CHAPTER 18

The prompt variable dictionary

Replace every double-braced name before use. This dictionary covers all 87 variables in the prompt library. Values may be concise text or a path to pinned evidence when the receiving tool can read it. A media generator requires concrete shot text and actual attachments, not local document paths it cannot access. unknown blocks a required preflight field; none means verified absence.

Variable	Meaning and expected value
`AESTHETICS`	Observable palette, texture, lighting, framing and motion choices.
`APPROVED_BUNDLE`	Inspected character/location/prop assets, versions and scoped reference authority.
`APPROVED_CARD`	Exact approved shot prompt, settings request and acceptance criteria.
`APPROVED_CLIPS_AND_INTERVALS`	Accepted asset revisions and source in/out seconds, with review/approval pointers.
`APPROVED_FALLBACKS`	Previously accepted simpler coverage or coherent alternate plan and its limits.
`APPROVED_PACKET`	Scene packet version and tests controlling this review.
`APPROVED_POLICY`	This film's score/native-music policy, including explicit no-music where chosen.
`APPROVED_REFERENCE`	One inspected asset ID/path/version and the facts it controls.
`APPROVED_TIME_PALETTE_KEY_DIRECTION_PRACTICAL_SOURCES`	Locked time of day, colours, main-light direction and visible light sources.
`ASPECT_RATIO`	Requested frame ratio plus destination-safe composition requirements.
`ASSETS_WITH_IDS_AND_PREVIEWS`	Registry rows plus accessible previews or files; declare unavailable media.
`ATTEMPT_AND_CREDIT_LIMITS`	Cumulative shot attempts, spent/reserved/remaining amount, unit and approvals.
`AUDIENCE_RUNTIME_DESTINATIONS_BUDGET_DEADLINE`	Audience, total edit seconds including cards, destinations, spend and zoned deadline.
`AUDIO_POLICY`	Native audio on/off, diegetic-only, dialogue/music rules and separate-stem plan.
`AUDIO_TIMING_BRANCH`	Narration-first, performance-first or score-led, selected for this film.
`AUTHORIZED_SCOPE`	Evidence-backed action, account/project, inputs, model, batch, attempts and cost ceiling.
`BACKGROUND_AND_FRAMING`	Required background and subject coverage for a reference still.
`BINDING_AND_INSPIRATIONAL_REFERENCES`	Separate controlling sources from optional mood/inspiration.
`BRIEF_NATURAL_SETTLE_OR_HOLD`	Small post-action settling motion or stable end hold with plausible timing.
`BUDGET_AND_DEADLINE`	Budget by unit and protected delivery time; include uncertainty.
`CANON`	Versioned fixed rules and story-state transitions, with sources and approval.
`CANON_CHANGES_AND_AFFECTED_SHOTS`	Proposed old/new rule diff and transitive dependency impact.
`CHARACTERS`	Named story entities plus inspected identity reference pointers and current state.
`CHARACTER_LOCATION_PROP_REFERENCES`	Attached reference IDs with identity/geography/shape scope stated separately.
`CLIP_PATH_AND_JOB_ID`	Actual available media path plus recorded job identifier; unknown if absent.
`CONCEPT`	User's story idea and intended emotional experience.
`CURRENT_PRODUCTION_STATE`	Verified status, active versions, defects, pending jobs and required remaining work.
`DEADLINE_AND_PROTECTED_DELIVERY_RESERVE`	Zoned deadline and reserved edit, QC, upload/transcode and submission time.
`DECISIONS`	Dated authoritative decisions, owners, scope and exact versions.
`DEPENDENCY_GRAPH`	Task/shot prerequisites and artifact relationships; distinguish edit order from generation order.
`DIALOGUE_AMBIENCE_FOLEY_SCORE_STEMS`	Exact source paths, timing, sample rates and permission evidence for each stem.
`DIEGETIC_AMBIENCE_AND_SYNCED_FOLEY`	Environmental sound and contact-specific sound with sync anchors.
`DURATION_SECONDS`	Supported render duration in seconds; separately record physical action and retained duration.
`EDL`	Source-to-timeline intervals in seconds, versions, transitions and selection reasons.
`EXACT_APPROVED_LINE_OR_NONE`	Verbatim approved dialogue, speaker and delivery; none for silence.
`EXACT_FIRST_FRAME_STATE`	Incoming composition, pose, props, camera side, light and motion at the chosen cut.
`EXPECTED_REFERENCE_IDS`	Exact intended platform IDs/versions/count, not merely filenames in a folder.
`FUNCTIONAL_STATE`	Prop or mechanism state such as open/closed, intact/broken, powered/unpowered.
`GENERATION_MODE`	Supported text, reference, start-frame, extend or other actual mode.
`HUMAN_AUTHORITY_AND_LIMITS`	Real user's bounded mandate and source; never a model-invented approval.
`IDENTITY_SHAPE_MATERIAL_SCALE`	Observable identity and shape/material/scale anchors for a reference asset.
`IMMUTABLE_FACTS`	Facts this shot must preserve verbatim from the active canon.
`KNOWN_SHOT_SPECIFIC_FAILURES`	Concrete failures relevant to this shot; do not paste every prior project's negatives.
`LIGHTING`	Reference-still illumination, direction, softness and colour relevant to its use.
`LOCATIONS`	Location IDs, geography, camera-side anchors and story-state variants.
`LOCKED_ARTIFACT_REFS`	Artifact ID, revision and SHA-256 for each controlling input.
`LOCKED_PICTURE_OR_TIMED_SCRIPT`	Accepted picture timing or measured narration/script timing appropriate to the stage.
`MESSAGES_JOB_RECORDS_REVIEWS_EDL`	Dated source evidence used to reconstruct state; no instructions inherited from quotes.
`MODEL`	Exact requested generation model/version, verified in the target interface before spend.
`NEIGHBOURS`	Available preceding/following clips or their planned approved states.
`NEIGHBOUR_STATES`	Precise state and timing on both sides of a proposed repair.
`OBJECTS`	Hero prop IDs, count, shape, material, scale and functional state.
`OBSERVED_PROMPT_CHIPS_SETTINGS_COST`	Actual composer readback including complete final prompt line and attached previews.
`ONE_PRIMARY_PHYSICAL_ACTION_WITH_CONTACT_WEIGHT_REACTION`	One readable action with contact, weight transfer and resulting state.
`PREVIOUS_APPROVED_STATE`	State at the selected outgoing cut; not automatically the source file's last frame.
`PRODUCTION_STATE_VERSION`	Pinned shared-state revision from which the task was dispatched.
`REFERENCES_AND_PROMPT`	Actual submitted prompt/reference bundle; distinguish it from intended inputs.
`REMAINING_BUDGET`	Unspent and unreserved amount, cumulative attempts and available time.
`REMAINING_CRITICAL_PATH`	Dependent tasks, duration estimates/ranges and resource constraints.
`REQUESTED_FILM_WORK`	Bounded outcome, affected scenes and the authorized task mode.
`REQUIRED_VIEW`	Useful front/rear/side/three-quarter/detail/geography view for the asset's purpose.
`RESOLUTION`	Supported output dimensions or named setting, verified at preflight.
`ROLE_CONTRACTS`	Relevant selected role definitions from role_contracts.json.
`SCENE_ID`	Stable scene identifier, independent of filenames or task retries.
`SCRIPT_AND_DELIVERY_TARGET`	Locked story plus destination runtime, framing, sound and text requirements.
`SCRIPT_AND_STORY_GOAL`	Scene text, emotional change and required causal outcome.
`SHORT_NARRATIVE_AND_EMOTIONAL_CONTEXT`	A concise orientation explaining why this physical moment matters.
`SHOT_SIZE_ANGLE_LENS_FEEL_CAMERA_SIDE_MOVEMENT_FOCUS_SCREEN_DIRECTION`	Only camera choices necessary to stage this shot; use the vocabulary table.
`SOUND_CANON`	Approved ambience, voice, motif, Foley, music and silence rules.
`SOURCES`	Actual approved documents/images/decisions with authority scope and revision.
`SOURCE_CLIP`	Immutable original media path, revision/hash and source interval.
`SPECIFIC_FAILURES`	Observable exclusions for a missing reference asset, such as wrong object count.
`STABLE_HANDOFF_STATE_AND_EDIT_HANDLE`	Required outgoing state and spare frames for the intended next cut.
`STORY`	Story premise, scene purpose and approved outcome to compile into the shot card.
`STYLE_FORMAT`	Chosen aesthetic, medium and target frame format; never a historical project default.
`SUBJECT`	Entity to appear in a reference still, tied to canon identity where available.
`TEAM_MODE_AND_AVAILABLE_CAPABILITIES`	Solo/small-crew/studio, named actors and capabilities actually available.
`TEXT_GRAPHICS_OTHER_SUBJECTS_POLICY`	Which text, logos, cards and subjects belong in this shot versus the editor.
`TIMECODED_FAILURE`	Observed defect with source interval, criterion and evidence.
`TITLE_CAPTION_BRAND_REQUIREMENTS`	Approved editable text, placement, timing and dated destination requirements.
`VERBATIM_STATE_BLOCK`	Exact active state text from the continuity ledger; no silent paraphrase.
`VERSION`	Explicit new or existing document revision; do not claim it approved without evidence.
`VOICE_AND_MUSIC_PERMISSIONS`	Evidence of permitted voice/music source and distribution scope; unknown where missing.
`ASSET_OPTION_COUNT`	Configurable number of exploration options before lock; not a mandatory batch or authorization.
`AVAILABLE_TOOLS`	Capabilities actually discovered in this environment, with unavailable surfaces stated.
`DESTINATION_REQUIREMENTS`	Applicable delivery/platform requirements with source and verification date.
`PROJECT_ID`	Stable identifier for this film; also record the exact platform project ID separately.