevenlabs.mjs'; // Auto-select voice from language (or override) const VOICE_BY_LANG = { de: 'j46AY0iVY3oHcnZbgEJg', // Chris Norddeutscher hr: 'ZLYZToA7aDsMbHwM9AOr', // Luka en: 'JBFqnCBsd6RMkjVDRZzb', // George }; // Detect language from client.market or script.language const lang = client.market === 'Germany' ? 'de' : client.market === 'Croatia' || client.market === 'Bosnia' ? 'hr' : 'en'; const voiceId = client.elevenlabs_voice_id || VOICE_BY_LANG[lang]; // Conversational settings (works for all 3 languages) const voiceSettings = { stability: 0.4, similarityBoost: 0.85, style: 0.1 }; await ({ scenes, voiceId, outputDir, voiceSettings }); // Also generate full track const fullScript = scenes.map(s => s.text).join(' '); await generateSpeech({ text: fullScript, voiceId, destPath: 'voiceover-full.mp3', ...voiceSettings }); ``` ### Step 8 — Upload Everything to Drive Folder structure: `Klijenti//Video Ads////` Upload: clips, voiceover MP3s, reference-images PNGs. ### Step 9 — Post Slack Report **This is the ONLY Slack message for the entire execution.** Do NOT post scene-by-scene status, script breakdowns, retry notifications, or any intermediate updates to Slack during Steps 1-8. All progress goes to stdout (console.log) only. The team reads this one final report, not a play-by-play. Incident reference: 2026-04-10 ACME Agency — the subprocess posted 8+ separate messages to the client channel during execution. Do not repeat. Use the standard format: - Campaign name + duration + scene count - Brief script overview - Drive folder link - "Next step: import to CapCut, overlay VO, add music + SFX, export" ## Verification (run AFTER Step 9 — confirm all assets actually shipped) Cinematic ads have many moving parts that can silently fail. Check ALL of these before declaring done: - [ ] Each scene has a `clips/scene-NN-*.mp4` file locally AND in Drive (count = scene count from script, no missing scenes) - [ ] Each MP4 file size > 100 KB (Kling sometimes returns broken stubs) - [ ] Voiceover MP3 exists locally AND in Drive AND duration ≈ target (within ±20%) - [ ] Reference images PNGs uploaded if generated (so user can see source frames) - [ ] `capcut-guide.md` written and uploaded - [ ] `manifest.json` records: scene count, durations, prompts used, Kling task IDs, VO voice ID, language, Drive URLs - [ ] Slack post via slack-reporter returned `ts` non-null - [ ] No silent Krea→Kling fallback unless explicitly logged (the fallback is fine, but it must be reported, not hidden) - [ ] Kling tasks all reported `succeed` status (not `failed` or `unknown` swallowed) If any scene failed mid-batch, list the failed scene number(s) explicitly in the report. Never claim a 6-scene success when only 5 actually rendered. --- ## CapCut Assembly Guide (delivered to user) Include this in the Drive folder as `capcut-guide.md`: ``` 1. Import all 6 clips from clips/ folder in order 2. Drop voiceover-full.mp3 on audio track 2 3. Adjust clip timing if VO doesn't perfectly align 4. Audio track 3: search CapCut music library for [mood] background music, set to -18dB 5. Audio track 4: SFX from CapCut library: - Scene 1: [relevant SFX — fire, paper rustling, etc.] - Scene N: [...] 6. Captions → Auto Captions → German → ACME Agencyw 7. Export 1080×1920, MP4, H.264 ``` --- ## Critical Files - `ACME Agency/scripts/lib/krea.mjs` — Krea.ai NB2 image generation - `ACME Agency/scripts/lib/kling.mjs` — Kling 3.0 direct API + catbox upload - `ACME Agency/scripts/lib/elevenlabs.mjs` — TTS voiceover - `ACME Agency/scripts/lib/google_drive.mjs` — Drive upload - `ACME Agency/scripts/lib/slack.mjs` — Slack reporting - `shared/kling_camera_toolkit.md` — 30 cinematic camera movements vocabulary ## Reference Examples (proven campaigns) - `ACME Agency/clients/ACME Agency/video-ads//` — burning money hook (Selbstständige) - `ACME Agency/clients/ACME Agency/video-ads//` — throwing papers hook (Angestellte 77K+) Both campaigns: 6 scenes, 30s, character consistency, German VO, ready for CapCut. --- ## Hard Constraints | Rule | Why | |------|-----| | **Always use Kling 3.0 direct (`kling-v3`) for video** | Veo 3.1 doesn't support image-to-video. Kling 2.6 via Krea is unstable. | | **Always upload NB2 images to catbox before Kling** | Krea CDN URLs fail unpredictably for Kling's fetcher | | **Never use `--mode multishot` for action ads** | Multi-shot can't render dramatic single-frame hooks (burning money etc.) | | **Never use lip sync endpoint** | Adds black artifacts in mouth area | | **Never describe characters as "talking to camera"** | No audio API = looks fake. Always action-based shots. | | **Auto-select voice from client.market (de/hr/en)** | See "Voice by language table" — overridable with `--voice` flag | | **Always show script approval gate before image generation** | Krea credits cost money. 30-second confirmation saves rework | | **Max 12 scenes / 60s total** | Beyond this, viewers drop off. 30s is the sweet spot for Meta. | --- ## Why This Skill Exists Built after testing every alternative: | Approach | Problem | |----------|---------| | HeyGen avatar | Black-box, no creative control, character can't do dramatic actions | | Kling multi-shot | Can't render dramatic single-frame visuals like burning money | | Kling direct UGC + lip sync | Lip sync adds artifacts (black spots in mouth) | | Veo 3.1 via Krea | Doesn't support image-to-video — text-only | | Per-scene NB2 → Kling 3.0 + ElevenLabs VO | **WORKS** — what this skill does | This skill is the answer to the question: "How do I generate scroll-stopping cinematic Facebook ads with hooks that actually work?"