world-building

World Building Skill

Purpose

Create immersive, consistent worlds that support storytelling through production design. Every visual element—locations, props, costumes—should reinforce theme, character, and narrative while maintaining internal consistency.

World Parameters

Establishing the Rules

| Parameter | Questions to Define |

|-----------|---------------------|

| Time Period | When does this take place? |

| Geography | Where in the world? |

| Technology | What's possible? |

| Society | How is it organized? |

| Economy | How do people live? |

| Culture | What do people believe? |

| Rules | What's possible/impossible? |

World Building Layers

MACRO WORLD
├── Geography (continents, nations, cities)
├── History (what came before)
├── Politics (power structures)
├── Economy (how things work)
└── Culture (beliefs, customs)

MICRO WORLD
├── Neighborhoods (local areas)
├── Buildings (structures characters use)
├── Interiors (rooms and spaces)
├── Props (objects characters touch)
└── Details (texture and specificity)

Location Design

Location Profile Template

## [LOCATION NAME]

### Basic Info
- **Type:** INT/EXT
- **Category:** [Home, workplace, public, etc.]
- **Story Function:** [What happens here]
- **Scenes:** [Scene numbers]

### Physical Description
- **Size/Scale:**
- **Architecture:**
- **Layout:**
- **Key Features:**
- **Entry/Exit Points:**

### Atmosphere
- **Lighting:**
- **Color Palette:**
- **Textures:**
- **Sound Environment:**
- **Mood:**

### Production Notes
- **Set vs. Location:**
- **Special Requirements:**
- **VFX Needs:**
- **Time Variations:**

### AI Image Prompt
[Detailed prompt for visualization]

Location Types

| Type | Considerations |

|------|----------------|

| Public Spaces | Crowds, geography, time of day |

| Domestic | Character expression, lived-in feel |

| Workplace | Function, hierarchy, activity |

| Transit | Movement, transition, anonymity |

| Nature | Weather, scale, accessibility |

Production Design Elements

Props

Hero Props (story-critical):

- Name and description
- Story significance
- Detailed specifications
- Handling characters
- Visual prompts

Action Props (character-used):

- Category (weapon, tool, device)
- Function
- Period accuracy
- Scene appearances

Set Dressing (environmental):

- Location-specific lists
- Period/style appropriate
- Storytelling elements
- Background texture

Costume Design

Character Wardrobe Approach:

## [CHARACTER] Costume Concept

### Overall Direction
- Style influences
- Color palette
- Silhouette
- Character expression

### Signature Look
- Key pieces
- Accessories
- Styling notes
- Visual prompt

### Wardrobe Arc
- How costume evolves
- Key changes
- Story meaning

Color Palette

World Color Strategy:

Primary:   [Dominant colors]
Secondary: [Accent colors]
Accent:    [Highlight/contrast]
Avoid:     [Colors to exclude]

Character Color Coding:
- Protagonist: [Colors]
- Antagonist:  [Colors]
- Support:     [Colors]

Visual Consistency

Style Guide Elements

## Visual Style Guide

### Overall Aesthetic
[Description of visual approach]

### Architecture
- Period: [Historical reference]
- Style: [Modern, Victorian, Art Deco, etc.]
- Materials: [Wood, steel, concrete, etc.]

### Texture Palette
- Surfaces: [Rough, smooth, worn, etc.]
- Materials: [Fabric, metal, glass, etc.]
- Wear level: [Pristine, lived-in, decayed]

### Color Temperature
- Warm/Cool bias
- Saturation level
- Contrast approach

### Visual References
- Films: [Reference movies]
- Art: [Artists, periods]
- Photography: [Styles, photographers]

Environment Categories

Urban

Street level, building facades, interiors,
public transit, parks, nightlife, commercial

Suburban

Residential, yards, schools, strip malls,
community spaces, domestic interiors

Rural

Open land, farms, small towns, nature,
isolation, simplicity, work spaces

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Imagined architecture, impossible spaces,
future/past technology, altered physics

VFX Planning

VFX Categories

| Type | Examples |

|------|----------|

| Invisible | Wire removal, set extension |

| Environment | CG locations, weather |

| Creature | Digital characters, animals |

| Action | Explosions, destruction |

| Enhancement | Color, atmosphere |

VFX Shot Template

## VFX Shot [ID]

- **Scene:** [Number]
- **Description:** [What's the effect]
- **Category:** [Invisible/Environment/Creature/Action]
- **Complexity:** [Simple/Moderate/Complex/Hero]
- **Approach:** [How to achieve]
- **Plate Requirements:** [What to shoot]
- **AI Video Prompt:** [For generation]

World Bible Structure

# [PROJECT] World Bible

## Overview
- Time period
- Geographic scope
- World rules

## Visual Approach
- Color palette
- Texture palette
- Style references

## Locations
### [Location 1]
[Full profile]

## Production Design
### Props
[Master list]

### Costumes
[Character wardrobe guides]

## VFX Requirements
[Breakdown]

## Reference Gallery
[Image prompts and descriptions]

Quality Checklist

• [ ] World rules are consistent
• [ ] Locations serve story
• [ ] Props are period-appropriate
• [ ] Costumes express character
• [ ] Color palette is cohesive
• [ ] VFX are identified
• [ ] Production is feasible
• [ ] Visual references clear