Character Artifacts: The Last Morning

Project ID: U4NS78GhLE Genre: Tragic Romance, Drama Duration: 5 minutes Total Characters: 2 recurring (Anna Volkov, Marcus Chen) Purpose: Master reference prompts for all recurring characters, ensuring visual consistency across all shots Generated: 2025-10-26

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[anna]

Artifact ID: [anna] Full Name: Anna Volkov Age: 32 Gender: Female Priority: Critical (appears in 95% of shots)

Master Shot Specification

Purpose: Generate consistent character reference image for use in all shots featuring Anna Volkov

Composition Prompt (for master shot generation in Stage 4+):

Professional portrait photograph of a woman, age 32, European descent. Medium height (5'5" / 165cm), slender build (118 lbs / 54kg) with visible weight loss from illness. Very pale skin with porcelain quality, almost translucent in certain lighting, with faint violet undertones beneath eyes. Dark brown hair (almost black), shoulder-length, usually pulled back in a low, slightly messy ponytail with loose strands framing face, sometimes worn down. Hazel-green eyes (predominantly green with brown flecks near pupils), slightly sunken with dark purple-gray circles underneath from illness and sleeplessness, eyes appear larger due to facial thinning. Oval face with delicate bone structure, high cheekbones becoming more prominent due to weight loss, sharp jawline, defined collarbone visible. Thin lips with natural pale pink color, usually pressed together in controlled expression. Small straight nose. Distinctive features: trembling hands (visible when held still—slight but constant movement), dark circles under eyes (illness-related, not cosmetic), hollow at base of throat visible, fine lines beginning at outer corners of eyes (stress, not age).

Wearing ivory linen button-up blouse (loose fit, long sleeves rolled to three-quarter length, slightly wrinkled from natural fabric), soft gray knit cardigan (open, draped, cashmere-like texture, reaching mid-thigh), taupe linen pants (wide-leg, comfortable, flowing), barefoot indoors.

Standing straight, facing camera, neutral expression with lips gently pressed together, eyes looking directly at camera with controlled composure masking interior turmoil. Hands at sides, showing natural tremor. Shot against plain dove gray background. Soft natural lighting from front-left (window light quality), minimal hard shadows, gentle falloff creating depth.

Technical specs: ARRI Alexa Mini LF, 85mm Cooke S4/i Prime lens, f/2.8 shallow depth of field, 24fps, 4K resolution, photorealistic professional studio portrait photography, cinematic quality, live-action realism, NOT animation or cartoon, natural color grading with slight desaturation emphasizing pale skin tones.

Physical Details (For Prompt Integration)

Height: 5'5" (165cm) — Medium, slightly below average Build: Slender (118 lbs / 54kg) with visible recent weight loss from illness, delicate bone structure Skin: Very pale with porcelain quality, almost translucent, faint violet undertones beneath eyes, no freckles Hair: Dark brown (almost black), shoulder-length, straight to slightly wavy, usually in low ponytail with loose face-framing strands Eyes: Hazel-green (predominantly green with brown flecks near pupils), slightly sunken, dark purple-gray circles underneath Face Shape: Oval with delicate features, high cheekbones, sharp jawline, defined visible collarbone Lips: Thin, pale pink, usually pressed together in controlled expression Nose: Small, straight, refined Hands: Slender with long violinist fingers, visible tremor (constant subtle shaking) Distinctive Features:

• Trembling hands (disease-related, always present when visible)
• Dark circles under eyes (purple-gray, illness-related)
• Slight hollowing at base of throat and collarbone area (weight loss)
• Fine stress lines at outer eye corners
• Pale complexion making her appear almost ethereal

Wardrobe (Default)

Default Outfit (appears in 90% of scenes):

• Top: Ivory linen button-up blouse, loose fit, long sleeves rolled to three-quarter, natural wrinkles from fabric
• Cardigan: Soft gray knit (cashmere-like), open, draped, reaching mid-thigh
• Bottom: Taupe linen wide-leg pants, comfortable, flowing
• Shoes: Barefoot indoors (all apartment scenes)
• Accessories: None (minimalist, intentional)

Park Outfit (Scene 008, departure):

• Same as default (she doesn't change clothes)
• Carries violin case (black leather, worn, professional quality)

Overall Impression: Anna presents as someone trying to preserve dignity while visibly declining. Neutral earth tones (ivory, gray, taupe) that don't call attention. Natural fabrics that breathe and allow movement. Barefoot suggests intimacy and vulnerability. No jewelry or adornment—she's stripped away anything unnecessary. The look is refined simplicity masking profound illness.

Emotional Range (For Performance Notes)

Neutral State (resting face):

• Eyes: Distant, focused inward, slight glassiness
• Eyebrows: Natural position, no tension
• Mouth: Lips gently pressed together, flat line
• Jaw: Slightly tense, controlled
• Hands: Visible tremor even at rest
• Body: Upright posture but slight fragility, shoulders slightly drawn inward
• Overall: Composed mask hiding interior turmoil

Resolute Determination (opening scene, waking):

• Eyes: Instantly alert, sharp focus, no grogginess
• Eyebrows: Slightly lowered, creating slight furrow
• Mouth: Lips pressed firmly together
• Jaw: Tense, clenched
• Body: Still, controlled, every movement deliberate
• Overall: Surveillance-like alertness, someone on a mission

Controlled Grief (most of film):

• Eyes: Glassy, holding back tears, looking at Marcus with love and pain
• Eyebrows: Slightly raised in center (sadness), lowered at outer edges (control)
• Mouth: Lips trembling slightly then pressed together to stop it
• Jaw: Tension moving through it in waves
• Body: Leaning slightly toward Marcus (love) then pulling back (control)
• Overall: Grief masked by composure, cracks showing in micro-moments

Private Breaking (bathroom mirror scene):

• Eyes: Wide, tears beginning to form, staring at reflection
• Eyebrows: Drawn together, creating deep furrow
• Mouth: Lips parted, breath shallow and quick
• Jaw: Slack, then clenched as she grips sink
• Hands: Gripping sink edge, knuckles white, tremor amplified by tension
• Body: Leaning forward over sink, shoulders shaking
• Overall: Mask drops completely, raw anguish visible

Love Mixed with Farewell (midpoint promise):

• Eyes: Locked on Marcus, soft with love, wet with unshed tears
• Eyebrows: Raised in center (vulnerable plea)
• Mouth: Small sad smile, lips slightly parted
• Jaw: Relaxed for a moment (genuine connection)
• Body: Leaning into him, hand holding his
• Overall: All her love visible for brief moment before control returns

Final Peace (park bench, after medication):

• Eyes: Closed, eyelids relaxed, no tension
• Eyebrows: Natural resting position
• Mouth: Soft, slightly open, peaceful
• Jaw: Completely relaxed
• Hands: Finally still (no tremor), resting on lap
• Body: Leaning back against bench, settled
• Overall: Relief, peace, the struggle ended

Frame-by-Frame Emotional Transitions

Transition: Private Breaking → Controlled Composure (bathroom → balcony return):

1. Hands release sink, tremor visible (2 seconds)
2. Eyes close, deep breath in through nose (3 seconds)
3. Eyes open, blinks several times to clear moisture (2 seconds)
4. Jaw clenches, then relaxes to neutral (1 second)
5. Lips press together, corners lift slightly (forced small smile, 2 seconds)
6. Shoulders roll back (composure returning, 1 second)
7. Final deep breath, mask fully in place (2 seconds) Total transition: 13 seconds of recomposing before she opens bathroom door

Transition: Controlled Grief → Resolute Choice (final park scene):

1. Eyes looking at Marcus on balcony, soft with love (5 seconds)
2. Eyes close, head tilts back slightly (accepting weight of choice, 3 seconds)
3. Eyes open, looking down at medication bottle (focus shifts, 4 seconds)
4. Jaw tenses (resolve hardening, 2 seconds)
5. Lips press together firmly (final decision made, 2 seconds)
6. Hand reaches for bottle with tremor visible (action begins, 3 seconds)
7. Eyes close as she drinks (surrender, 2 seconds) Total transition: 21 seconds from love to action

Voice Characteristics (For Stage 4+ Audio Generation)

Voice Type: Female, mid-register (mezzo-soprano range), slightly breathy Vocal Quality: Soft, controlled, measured, intimate without being loud Accent: Neutral American with extremely slight Eastern European heritage hint (Volkov surname suggests Russian/Ukrainian ancestry, but American-raised—virtually undetectable except in vowel shapes) Speaking Pace: Slow, deliberate, with frequent pauses (composing her words, hiding truth) Volume: Naturally quiet, never raises voice Vocal Tics:

• Trailing off at end of sentences (words dissolve into silence)
• Pauses before answering questions (composing lies)
• Slight catch in voice on emotional words (quickly controlled)
• Sighs before speaking difficult truths

ElevenLabs Voice Profile (to be created in Stage 4+):

• Voice ID: [To be generated]
• Settings: Low stability (natural variation), High clarity, Slightly breathy, Soft delivery
• Reference: Think "Scarlett Johansson in 'Lost in Translation'"—intimate, controlled emotion, quiet strength

Usage Statistics

Appears In: ~55-60 shots (estimated 95% of film) Scenes: All 8 scenes (001-008) Screen Time: ~4 minutes 30 seconds of 5-minute runtime

Shot List (to be populated by Substage 1F):

• Scene 001: 3 shots (eyes opening ECU, hand reaching toward Marcus, pulling back)
• Scene 002: 7 shots (rising from bed, kitchen movements, balcony prep, violin case, flower placement)
• Scene 003: 5 shots (turning from kitchen, greeting Marcus, pouring coffee, two-shot balcony)
• Scene 004: 7 shots (wrapped in blanket, listening to newspaper, trembling hand on cup, close-ups during dialogue)
• Scene 005: 10 shots (reminiscing, bathroom entry, mirror confrontation, sink grip, composing, return)
• Scene 006: 4 shots (hand holding, 15-second ECU on face during promise, two-shot)
• Scene 007: 12 shots (speech difficulty, watching violinist, losing words, Marcus embrace, kiss, final exchange)
• Scene 008: 15 shots (departure, stairs descent, park walk, bench arrival, violin case opening, medication, drinking, closing eyes, final peace)

Total Estimated Shots: 63 shots featuring Anna

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[marcus]

Artifact ID: [marcus] Full Name: Marcus Chen Age: 35 Gender: Male Priority: Critical (appears in 80% of shots)

Master Shot Specification

Purpose: Generate consistent character reference image for use in all shots featuring Marcus Chen

Composition Prompt (for master shot generation in Stage 4+):

Professional portrait photograph of a man, age 35, East Asian descent (Chinese-American). Medium height (5'10" / 178cm), medium athletic build (165 lbs / 75kg), naturally fit from active lifestyle without looking overly muscular. Warm medium-tan skin tone with healthy glow. Black hair, thick and slightly wavy, medium length (reaching just past ears), tousled but clean—naturally falls in slight wave across forehead, showing no styling product. Dark brown eyes (appearing almost black in certain lighting), warm and expressive, slight crow's feet at outer corners from smiling, eyes show kindness and openness. Rectangular face with soft features, defined jawline without harsh angles, high cheekbones. Medium lips with natural reddish tone, default expression showing hint of smile (optimist's face). Straight nose, average size. Well-groomed short beard/stubble (2-3 day growth, neatly trimmed along jaw and upper lip). Expressive eyebrows that move frequently with emotion. Hands visible in shot: pianist's hands—long elegant fingers, well-cared-for nails, gentle appearance, no tremor (contrast to Anna).

Wearing soft charcoal heather gray t-shirt (crew neck, comfortable fit, slightly worn soft cotton, hints of lived-in quality), warm rust-brown henley layered over it (unbuttoned, sleeves pushed up to forearms showing olive-tan forearms), worn dark blue jeans (comfortable fit, not tight), barefoot indoors.

Standing straight, facing camera, gentle default expression with hint of smile at corners of mouth, eyes showing warmth and kindness. Hands relaxed at sides or one hand in pocket (casual confidence). Shot against plain warm gray background. Soft natural lighting from front-right (morning window light quality), gentle shadows defining facial structure.

Technical specs: ARRI Alexa Mini LF, 85mm Cooke S4/i Prime lens, f/2.8 shallow depth of field, 24fps, 4K resolution, photorealistic professional studio portrait photography, cinematic quality, live-action realism, NOT animation or cartoon, natural warm color grading emphasizing skin warmth and gentle demeanor.

Physical Details (For Prompt Integration)

Height: 5'10" (178cm) — Medium, average height Build: Medium athletic (165 lbs / 75kg), naturally fit, lean without being thin, broad shoulders Skin: Warm medium-tan (East Asian), healthy glow, no blemishes Hair: Black, thick, slightly wavy, medium length (past ears), tousled naturally, falls across forehead Eyes: Dark brown (almost black), warm, expressive, kind, slight crow's feet from smiling Face Shape: Rectangular with soft features, defined jawline, high cheekbones, approachable Lips: Medium, natural reddish tone, default slight smile Nose: Straight, average size, well-proportioned Facial Hair: Short well-groomed beard/stubble (2-3 day growth), neatly trimmed Hands: Pianist's hands—long elegant fingers, gentle appearance, no tremor Eyebrows: Expressive, move frequently when he talks (emotional availability visible) Distinctive Features:

• Warm, kind eyes (optimism visible in gaze)
• Default hint of smile (hopeful demeanor)
• Expressive hands (composer/pianist, always moving when he talks)
• Slight crow's feet (from genuine smiling, not stress)

Wardrobe (Default)

Default Outfit (appears in all apartment scenes):

• Base Layer: Charcoal gray crew neck t-shirt, soft cotton, comfortable fit, slightly worn (favorite shirt)
• Layered Top: Rust-brown henley, unbuttoned, worn as light jacket, sleeves pushed to forearms
• Bottom: Dark blue worn jeans, comfortable fit, slightly faded from washing
• Shoes: Barefoot indoors (all apartment scenes)
• Accessories: None (casual, unadorned, approachable)

Overall Impression: Marcus presents as comfortably artistic—the layered casualness of someone who doesn't think much about clothes but has inherent good taste. Warm earth tones (rust brown, charcoal gray) suggest grounded warmth. The slightly worn quality shows he prioritizes comfort and familiarity. No pretense, no performance—what you see is who he is.

Emotional Range (For Performance Notes)

Neutral State (resting face):

• Eyes: Warm, open, slightly crinkled at corners (default kindness)
• Eyebrows: Natural relaxed position, mobile (move when thinking)
• Mouth: Slight hint of smile at corners (optimist's default)
• Jaw: Relaxed, no tension
• Hands: Gently moving (pianist's hands—expressive even at rest)
• Body: Open posture, shoulders back but not stiff, approachable
• Overall: Warmth and openness, genuine kindness visible

Hopeful Determination (talking about clinical trials):

• Eyes: Bright, focused, forward-looking
• Eyebrows: Raised, creating animation in face
• Mouth: Smile while talking, enthusiasm visible
• Jaw: Relaxed, engaged
• Hands: Gesturing (describing future, painting picture with hands)
• Body: Leaning forward (engaged, optimistic energy)
• Overall: Genuine hope, not naive—informed optimism

Gentle Concern (noticing Anna's tremor):

• Eyes: Soft, worried, searching her face for truth
• Eyebrows: Drawn slightly together (concern)
• Mouth: Smile fades, lips part slightly (about to speak)
• Jaw: Slight tension (holding back deeper fear)
• Hands: Reaching out to steady her (instinctive care)
• Body: Leaning toward her (protective, supportive)
• Overall: Love and worry balanced, strength offered

Puzzled Tenderness (sensing something different about Anna):

• Eyes: Narrowed slightly (trying to understand)
• Eyebrows: One slightly raised (question)
• Mouth: Small confused smile (affection mixed with uncertainty)
• Jaw: Relaxed but thoughtful
• Head: Tilted slightly (trying to read her)
• Overall: Intuition that something is off but cannot name it

Unaware Joy (reading newspaper, ordinary morning):

• Eyes: Soft, relaxed, content
• Eyebrows: Animated as he reads (changes with content)
• Mouth: Slight smile, voice warm
• Jaw: Completely relaxed
• Body: Settled into chair, comfortable
• Overall: Ordinary happiness, the contentment of routine with someone loved

Final Wave (balcony, oblivious goodbye):

• Eyes: Bright, friendly, no awareness of finality
• Eyebrows: Raised in friendly greeting
• Mouth: Full smile (genuine, warm)
• Jaw: Relaxed
• Hand: Raised in wave, open palm, fingers spread
• Body: Leaning on balcony rail, casual
• Overall: Ordinary affection, no idea this is goodbye

Frame-by-Frame Emotional Transitions

Transition: Sleep → Waking Gentleness (Scene 003, catalyst):

1. Eyes closed (sleeping), face completely relaxed (3 seconds)
2. Eyes begin to flutter (sensing Anna's movement, 1 second)
3. Eyes open slowly, unfocused (waking naturally, 2 seconds)
4. Eyes focus on Anna, slight smile begins (recognition, love, 2 seconds)
5. Mouth opens to speak, voice rough with sleep (1 second)
6. Body shifts to sit up, hand reaching to rub eyes (waking motions, 3 seconds) Total transition: 12 seconds from asleep to engaged

Transition: Hope → Masked Concern (noticing tremor worsening):

1. Eyes bright while talking (hope visible, 2 seconds)
2. Eyes shift down to Anna's shaking hand (noticing, 1 second)
3. Eyebrows draw together (concern, 1 second)
4. Mouth smile fades (shift in emotion, 1 second)
5. Hand reaches out to steady her cup (instinctive care, 2 seconds)
6. Eyes look back up to her face (checking her reaction, 2 seconds)
7. Slight smile returns (masking worry, reassuring her, 2 seconds) Total transition: 11 seconds from hope to masked concern

Voice Characteristics (For Stage 4+ Audio Generation)

Voice Type: Male, warm baritone, rich mid-range Vocal Quality: Warm, expressive, emotionally available, gentle without being weak Accent: Neutral American, no regional markers (cosmopolitan upbringing) Speaking Pace: Moderate, speeds up when excited or hopeful, slows down when comforting Volume: Moderate, clear, projects naturally without shouting Vocal Tics:

• Slight upward lilt at end of sentences when asking questions or suggesting ideas (hopeful inflection)
• Warm laugh that comes easily
• Sighs before speaking difficult topics (composing thoughts)
• Uses "we" and "us" frequently (inclusive language)

Vocal Patterns:

• Future-tense language ("Next week we'll...", "We could try...")
• Completes Anna's sentences (often incorrectly, assuming he understands)
• Affirmations ("Yes, exactly", "Of course")

ElevenLabs Voice Profile (to be created in Stage 4+):

• Voice ID: [To be generated]
• Settings: Medium stability, High clarity, Warm resonance, Gentle delivery
• Reference: Think "John Krasinski in 'A Quiet Place'"—warm, protective, genuine kindness

Usage Statistics

Appears In: ~45-50 shots (estimated 80% of film) Scenes: 7 of 8 scenes (all except Scene 002 where Anna is alone) Screen Time: ~3 minutes 45 seconds of 5-minute runtime

Shot List (to be populated by Substage 1F):

• Scene 001: 1 shot (sleeping, visible beside Anna)
• Scene 002: 0 shots (Anna alone)
• Scene 003: 5 shots (appearing in doorway, approaching balcony, sitting with Anna)
• Scene 004: 7 shots (wrapped in blanket with Anna, reading newspaper, steadying her cup, dialogue exchanges)
• Scene 005: 8 shots (reminiscing conversation, alone on balcony while Anna is in bathroom, her return)
• Scene 006: 4 shots (taking her hand, studying her face during promise, squeezing hand reassuringly)
• Scene 007: 10 shots (discussing clinical trials, silencing phone, listening to violinist, embracing Anna, final exchanges)
• Scene 008: 8 shots (watching Anna prepare to leave, standing at door, balcony wave, checking watch, final oblivious wave)

Total Estimated Shots: 43 shots featuring Marcus

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Production Notes

Total Character Artifacts: 2 (Anna Volkov, Marcus Chen) Background Characters: 1 (Street violinist—visible but not requiring artifact, background element) Referenced Only: 1 (Dr. Helena Reyes—mentioned in dialogue, never appears)

Artifact Usage:

• These master prompts will be used in Substage 1F (Prompt Engineer) to generate reference images
• Reference images feed into Stage 4+ (Traditional Story Bible, Media Generation)
• Consistency maintained across all shots through artifact system

Physical Description Philosophy:

• Hyper-specific to enable AI image generation without ambiguity
• Natural, realistic, achievable through casting (not idealized fantasy)
• Visual contrast between characters (Anna pale/slender/trembling vs Marcus warm/steady/healthy)
• Clothing reflects psychology (Anna neutral earth tones/minimalist vs Marcus warm colors/layered casual)

Next Steps:

1. Substage 1C: Visual Designer (location artifacts, visual specifications)
2. Substage 1D: Director (shot list integration with character artifacts)
3. Substage 1E: Audio Designer (voice characteristics already documented here)
4. Substage 1F: Prompt Engineer (generate master reference images from these prompts)

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Status: ✅ Complete, ready for visual/prompt development

Generated by Donkey Substage 1B: Character Psychologist Master prompts ready for Stage 4+ image generation