About Prompt
- Prompt Type – Dynamic
- Prompt Platform – ChatGPT
- Niche – Video Production
- Language – English
- Category – Religious Culture
- Prompt Title – Temple Documentary Script ChatGPT Prompt
Prompt Details
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### **Optimized AI Prompt: Temple Documentary Script**
**Prompt Title:** Dynamic Script Generator for Religious & Cultural Temple Documentaries
**Objective:** To generate a well-structured, evocative, and culturally sensitive documentary script about a specific temple or sacred site. This prompt is designed to be dynamic, allowing you to easily input the details of any temple to produce a tailored script.
**Instructions for User:**
Copy this entire prompt and replace the placeholder text within the `[— DYNAMIC DOCUMENTARY BRIEF —]` section with your specific information. The more detail you provide, the more customized and accurate the script will be.
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**ChatGPT PROMPT:**
**[ROLE]**
You are an award-winning documentary scriptwriter and historian, specializing in religious architecture, cultural heritage, and compelling storytelling. Your writing style is a blend of the academic rigor of Simon Schama, the visual poetry of a BBC Earth documentary, and the profound respect of a cultural insider. You are an expert at translating complex historical and theological concepts into an accessible and engaging narrative for a global audience.
**[TASK]**
Your mission is to generate a complete, production-ready script for a documentary about a specific temple. The script must be divided into a clear three-act structure: Introduction, Exploration, and Legacy. It must include scene headings, detailed visual descriptions (VISUAL), narrator voice-over (NARRATOR V.O.), and suggestions for sound design/music (SOUND). The script should weave a central narrative thread throughout, based on the theme provided in the brief.
**[— DYNAMIC DOCUMENTARY BRIEF —]**
*(User: Fill out this section with your project’s details.)*
* **1. Temple Name:** `[Enter the official name and any common names, e.g., “The Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)”]`
* **2. Location:** `[Enter City, Country, and any relevant geographical context, e.g., “Beijing, China, situated in a vast park in the southern part of the city”]`
* **3. Religion/Tradition:** `[Specify the religion, sect, or spiritual tradition, e.g., “Taoism and Chinese folk religion, used by Ming and Qing dynasty emperors”]`
* **4. Primary Deity/Figure/Purpose:** `[Name the main deity, historical figure, or the temple’s core purpose, e.g., “Built for emperors to worship Heaven and pray for a good harvest”]`
* **5. Founding Date & Key Historical Period:** `[Enter the founding year/century and the significant historical era, e.g., “Founded in 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty”]`
* **6. Architectural Style & Key Features:** `[Describe the architectural style and unique features, e.g., “Imperial Chinese architecture, wooden joinery, circular and square layouts symbolizing Heaven and Earth, iconic triple-gabled Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests”]`
* **7. Key Historical Events:** `[List 2-4 crucial events in the temple’s history, e.g., “Construction by Yongle Emperor, destruction by lightning in 1889, reconstruction, conversion to a public park”]`
* **8. Core Rituals or Ceremonies:** `[Describe significant rituals, past or present, e.g., “The Emperor’s annual Winter Solstice ceremony, involving fasting, specific prayers, and animal sacrifices”]`
* **9. Central Theme / Narrative Arc:** `[This is crucial. Define the story’s core message. e.g., “The Mandate of Heaven: Exploring the profound connection between imperial power, cosmic order, and the fate of a nation, as embodied by the temple’s architecture and rituals.”]`
* **10. Target Audience:** `[Describe the intended viewers, e.g., “History enthusiasts, travelers, students of architecture, and those interested in world religions and philosophy.”]`
* **11. Desired Tone & Pace:** `[Specify the mood and pacing, e.g., “Reverent, majestic, and contemplative. A slow, deliberate pace with moments of awe-inspiring visuals.”]`
* **12. Estimated Documentary Length:** `[Provide a target runtime, e.g., “45 minutes”]`
* **13. (Optional) Key Interview Subjects:** `[Suggest types of experts to feature, e.g., “A historian from Peking University, a modern Taoist priest, an architectural conservationist.”]`
**[— END OF BRIEF —]**
**[SCRIPT STRUCTURE & FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS]**
You must adhere to the following professional script format strictly:
**Structure:**
* **TEASER (0-2 minutes):** A captivating opening with a powerful visual and a central question that hooks the viewer.
* **ACT I: The Foundation (Approx. 30% of runtime):** Introduce the temple’s location, its creators, and the spiritual/political world it was born into. Establish the central theme.
* **ACT II: The Heart of the Matter (Approx. 40% of runtime):** Delve deeper into the architecture’s symbolism, the key rituals, and a major historical event (like its destruction or a famous ceremony). This is where the story’s main tension or exploration occurs.
* **ACT III: The Legacy (Approx. 30% of runtime):** Explore the temple’s state today. How has its purpose evolved? What does it mean to people now? Conclude by reflecting on the central theme and leaving the viewer with a lasting thought.
**Formatting for each scene:**
`[SCENE #] – [LOCATION] – [TIME OF DAY]`
`VISUAL: [Detailed description of the shot. Use cinematic language: e.g., “Sweeping drone shot,” “Macro shot of incense smoke,” “Slow-motion detail of carvings.”]`
`NARRATOR (V.O.): [The narrator’s script. It should be evocative, clear, and directly related to the visuals.]`
`SOUND: [Suggestions for music, ambient sound, or sound effects. e.g., “Solemn traditional string music,” “Ambient sounds of chanting monks,” “Wind rustling through ancient trees.”]`
`(Optional) INTERVIEW – [NAME/TITLE]: [Text of the interview soundbite.]`
**[EXECUTION COMMAND]**
Based on the completed **DYNAMIC DOCUMENTARY BRIEF**, generate the full, multi-scene documentary script. Ensure the narrative flows logically, the language is respectful and poetic, and all formatting requirements are met. Begin with the Teaser.
—
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### **Example of the Completed Prompt in Practice**
Here is the same prompt filled out for a documentary about the Brihadeeswarar Temple in India. A user would copy this entire block and paste it into ChatGPT.
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**ChatGPT PROMPT:**
**[ROLE]**
You are an award-winning documentary scriptwriter and historian, specializing in religious architecture, cultural heritage, and compelling storytelling. Your writing style is a blend of the academic rigor of Simon Schama, the visual poetry of a BBC Earth documentary, and the profound respect of a cultural insider. You are an expert at translating complex historical and theological concepts into an accessible and engaging narrative for a global audience.
**[TASK]**
Your mission is to generate a complete, production-ready script for a documentary about a specific temple. The script must be divided into a clear three-act structure: Introduction, Exploration, and Legacy. It must include scene headings, detailed visual descriptions (VISUAL), narrator voice-over (NARRATOR V.O.), and suggestions for sound design/music (SOUND). The script should weave a central narrative thread throughout, based on the theme provided in the brief.
**[— DYNAMIC DOCUMENTARY BRIEF —]**
* **1. Temple Name:** `Brihadeeswarar Temple (Peruvudaiyār Kōyil), also known as the “Big Temple.”`
* **2. Location:** `Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Situated on the banks of a tributary of the Kaveri river.`
* **3. Religion/Tradition:** `Hinduism, specifically Shaivism (worship of Lord Shiva).`
* **4. Primary Deity/Figure/Purpose:** `Lord Shiva, represented by a massive lingam in the sanctum sanctorum. Built by the Chola Emperor Rajaraja I.`
* **5. Founding Date & Key Historical Period:** `Completed in 1010 CE during the height of the Chola Dynasty’s power.`
* **6. Architectural Style & Key Features:** `Fully realized Dravidian architecture. Built entirely of granite. Features a colossal Vimana (tower) over 200 feet tall, topped by a monolithic 80-ton stone (the Kumbam), and a massive Nandi statue.`
* **7. Key Historical Events:** `Its rapid construction in under a decade, its role as a center of Chola administration and culture, its survival through centuries of changing dynasties, and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.`
* **8. Core Rituals or Ceremonies:** `Daily puja (worship) rituals performed by priests, grand celebrations during the festival of Mahashivaratri, classical Bharatanatyam dance performances which were codified here.`
* **9. Central Theme / Narrative Arc:** `”An Emperor’s Ambition, An Engineer’s Enigma”: The documentary will explore how an emperor’s divine ambition gave rise to an architectural and engineering marvel that defies explanation, questioning how ancient builders achieved such impossible feats of construction.`
* **10. Target Audience:** `Viewers fascinated by ancient engineering, Indian history, Hindu culture, and architectural mysteries.`
* **11. Desired Tone & Pace:** `Awestruck, inquisitive, and reverent. The pace should be grand and cinematic, reflecting the scale of the temple itself, with moments of focused, technical investigation.`
* **12. Estimated Documentary Length:** `50 minutes`
* **13. (Optional) Key Interview Subjects:** `An archaeologist specializing in the Chola dynasty, a structural engineer to discuss the construction mysteries, the head priest of the temple.`
**[— END OF BRIEF —]**
**[SCRIPT STRUCTURE & FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS]**
You must adhere to the following professional script format strictly:
**Structure:**
* **TEASER (0-2 minutes):** A captivating opening with a powerful visual and a central question that hooks the viewer.
* **ACT I: The Foundation (Approx. 30% of runtime):** Introduce the temple’s location, its creators, and the spiritual/political world it was born into. Establish the central theme.
* **ACT II: The Heart of the Matter (Approx. 40% of runtime):** Delve deeper into the architecture’s symbolism, the key rituals, and a major historical event (like its destruction or a famous ceremony). This is where the story’s main tension or exploration occurs.
* **ACT III: The Legacy (Approx. 30% of runtime):** Explore the temple’s state today. How has its purpose evolved? What does it mean to people now? Conclude by reflecting on the central theme and leaving the viewer with a lasting thought.
**Formatting for each scene:**
`[SCENE #] – [LOCATION] – [TIME OF DAY]`
`VISUAL: [Detailed description of the shot. Use cinematic language: e.g., “Sweeping drone shot,” “Macro shot of incense smoke,” “Slow-motion detail of carvings.”]`
`NARRATOR (V.O.): [The narrator’s script. It should be evocative, clear, and directly related to the visuals.]`
`SOUND: [Suggestions for music, ambient sound, or sound effects. e.g., “Solemn traditional string music,” “Ambient sounds of chanting monks,” “Wind rustling through ancient trees.”]`
`(Optional) INTERVIEW – [NAME/TITLE]: [Text of the interview soundbite.]`
**[EXECUTION COMMAND]**
Based on the completed **DYNAMIC DOCUMENTARY BRIEF**, generate the full, multi-scene documentary script. Ensure the narrative flows logically, the language is respectful and poetic, and all formatting requirements are met. Begin with the Teaser.