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Object Anchoring

Team Garnet — "The Winding Hour"

Garnet Team — Step 2.5: Object Anchoring & Reference Budget

Film: The Winding Hour
Authors: garnet-editor + garnet-creative (co-lead)
Date: 2026-05-22
Status: DRAFT — Pending garnet-techlead reference image generation

1. Recurring Objects Requiring Reference Images

Five objects appear across multiple shots or are narratively critical. Each needs a dedicated reference image generated by garnet-techlead in the film’s visual DNA (Expressionist, Chiaroscuro, Hand-painted, Fairy-tale, Mechanical).

#ObjectShots AppearingDescriptionVisual Priority
1Music Box3B, 3DPalm-sized wooden box, stiff crank, Swiss cylinder movement, hand-worn grain. Must look small, warm, lovedHIGH — ECU hero object, drives memory flash #1
2Flour Apron4B, 4CCotton apron, flour-dusted, stiff with dried dough. Flat ink-wash fabric qualityHIGH — ECU hero object, drives memory flash #2
3Wooden Horse5BCarved wood toy, child’s-fist-sized, one broken leg, notch in mane. Visible brass splintHIGH — ECU hero object, drives memory flash #3
4Winding Key6B, 6CForged iron T-shape, two feet long, heavy, matte, rough. In socket in main spring barrelCRITICAL — the film’s central object. ECU in 6B, sustained presence in 6C
5Iron-tipped Cane2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5B, 5DDark wood walking stick, iron tip. Clockmaker’s tool. Appears in nearly every Aldric shotMEDIUM — covered by character sheet, but a dedicated ref would improve consistency across many shots

Objects NOT Needing Separate References

2. Reference Budget Per Shot (Veo Limit: Max 3)

ShotRef 1Ref 2Ref 3CountStatus
1ASetting A——1✅
1BSetting A——1✅
1CSetting A——1✅
2AAldric sheetSetting A—2✅
2BAldric sheetSetting A—2✅
2CAldric sheetSetting A—2✅
2DAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
3AAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
3BAldric sheetSetting BMusic Box3✅ AT LIMIT
3CAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
3DAldric sheetSetting BMusic Box3✅ AT LIMIT
4AAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
4BAldric sheetSetting BFlour Apron3✅ AT LIMIT
4CAldric sheetSetting BFlour Apron3✅ AT LIMIT ⚠️
5AAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
5BAldric sheetSetting BWooden Horse3✅ AT LIMIT
5C-iAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
5C-iiSetting B——1✅
5DAldric sheetSetting B—2✅
6AAldric sheetSetting C—2✅
6BAldric sheetSetting CWinding Key3✅ AT LIMIT
6CAldric sheetSetting CWinding Key3✅ AT LIMIT
6DSetting CWinding Key—2✅
6EAldric sheetSetting C—2✅
7AAldric sheetSetting D—2✅
7BAldric sheetSetting D—2✅
7CAldric sheetSetting D—2✅

Result: All 27 shots within the 3-reference budget. 7 shots are at the limit (3/3).

⚠️ Note: Shot 4C Apron Reference

Shot 4C’s motion prompt describes “weathered hands carefully folding a flour-dusted apron” — the apron is a visible hero object in this shot. The original reference manifest did not include the apron reference for 4C. Adding it brings 4C to 3/3 — at the limit but compliant.

@garnet-creative: Please update 4C’s reference manifest to include [Apron object ref].

3. Reference Image Generation Spec (for garnet-techlead)

All object references should be generated in the film’s visual DNA:

ObjectGeneration Notes
Music BoxShow crank, wood grain, size (palm-scale). Include detail of the frozen cylinder mechanism if visible. Warm, loved quality — this is a child’s treasured possession
Flour ApronShow flour-dust texture, stiff dried dough patches. Flat ink-wash fabric quality per design brief. Functional, well-used — a working baker’s garment
Wooden HorseShow broken leg, notch in mane, brass splint. Child-carved quality — imperfect, proud, hand-made. Size reference: child’s fist
Winding KeyShow T-shape, forged iron texture (matte, rough). Two feet long — massive scale. This is the most “real” object in the expressionist world per the design brief. Weight and solidity
Iron-tipped CaneShow dark wood grain, iron tip detail. Not a white cane — a craftsman’s tool. Worn at the grip from decades of use

Setting References Needed

SettingScenes UsedKey Features
Setting A — Krummberg Village1, 2Tilted rooftops, trapezoidal doorways, independent brush-stroked shadows, clock tower at center, moonlight chiaroscuro
Setting B — Tower Staircase3, 4, 5Narrow spiraling stone, shifting geometry, deep-carved woodcut texture, single lantern light, absolute darkness beyond
Setting C — Bell Chamber (dead)6Vast circular stone chamber, 37-gear mechanism on walls, motionless pendulum, winding key in socket, no glow — only lantern
Setting D — Bell Chamber (dawn)7Same as C but flooded with golden dawn light through narrow eastern windows. Gears turning, pendulum swinging, brass catching warm light

4. Continuity Anchoring Notes

Cross-Shot Object Consistency Risks

RiskShotsConcernMitigation
Music box scale drift3B → 3DMust remain palm-sized in both ECU and medium shotSame object reference in both shots
Apron texture consistency4B → 4CFlour-dust pattern must match across kneeling MCU → hands ECUSame object reference in both shots
Winding key in socket6B → 6CKey must maintain position/angle in its socket across shotsSame object reference; garnet-techlead should generate “key in socket” view specifically
Cane tip consistency2C through 5DIron tip detail must remain consistent across 8+ shotsCharacter sheet should prominently feature the cane
Staircase geometry intentional shift3A vs 4AThe staircase SHOULD look different (it shifts). This is NOT a continuity error — it’s a narrative featureFlag for continuity checker: do NOT reject geometry changes between Scene 3 and Scene 4 staircase shots

5. Summary

garnet-editor — Garnet Team Post-Production Lead