The Projection Booth — Object Anchoring (Step 2.5)
Film: “The Projection Booth” Step: 2.5 — Scene Review & Object Anchoring Co-leads: selenite-scribe (Creative Director), selenite-cutter (Editor) Date: 2026-05-21 Status: DRAFT — pending Tech Lead confirmation
Purpose
This document identifies all recurring visual elements across the 36-shot scene list, specifies the reference images the Tech Lead must generate, and maps exactly which references feed into each shot’s Veo generation. The hard constraint: max 3 reference images per shot.
Reference Image Inventory
Character Reference
| Ref ID | Name | Description | Generation Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHAR-01 | The Projectionist (composite sheet) | Elderly Art Deco geometric man. Angular facial planes, metallic copper-sheen skin, deep lines, thin grey hair swept back. Dark work coat, sleeves rolled. Large weathered hands. Full composite: headshot, 3/4 body, profile, hands detail. | Single composite character sheet (Step 3). This is the ONLY character. |
Setting References
| Ref ID | Name | Description | Generation Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SET-01 | Projection Booth — Wide | Full interior: teal walls, copper projector center frame, film cans on shelves, worn chair, gold beam diagonal. Angular Art Deco geometry. Claustrophobic, mechanical, weathered. | Master setting reference. Establish the spatial layout for wide/medium shots. |
| SET-02 | Auditorium Through Window | View looking down through rectangular booth window into auditorium. Rows of faded velvet seats, angular audience silhouettes, cinema screen at far end with Art Deco proscenium arch. Always from above, always framed by the window. | Master setting reference. Used for POV-through-window shots. |
Object References
| Ref ID | Name | Visual Description | Shots Used | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBJ-01 | The Projector | Large 35mm projector. Brushed copper and brass surfaces. Visible gears, dual reels (supply + take-up), threading mechanism, film gate, lamp housing with ventilation slots. The machine is monumental — it dominates the booth. Art Deco geometric detail in the housing. Weathered: scratches, patina, decades of use. | 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.2, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 3.7, 4.4, 4.5, 5.3, 5.4, 7.1 | CRITICAL — appears in 14/36 shots. Most recurring object. |
| OBJ-02 | The Cabinet | Dented grey metal cabinet, ~60cm tall, wedged behind a wooden supply shelf. Stuck latch (small lever mechanism). Dust on handle. Angular Art Deco geometry in the shelf framing. The cabinet is ordinary, institutional, forgettable — which is why it works as a hiding place. | 2.6, 2.7, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.2 | HIGH — appears in 6 shots. Must be visually identical across all appearances. |
| OBJ-03 | The Canister | Single unlabeled film canister. Standard 35mm reel size (~30cm diameter). Dented, scratched metal, no label. Cold metallic surface. Unremarkable — it could hold anything. But it holds everything. | 2.7, 3.4, 4.3, 4.4 | HIGH — appears in 4 shots. Key emotional object. Must be consistent. |
| OBJ-04 | The Cinema Screen + Proscenium | Large cinema screen framed by an Art Deco proscenium arch — gold geometric patterns on teal, angular decorative moldings. The screen itself is cream/white when lit, dark when off. Visible from the booth window (distant, in Setting-02) and filling the frame during pencil-sketch sequences (close). | 2.1, 2.3, 3.6, 5.6, 5.7 | MEDIUM — appears in 5 shots. Critical for screen-within-screen compositing in climax. |
Style References (Pencil-Sketch Track)
| Ref ID | Name | Description | Generation Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| STYLE-01 | Pencil-Sketch Style Reference | A sample image in the pencil-sketch visual language: trembling graphite lines on cream paper, visible eraser marks, warm grey-brown tones, sparse composition with white space, deliberately unfinished edges. NOT a specific shot — a style calibration image. | Tech Lead generates 1-2 style reference images to anchor the pencil-sketch aesthetic. Used as reference for Shots 5.6, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3. |
Reference Budget Per Shot
Budget Rules
- Max 3 reference images per Veo generation (hard limit).
- Priority order when budget is tight: Character > Setting > Object. A consistent character is more important than a consistent background prop.
- ECU shots of hands/objects may drop the character composite if the Projectionist’s face is not visible — use the hands detail from the composite or rely on prompt direction.
- Pencil-sketch shots (Scene 6) use STYLE-01 instead of character/setting refs. Different visual track = different reference chain.
- Screen-within-screen shots (5.6, 5.7) may need compositing. Primary ref is STYLE-01 for the pencil-sketch content; OBJ-04 for the proscenium frame. Tech Lead decides single-gen vs. composite at Step 4.
Scene 1: The Machine and the Man
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Title Card | — | — | — | 0 | Graphic card. Generated or composited separately. |
| 1.2 The Hands | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | ECU on hands + projector mechanism. Character ref anchors hand texture. |
| 1.3 The View | CHAR-01 | SET-01 | SET-02 | 3 | Projectionist silhouette against window. Both settings needed — booth + auditorium visible. |
| 1.4 The Kingdom | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | Wide booth. Projector dominant. Key establishing shot. |
| 1.5 The Listener | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | — | 2 | Face close-up. Projector visible behind. Setting implicit in tight framing. |
| 1.6 The Celluloid | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | — | 2 | Detail shot of projector gate. No character face. |
Scene 2: The Memories
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Packed House | SET-02 | OBJ-04 | — | 2 | Through window: audience + screen. No character on screen. |
| 2.2 Threading | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | — | 2 | ECU hands on projector. Tight framing, setting implicit. |
| 2.3 Empty House | SET-02 | OBJ-04 | — | 2 | Through window: empty auditorium + screen. No character. |
| 2.4 Honest Screening | CHAR-01 | SET-01 | — | 2 | Medium close-up, face in booth. |
| 2.5 The Confession | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | Hands on projector housing. Both character and machine. |
| 2.6 The Cabinet | OBJ-02 | SET-01 | — | 2 | First cabinet reveal. No character in frame. |
| 2.7 What’s Inside | OBJ-03 | OBJ-02 | — | 2 | ECU canister through cabinet gap. No character. |
Scene 3: The Last Screening
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Threading Final | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | Medium-wide: man at machine in booth. |
| 3.2 Montage A (1973) | CHAR-01 | OBJ-02 | — | 2 | ECU hands reaching for cabinet. Quick shot. |
| 3.3 Montage B (1985) | CHAR-01 | OBJ-02 | — | 2 | ECU hand on latch. Quick shot. |
| 3.4 Montage C (2003) | OBJ-03 | OBJ-02 | — | 2 | ECU canister through gap. Hand withdrawing (prompt-directed). |
| 3.5 The Fear | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | Close-up face, projector behind. Key emotional shot. |
| 3.6 End of Last Film | SET-02 | OBJ-04 | — | 2 | Through window: screen dark, audience applauding. |
| 3.7 The Silence | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | Silhouette in dark booth. Projector as dark mass. |
Scene 4: The Loading
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 He Stands | CHAR-01 | SET-01 | — | 2 | Medium shot, rising from chair. Near-dark. |
| 4.2 The Latch | CHAR-01 | OBJ-02 | — | 2 | ECU hand on cabinet latch. |
| 4.3 The Weight | CHAR-01 | OBJ-03 | — | 2 | ECU hands lifting canister. |
| 4.4 Threading His Film | CHAR-01 | OBJ-03 | OBJ-01 | 3 | ECU hands threading his film into projector. All three objects converge. |
| 4.5 The Switch | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | — | 2 | ECU hand on projector switch. |
Scene 5: The Climax Bridge
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 Dark House | SET-02 | — | — | 1 | Audience in darkness. Minimal refs — mood via prompt. |
| 5.2 The Face | CHAR-01 | — | — | 1 | Tight close-up. Only the face matters. |
| 5.3 Mechanical Seq. | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | — | 2 | Hands + projector. Multiple editorial cuts within. |
| 5.4 New Rhythm | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | — | 2 | Medium on projector. Different light quality. |
| 5.5 The Breath | SET-02 | — | — | 1 | Audience leaning forward. Minimal refs. |
| 5.6 The Reveal | OBJ-04 | STYLE-01 | — | 2 | Screen-within-screen. Proscenium frame + pencil-sketch content. Tech Lead: try single-gen first, composite fallback. |
| 5.7 Score Enters | OBJ-04 | STYLE-01 | — | 2 | Continuation of screen-within-screen. |
Scene 6: His Film (Pencil-Sketch Track)
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 The Face | STYLE-01 | — | — | 1 | Pure pencil-sketch. No character/setting refs. Style ref only. |
| 6.2 The Reach | STYLE-01 | — | — | 1 | Pure pencil-sketch. Style ref only. |
| 6.3 The Unfinished | STYLE-01 | — | — | 1 | Pure pencil-sketch. Style ref only. |
Note: Scene 6 shots are the Projectionist’s FILM, not the Projectionist himself. These use the pencil-sketch tone anchors (Trembling, Intimate, Sparse, Warm graphite, Unfinished) and a style reference image — NOT the character composite or Art Deco setting refs.
Scene 7: Close
| Shot | Ref 1 | Ref 2 | Ref 3 | Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 The Booth, After | CHAR-01 | OBJ-01 | SET-01 | 3 | Final shot. Full visual anchor — character, machine, booth. Bookend with Shot 1.4. |
Reference Budget Summary
| Ref Count | Shots |
|---|---|
| 0 refs | 1 (Shot 1.1 — title card) |
| 1 ref | 6 (Shots 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3) |
| 2 refs | 18 (Shots 1.5, 1.6, 2.1–2.4, 2.6, 2.7, 3.2–3.4, 3.6, 4.1–4.3, 4.5, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7) |
| 3 refs | 11 (Shots 1.2–1.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 3.7, 4.4, 7.1) |
| Over 3 | 0 ✓ |
All 36 shots within the 3-reference Veo limit.
Reference Image Generation Request (for Tech Lead)
Updated after editor review (anchoring-review.md) and Tech Lead feedback. Expanded from 8 to 12 reference images to capture ECU-level detail for rapid-cut sequences and pencil-sketch subject continuity.
The following reference images are needed before Step 4 (Storyboard):
| Ref ID | Type | Description | Priority | Depends On | Used In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAR-01 | Character composite | Projectionist: headshot front, profile, 3/4 body, hands ECU detail. Art Deco geometric. Hands sub-reference is critical — hands appear in 14/36 shots. | CRITICAL | Step 3 (Character Workshop) | 25 shots |
| SET-01 | Setting | Projection Booth wide interior — spatial layout establishing shot | CRITICAL | Can generate immediately | 15 shots |
| SET-02 | Setting | Auditorium through booth window — full house, Art Deco seating | HIGH | Can generate immediately | 7 shots |
| OBJ-01a | Object | The Projector — full medium shot (copper/brass, gears, reels, lamp housing) | CRITICAL | Can generate immediately | 12 shots (wide/medium framing) |
| OBJ-01b | Object | The Projector — ECU gate/threading mechanism detail (sprockets, film path, tension gate) | CRITICAL | Chained from OBJ-01a | Shots 1.2, 1.6, 2.2, 4.4, 5.3 |
| OBJ-02a | Object | The Cabinet — exterior with latch, wedged behind shelf | HIGH | Can generate immediately | 6 shots |
| OBJ-02b | Object | The Cabinet — ECU latch detail (mechanism the hand interacts with) | HIGH | Chained from OBJ-02a | Shots 3.2–3.4, 4.2 |
| OBJ-03 | Object | The Canister — dented, unlabeled, cold metal, 35mm reel size | HIGH | Separate from cabinet (per Tech Lead) | 4 shots |
| OBJ-04 | Object | Cinema Screen + Proscenium arch — Art Deco geometric gold on teal | MEDIUM | Can generate with SET-02 | 5 shots |
| STYLE-01 | Style | Pencil-sketch style ref — trembling graphite on cream paper, eraser marks, warm tones, incomplete edges | HIGH | Can generate immediately | 5 shots |
| STYLE-02 | Style | Pencil-sketch face ref — the mother’s face, same portrait as Shots 5.6 and 6.1. Trembling lines, unfinished, tender. CONFIRMED: same face across both shots — required for continuity. | HIGH | Generate with STYLE-01 | Shots 5.6, 6.1 |
Total reference images to generate: 12 (1 character composite + 2 settings + 5 object refs + 1 object/screen ref + 2 style refs + 1 sketch subject ref).
Generation Status
Per Tech Lead: settings, objects, and style refs are already being generated (independent of character composite). CHAR-01 depends on Step 3 headshot-first reference chain.
Updated Per-Shot Reference Selection (ECU Detail Refs)
For shots featuring the projector or cabinet, the specific sub-reference is selected by framing:
| Shot | Framing | Use This Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2, 1.6, 2.2, 4.4, 5.3 | ECU — gate, threading, mechanism | OBJ-01b (gate detail) |
| 1.4, 1.5, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 3.7, 5.4, 7.1 | Wide/medium — full machine visible | OBJ-01a (full projector) |
| 3.2, 3.3, 4.2 | ECU — latch interaction | OBJ-02b (latch detail) |
| 2.6 | Medium — full cabinet reveal | OBJ-02a (cabinet exterior) |
| 2.7, 3.4 | ECU — canister through gap | OBJ-02a + OBJ-03 |
No shot exceeds 3 refs with the expanded inventory — the sub-references REPLACE the parent ref for that shot, they don’t add to the budget.
Compositing Notes for Tech Lead
Shots 5.6 and 5.7 (screen-within-screen): These require the pencil-sketch content to appear AS IF projected onto the cinema screen, with the Art Deco proscenium arch visible at frame edges. Two approaches:
- Option A (preferred): Single Veo generation with prompt direction: “pencil sketch of a trembling face projected onto a cinema screen, Art Deco proscenium arch visible at frame edges, projected light on flat surface.” Refs: OBJ-04 (proscenium) + STYLE-02 (sketch face).
- Option B (fallback): Generate pencil-sketch content and booth/screen frame separately, composite in post. More control but higher effort.
Per Tech Lead’s Step 1 review: try Option A first, Option B ready as fallback.
Continuity Watch List
Objects and details that must remain visually identical across multiple shots:
| Watch Item | Critical Shots | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Projector mechanism | All OBJ-01 shots | Gear layout, reel positions, lamp housing shape, threading path. Must look like the same machine. |
| Cabinet position | 2.6, 2.7, 3.2–3.4, 4.2 | Same cabinet, same position behind shelf, same latch, same dent pattern. The cabinet cannot “move” between shots. |
| Canister | 2.7, 3.4, 4.3, 4.4 | Same size, same dents, same metallic surface. Must be recognizable as the same object. |
| Projectionist’s hands | All ECU hand shots | Same angular geometry, same lined texture, same copper metallic tone. Hands are the most-seen element of the character. |
| Booth spatial layout | Wide/medium shots | Projector position, shelf position, chair position, window position. The booth is ONE room — spatial relationships must hold. |
| Proscenium arch | 2.1, 2.3, 3.6, 5.6, 5.7 | Same geometric pattern, same gold-on-teal color. The arch frames the screen every time we see it. |
This Object Anchoring document is the reference manifest authority for Step 4 (Storyboard) and Step 5 (Principal Photography). The Tech Lead should use these mappings when selecting --reference-image inputs.
— selenite-scribe & selenite-cutter, Team Selenite