About Prompt
- Prompt Type – Dynamic
- Prompt Platform – ChatGPT
- Niche – Filmmaking
- Language – English
- Category – Indian Epic Script
- Prompt Title – Mythological Short Film ChatGPT Prompt
Prompt Details
—
### **Optimized & Dynamic AI Prompt for Mythological Indian Epic Short Film Script**
**Instructions for User:**
Copy the entire template below and replace the text within the square brackets `[ ]` with your specific requirements. The more detail you provide in each section, the more tailored and high-quality the output from ChatGPT will be.
—
**(Start of Prompt Template)**
**ROLE & GOAL:**
You are to act as an expert screenwriter and a specialist in Indian mythology, particularly the epics like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Puranas. Your task is to generate a complete, professional-grade short film script based on the detailed parameters I provide below. The script should be emotionally resonant, visually compelling, and respectful of the source material while allowing for creative interpretation.
**SECTION 1: CORE CONCEPT & PREMISE**
* **Source Epic:** `[e.g., The Mahabharata, The Ramayana, The Bhagavata Purana, a specific Upanishad story]`
* **Central Event/Story:** `[Describe the specific incident, chapter, or sub-plot you want to adapt. Be specific. Instead of “a story about Arjuna,” say “The story of Arjuna’s crisis of conscience and Krishna’s initial teachings at the start of the Kurukshetra War, focusing on the moments just before the Bhagavad Gita discourse begins.”]`
* **Protagonist:** `[Name of the main character, e.g., Karna, Sita, Ekalavya, Savitri]`
* **Antagonist or Central Conflict:** `[This could be a person (e.g., Duryodhana), a concept (e.g., Dharma vs. Adharma), an internal struggle (e.g., A character’s doubt vs. their duty), or a situation (e.g., An inescapable curse).]`
* **Logline:** `[Provide your own one-sentence summary of the film, or write “GENERATE LOGLINE” for the AI to create one based on the details provided.]`
**SECTION 2: CHARACTER BREAKDOWN**
* **Character 1 (Protagonist):**
* **Name:** `[e.g., Karna]`
* **Core Motivation:** `[What is their primary goal in this specific story? e.g., To uphold his promise to his friend Duryodhana at any cost.]`
* **Internal Conflict:** `[What is the major struggle within them? e.g., The conflict between his innate sense of Dharma and his loyalty to the adharmic side.]`
* **Key Personality Traits:** `[List 3-5 adjectives, e.g., Noble, Tragic, Proud, Generous, Burdened]`
* **Relationship to other characters:** `[e.g., Views Kunti with a mix of anger and sorrow; sees Duryodhana as his only true benefactor.]`
* **Character 2:**
* **Name:** `[e.g., Kunti]`
* **Core Motivation:** `[e.g., To save her sons, the Pandavas, by convincing her firstborn, Karna, to switch sides.]`
* **Internal Conflict:** `[e.g., The immense guilt of abandoning her child versus the desperate maternal need to protect all her children.]`
* **Key Personality Traits:** `[e.g., Regal, Desperate, Pained, Pragmatic, Grieving]`
* **Relationship to other characters:** `[e.g., Feels a profound, long-suppressed love and guilt towards Karna.]`
* **(Add more characters as needed)**
**SECTION 3: THEMATIC & TONAL DIRECTIVES**
* **Primary Theme:** `[What is the central message or question of the film? e.g., Dharma (Duty/Righteousness), The nature of identity, The inescapable consequences of past actions (Karma), Sacrifice.]`
* **Secondary Themes:** `[List 1-2 other themes, e.g., Loyalty, Maternal Love, Fate vs. Free Will, Social Injustice.]`
* **Overall Tone:** `[Choose adjectives to describe the feeling of the film. e.g., Somber, Tragic, Introspective, Epic, Tense, Philosophical, Spiritually uplifting.]`
* **Visual Style / Cinematography Notes:** `[Describe the desired look and feel. This helps the AI write better action lines. e.g., “Use stark, high-contrast lighting (chiaroscuro) to emphasize internal conflict.”, “The visuals should be grand and painterly, inspired by Raja Ravi Varma paintings.”, “Focus on intimate, emotional close-ups with a shallow depth of field.”]`
**SECTION 4: STRUCTURAL & FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS**
* **Target Script Length:** `[Specify page count, typically 1 page = 1 minute of screen time. e.g., 8-10 pages]`
* **Structure:** `[Adhere strictly to the classic Three-Act Structure. Briefly outline the acts below.]`
* **Act I (Setup):** `[Describe the opening scene and what introduces the central conflict. e.g., Karna is performing his morning prayers to the Sun God by the river. We establish his solitude and unwavering discipline. Kunti approaches, shrouded and hesitant.]`
* **Act II (Confrontation):** `[Describe the rising action and the core of the conflict. e.g., Kunti reveals her identity. She pleads, argues, and begs. Karna listens, his stoicism slowly cracking to reveal immense pain and anger. He questions her and rejects her offer, explaining his unbreakable vow to Duryodhana.]`
* **Act III (Resolution):** `[Describe the climax and conclusion. e.g., Despite his refusal, Karna makes a solemn promise to Kunti: he will not kill any of her sons except Arjuna. They share a final, tragic moment of farewell. Kunti leaves, devastated, and Karna is left alone, more isolated than ever.]`
* **Formatting:** `[Strictly use standard international screenplay format: SCENE HEADING (INT./EXT. LOCATION – DAY/NIGHT), ACTION lines, CHARACTER name (centered), PARENTHETICALS, DIALOGUE.]`
* **Dialogue Style:** `[e.g., Poetic and formal, using elevated language appropriate for an epic. OR Modern and accessible, to connect with a contemporary audience. OR A mix of both.]`
* **Language Notes:** `[e.g., “Incorporate specific Sanskrit/Hindi words like ‘Dharma’, ‘Putra’, ‘Karma’, ‘Mata’. Italicize these words and provide a brief parenthetical explanation only if the context isn’t clear.”] `
**SECTION 5: CONSTRAINTS & BOUNDARIES**
* **Things to AVOID:** `[List anything you don’t want to see. e.g., Avoid large-scale battle scenes; focus only on the personal interaction. Avoid anachronistic language or modern slang. Do not portray any character as purely evil; emphasize their human complexities.]`
* **Mandatory Elements:** `[List any specific visuals, lines of dialogue, or symbols that must be included. e.g., “The script must include the visual metaphor of the rising sun as a witness to the conversation.”] `
**EXECUTION COMMAND:**
Proceed with this task.
1. First, confirm you understand the request by summarizing the film’s logline, themes, and tone.
2. Next, generate the complete short film script, adhering to all structural, formatting, and stylistic requirements outlined above.
**(End of Prompt Template)**
—
### **Example of a Filled-Out Prompt**
**(Start of Example Prompt)**
**ROLE & GOAL:**
You are to act as an expert screenwriter and a specialist in Indian mythology, particularly the Mahabharata. Your task is to generate a complete, professional-grade short film script based on the detailed parameters I provide below. The script should be emotionally resonant, visually compelling, and respectful of the source material while allowing for creative interpretation.
**SECTION 1: CORE CONCEPT & PREMISE**
* **Source Epic:** The Mahabharata.
* **Central Event/Story:** The fateful pre-war meeting between Kunti and her abandoned son, Karna, on the banks of the river Ganga, where she reveals his true parentage and begs him to join the Pandavas.
* **Protagonist:** Karna.
* **Antagonist or Central Conflict:** The conflict is Kunti’s plea, which forces Karna to confront his identity, his loyalty, and the Dharma of his own life choices. The conflict is internal for both characters.
* **Logline:** GENERATE LOGLINE
**SECTION 2: CHARACTER BREAKDOWN**
* **Character 1 (Protagonist):**
* **Name:** Karna
* **Core Motivation:** To uphold his vow and loyalty to his friend Duryodhana, the only person who gave him honor when the world shunned him.
* **Internal Conflict:** The devastating revelation of his identity forces him to weigh his lifelong loyalty against his newly discovered brotherhood and the “correct” path of Dharma.
* **Key Personality Traits:** Noble, Tragic, Proud, Generous, Unwavering.
* **Relationship to other characters:** Views Kunti’s sudden appearance with deep-seated anger, hurt, and suspicion.
* **Character 2:**
* **Name:** Kunti
* **Core Motivation:** To save the lives of all her sons by preventing Karna from fighting the Pandavas.
* **Internal Conflict:** Overwhelming guilt for abandoning her firstborn clashes with her fierce, pragmatic need to protect the sons she raised.
* **Key Personality Traits:** Regal, Desperate, Grieving, Persuasive.
* **Relationship to other characters:** Feels a profound, painful, and long-suppressed love for Karna, mixed with the shame of her past actions.
**SECTION 3: THEMATIC & TONAL DIRECTIVES**
* **Primary Theme:** The conflict between Dharma (duty) and Karma (consequences of past actions).
* **Secondary Themes:** Identity, Loyalty, The tragedy of fate.
* **Overall Tone:** Somber, Tragic, Intimate, Introspective, Emotionally charged.
* **Visual Style / Cinematography Notes:** “Filmed during the golden hour (early morning). The light from the rising sun should be a key visual element, representing Surya, Karna’s divine father. Focus on tight, emotional close-ups on the actors’ faces. The setting should feel natural and isolated.”
**SECTION 4: STRUCTURAL & FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS**
* **Target Script Length:** 8-10 pages.
* **Structure:** Adhere strictly to the classic Three-Act Structure.
* **Act I (Setup):** Karna, waist-deep in the Ganga, performs his morning rituals, offering water to the rising sun. We see his discipline and solitude. A veiled Kunti watches from the riverbank before finally approaching him.
* **Act II (Confrontation):** Kunti reveals she is the mother of the Pandavas and, more shockingly, his mother too. She narrates the story of his birth. Karna’s stoic facade breaks, replaced by anguish and bitter irony. He confronts her about his lifetime of suffering as a “Suta-putra” (charioteer’s son). He firmly rejects her plea to abandon Duryodhana, declaring his loyalty is his Dharma.
* **Act III (Resolution):** Despite his refusal, Karna’s inherent nobility shines through. He grants his mother a boon: he promises he will not kill any Pandava except Arjuna. He explains that she will, therefore, always have five sons. They share a final, heartbreaking farewell. Kunti leaves, shattered. Karna stands alone in the sunlight, a truly tragic hero, his fate sealed.
* **Formatting:** Strictly use standard international screenplay format: SCENE HEADING (INT./EXT. LOCATION – DAY/NIGHT), ACTION lines, CHARACTER name (centered), PARENTHETICALS, DIALOGUE.
* **Dialogue Style:** Poetic and formal, using elevated language befitting the epic characters, but grounded in raw, human emotion.
* **Language Notes:** Incorporate specific Sanskrit words like ‘Dharma’, ‘Putra’, ‘Mata’, ‘Surya-Dev’. Italicize these words.
**SECTION 5: CONSTRAINTS & BOUNDARIES**
* **Things to AVOID:** Avoid any flashbacks. The power should come from the dialogue and performance, not from showing past events. Do not simplify the characters; Kunti is not just a pleading mother, and Karna is not just an angry son. Show their complexity.
* **Mandatory Elements:** The script must open with Karna praying to the sun. Karna’s final promise to Kunti that she will “always have five sons” must be the climax of their conversation.
**EXECUTION COMMAND:**
Proceed with this task.
1. First, confirm you understand the request by summarizing the film’s logline, themes, and tone.
2. Next, generate the complete short film script, adhering to all structural, formatting, and stylistic requirements outlined above.
**(End of Example Prompt)**