Seth Dunlap — cold-start brief (canonical)¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Project | The Education of Seth Dunlap |
| Runtime | ~5 min hybrid short (final assembly cut) |
| Distribution | Digital-first — self-hosted at darcymenard.com/projects/seth-dunlap/; video via Vercel Blob (no YouTube/Vimeo; no view metrics by default) |
| Status | Closed (2026-07-10) — released; glad it's done; no active work |
| Watch | https://darcymenard.com/projects/seth-dunlap/ |
| Handbook | projects/seth-dunlap-production-handbook · https://wiki.darcymenard.com/projects/seth-dunlap-production-handbook/ |
| Updated | 2026-07-12 |
Use in new LLM threads: @seth-dunlap-cold-start-brief.md + state which act/shot you need.
Creative constitution (locked)¶
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| When | Late afternoon lab break-in → same night home ambush (~2–4 hrs). No “midnight” / “after midnight” in dialogue. |
| Tech | Pre-camcorder: cap-mounted Super 8 + miniaturized Walkman (nearly silent). Analog only. |
| Visual grammar | Cap POV (primary) + CCTV (institutional eye) + spare Super 8 (preamble only). No free-roaming 35mm hero shots. |
| Motor off | (1) Lab: Voss orders off — Seth complies → CCTV + Walkman. (2) Ambush: motor keeps running (ceiling oner). |
| Walkman | Continuous insurance; carries audio when picture stops. |
| Stakes | Seth stole samples he believes matter; vials may not be viable. Not “hidden cure” exposé. |
| Ending | Evidence, not triumph — escapes with Super 8 dub + Walkman, not institutional VHS confession. |
| Audio default | Seedance native dialogue for Voss/Seth/henchmen (voice consistency via @Video continuation). Eleven Labs for ambience + SFX only unless a take fails. |
North star: Someone with power decided this never left the room. Seth decided otherwise.
Credits (if L6 used): Characters and events fictionalized.
Characters¶
Seth¶
- Male grad student, late 20s, exhausted, corduroy jacket, cap-mounted Super 8 rig
- Voice (Seedance): tired American tenor, dry throat, nervous when caught, steadier when defiant
Dr. Elena Voss¶
- Female senior researcher/advisor, early 40s, severe lab coat, controlled stillness
- Voice (Seedance): low controlled alto, clipped institutional diction, no warmth, slow menace, never shouts
Henchman A¶
- Campus/hospital security uniform, radio — near security wing, hall bump, ceiling scene
- Voice: flat procedural baritone, 30s
Henchman B¶
- With Voss at cryo on CCTV; punches in living room
- Voice: deferential to Voss, slightly higher male, 30s
Evidence logic (locked)¶
| Item | What | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| VHS Lab 1 | CCTV dub — wide / other lab angle | Car stash — may escape with Seth |
| VHS Lab 2 | CCTV dub — Voss + B at cryo (confession) | Left in basement VCR → A: "I got the security tape!" |
| Super 8 Reel 3 | Cap films CRT while Lab 2 plays = dub of confession + ambush/escape oner | Escapes with Seth — meta: the film |
| Walkman | CRT session + ceiling + car | Escapes with Seth |
| Vials | Waistband from lab theft | Ambiguous at end |
| Reel 2 | Walk home + car stash | Runs out after stash |
| Reel 0 | Spare-reel preamble (~22s) | Already shot |
Reel map¶
REEL 0 (spare) Preamble ~22s → HARD CUT
REEL 1 Journey + lab theft + Voss (motor off at "It's off") → CCTV + Walkman
REEL 2 Hall/security/exit → home → CAR STASH → REEL OUT
REEL 3 (oner) Basement rat → CRT/Lab 2 dub → ambush → ceiling → car → optional REEL OUT
Seedance voice consistency¶
- One master clip per dialogue scene (all lines in order) — not line-by-line gens.
- Video-in /
@Videocontinue from last approved clip for same character voices. - Lock voice bible (above) — same wording every prompt.
- Detach Seedance audio in iMovie; don't regenerate lines that already work.
- CRT/TV beats: reuse same cryo clip audio under CRT footage (muffled EQ).
- Eleven Labs: ambience, foley, glitch, keycard, motor — not primary dialogue.
Prompt suffix (dialogue gens):
CCTV glitch (same camera, between lab clips): Seedance video-in from last frame; ~1s tracking roll/static; trim in edit.
Aspect ratio (global): Lock 16:9 in every prompt suffix. Seedance sometimes shifts ratio between gens — watch every export; crop or re-prompt before assembly if clips won't line up.
Project closed — retrospective (2026-07-10)¶
With distance from the cut, Darcy is glad this project is closed. The film shipped; the production notes below are the durable output for any future video work.
Seedance: Credits remain on the account — room for further video experiments later. No plans now; let credits ride until a specific project warrants them.
Video generation learnings (canonical — from Seth Dunlap)¶
Consolidated checklist from the full Seedance + iMovie pass. Reuse on any narrative clip workflow.
Continuity & picture¶
| Learning | Detail |
|---|---|
| Last-frame continuity | Always extract the last frame of an approved clip → next-shot start. Without it, POV and CCTV sequences drift (camera height, lighting, wardrobe). |
| Seedance UI gap | Seedance does not expose the last frame in the UI. Extract offline: ffmpeg -sseof -1 -i clip.mp4 -frames:v 1 -q:v 1 last_frame.png (PNG). |
| Prefer I2V over video-in | Video-in / @Video is considerably more expensive on credits. Prefer last-frame → @Image1 image-to-video for continuity when voice continuity is not required; reserve video-in for same-character dialogue hold. |
| CCTV glitch | Between same-camera clips: continue from last frame; ~1s tracking roll/static; trim in edit. |
| Aspect ratio discipline | Lock 16:9 in every prompt suffix. Seedance can shift ratio between gens — watch every export. Crop in iMovie when adjacent clips won't align (stairwells, doorways, hall geometry). |
| Explicit prompts | Vague motion → unprompted behavior (doors opening alone, early character moves, props shifting). Spell out static vs moving: closed door, empty hands, motor on/off, one step only. |
| Door I2V | Keep door closed until handle contact; first + last reference frames both closed if the beat should not open early. CCTV mode ≠ Super 8 — don't mix grammar in one prompt. |
| Super 8 motion | Avoid hold / static in Super 8 prompts — use gate weave, cap bounce, grain crawl. Overlay grain in edit if the gen is too clean. |
| Second-unit cap-on | Separate Super 8 camera filming Seth putting the rig on (not cap POV) — cleaner than forcing assembly into POV. |
Audio¶
| Learning | Detail |
|---|---|
| Seedance native audio | Best path for character dialogue — better voice hold across @Video than Eleven Labs lip-sync under picture. |
| Master clips | One master clip per dialogue scene (all lines in order) — not line-by-line generation. |
| Voice bible | Lock character voice description — same wording every prompt; continue via @Video from last approved clip. |
| Detach in edit | Detach Seedance audio in iMovie; don't regenerate lines that already work. |
| Eleven Labs role | Ambience + SFX only (foley, glitch, keycard, motor) unless a Seedance take fails. |
| CRT/TV beats | Super 8 of the TV playing VHS — match the CRT image to the Lab 2 source; reuse same source audio under CRT with muffled EQ. Don't over-specify lab/coat in the CRT prompt. |
| Black + audio uploads | If uploading audio-only / black plate into Seedance, re-encode first: H.264 / yuv420p / AAC / faststart. |
Workflow & story¶
| Learning | Detail |
|---|---|
| Story first | Promising visuals without a locked story stall projects (~75% on Space Zoo; mid-gap on Seth before rewrite). Beat sheet before mass generation. |
| Director's edit, not oner | Multi-beat + lighting shifts fail as one long gen. Prefer short clips + last-frame chain. Reserve oners for Act 6 CRT dub and Act 7 ceiling ambush. Escape path (hall → stairs → car): 3 short clips; cut on stairs → black 0.5–1.5s → car stash; skip parking-lot walk beat. |
| Fit and finish | Last 10% is editorial: trim glitch handles, crossfade ambience, motor state per act, whisper levels. Small misalignments read on a thriller cut. |
| Hybrid archive | Real Super 8 + B&W backbone + AI gap-fill (Seedance POV/CCTV) can read as one film when continuity rules are followed. |
| Titles | No formal intro card before cap assembly — sticky-note flash in preamble is enough. End: reel-out while driving → black → The Education of Seth Dunlap → My student film. → Still Rolling (film texture under titles). Skip full credits crawl. |
| Distribution | Digital-first self-host (darcymenard.com) without view metrics is fine for a personal short; band social is not the film audience. |
Global prompt suffix (generated clips)¶
1987-1988 United States. Same characters, same voices as @Video1.
NOT Super 8. Ambient: fluorescent hum only. No music.
16:9, 720p, 24fps feel.
Optional later: Festival / Letterboxd / wider share — not active.
Released (2026-07-09)¶
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Assembly | iMovie cut complete — ~5 min final runtime |
| Encode | Web MP4 (H.264, 16:9, faststart) |
| Site | Film page live in htdocs → darcymenard.com/projects/seth-dunlap/ |
| Video | Vercel Blob (or self-hosted via site) |
| Status | Shipped — Darcy moving on to other work for now |
Distribution (2026-07-08)¶
| Decision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Runtime | ~5 minutes (final cut after assembly — shorter than original 7–9 min act estimate) |
| Primary path | Digital-first, self-hosted on darcymenard.com/projects/seth-dunlap/ |
| Video hosting | Vercel Blob — upload MP4, paste public URL into page meta tag (see htdocs/projects/seth-dunlap/DEPLOY.md) |
| Metrics | None by default — acceptable for personal release; optional Plausible/page analytics later |
| Not using | YouTube / Vimeo as primary home (band social not the distribution channel) |
Site page: htdocs/projects/seth-dunlap/index.html — minimal player, logline, credits, fiction disclaimer.
Production complete — session summary (2026-07-08)¶
All acts generated (Acts 0–8) via Seedance 2.0 master clips + archive Super 8/B&W where planned. Dialogue locked in Seedance native audio; @Video continuation used across dialogue blocks.
Deviation — stairs sequence (Act 1): Final journey cut uses a different stairs / hall progression than the original shot-list wording (basement stairs → outdoor → keycard → halls/stairs → lab door). The on-screen path still reads as one continuous late-afternoon approach; the change is subtle — viewers may not notice — but the wiki shot table below reflects the original plan, not the final edit order. Tag actual assembly order in iMovie when stitching.
Shipped (2026-07-09): Assembled in iMovie, encoded for web, published on darcymenard.com/projects/seth-dunlap/. Closed (2026-07-10) — glad it's done.
COMPLETED — Acts 0–3 (summary)¶
Act 0 — Preamble (~22s, spare cam + cap mirror)¶
Assembly (2nd unit) → cap on/start (2nd unit) → cap films spare cam → selfie → 1s sticky-note flash → HARD CUT
Act 1 — Journey (~40s, cap POV, silent + foley)¶
Basement stairs → outdoor walk (late afternoon sun) → keycard/biolab door → halls/stairs → wooden lab door
Act 2 — Lab theft (~50–60s, POV ↔ CCTV intercut)¶
CCTV enter → POV walk → CCTV cryo → POV lid/boxes/vials → CCTV lid on → POV waistband tuck
Act 3 — Voss (~75–90s)¶
POV until motor off, then CCTV + Walkman. Glitch between same-camera CCTV clips if needed. No phone beat.
Act 3 dialogue:
Voss: Seth! What are you doing here at this hour?
Seth: I— I was just—
Voss: Turn that off. I thought I told you the labs were off limits for your film project.
Seth: …Okay. It's off.
Voss: Restricted cold storage. You're not cleared for this tier. Explain.
Seth: I was closing the count. I saw the fax from Bethesda.
Voss: You weren't cleared for that fax.
Seth: I know. That's the point.
Voss: What did you take from the rack?
Seth: Nothing that isn't already on your purge list.
Voss: You think turning it off changes what I saw on camera four?
Voss: Don't perform for a dead camera.
Seth: Then don't perform for the tapes.
Voss: Go home. Nine o'clock. My office.
Seth: I'll be there.
Voss: Seth.
Seth: Yeah?
Voss: The building keeps better records than you do.
Prop: Fax memo on bench — Bethesda purge line, blurred signature (visual only; no real names in dialogue).
Acts 4–8 — shot list (generated 2026-07-08)¶
All shots below generated. Tables retained for assembly reference, dialogue export, and re-gen if a take fails in edit.
ACT 4 — Hall → security → exit (~1:15–1:30)¶
| Shot | Dur | Cam | Visual | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | 5–8 | POV | Hall toward security | Seth (whisper): They've got me on tape. |
| 4.2 | 6–8 | POV | Security closet — optional monitor glimpse (Voss+B at cryo) — no time to watch | — |
| 4.3 | 8–10 | POV | Eject two VHS LAB-1 / LAB-2 into backpack |
Seth (whisper): Both copies. Before they pull them. |
| 4.4 | 2–4 | CCTV | Door cam leaving (optional) | — |
| 4.5 | 5–8 | POV | Henchman A security uniform — hall bump | A: After hours? Seth: Batch run. I'm done. A: …Right. |
| 4.6 | 8–12 | POV | Exit — dusk — toward rental | — |
ACT 5 — Car stash → Reel 2 end (~30–45s)¶
| Shot | Dur | Cam | Visual | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | 8–12 | POV | Night — rental — to car | — |
| 5.2 | 10–15 | POV | Front seat: both VHS + spare reels | Seth (whisper): Stay there. |
| 5.3 | 3–5 | POV | Take Lab 2 only — house — basement | — |
| 5.4 | 2–4 | POV | Load Lab 2 in VCR — CRT glow — cap films screen | — |
REEL 2 OUT after 5.2 (or end of 5.3). REEL 3 STARTS at basement/VCR.
ACT 6 — Basement oner: CRT dub (~1:00–1:15)¶
| Shot | Dur | Cam | Visual | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | 8–12 | POV | Rat cage — one rat moving | Seth (whisper): Same cohort. |
| 6.2 | 35–45 | POV | CRT plays Lab 2 — cap films TV (≥5s CRT fills frame) | [TV AUDIO] below |
| 6.3 | 2–3 | POV | Pause VCR — tape stays in deck | — |
| 6.4 | 2–3 | POV | Floorboard creak upstairs | — |
| 6.5 | 6–10 | POV | Up stairs — empty hands | — |
Lab 2 TV audio (6.2):
Henchman B: Box is open. Cohort seven is gone.
Voss: Camera four has him on the rack. Pull every copy before dawn.
Henchman B: The student?
Voss: Find him. Samples and any copy he made. Bethesda thinks the purge is clean.
Henchman B: What if he already has the security tape?
Voss: Then we go to the rental. Now.
Seth (whisper): That's not when I was there. That's when they found it.
Seth (whisper): She knows where I live.
ACT 7 — Ambush → ceiling → escape (~1:15–1:45)¶
Motor ON entire act — ceiling oner, no 20s black.
| Shot | Dur | Cam | Visual | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 3–5 | POV | Dim living room — Voss | Voss: Seth. |
| 7.2 | 1–2 | POV | Henchman B punch — fall — ceiling POV | — |
| 7.3 | 10–15 | POV | Ceiling — feet leave | See Act 7 block below |
| 7.4 | 4–6 | POV | Seth wakes — Voss shocked | Voss: You— |
| 7.5 | 3–5 | POV | Brief struggle | Voss: Stop— |
| 7.6 | 5–8 | POV | Out door — run to car | Voss (off): Seth! A (off): He's up! |
Act 7 ceiling dialogue (7.3):
Voss: Is he out?
Henchman A: Yeah.
Voss: Basement. Freezer for vials. Every reel and cassette. Tear it apart.
Henchman B: The car outside?
Voss: After. Go.
Henchman A: I got the security tape!
Voss: Good.
ACT 8 — Car / ending (~45–60s)¶
| Shot | Dur | Cam | Visual | Dialogue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | 5–8 | POV | Car — Lab 1 on seat, no Lab 2 | Seth: They got the tape. The film's still rolling. |
| 8.2 | 3–5 | POV | Rearview — face glimpse | — |
| 8.3 | 4–6 | POV | Waistband — ambiguous vials | Seth (whisper): …Doesn't matter. |
| 8.4 | 5–10 | POV | Drive — reel runs out | — |
| 8.5 | 15–20 | Optional L6 | Silhouette + phone | Official: The security dub is gone. He duped it onto film. Find the reels. |
| 8.6 | — | Card | Characters and events fictionalized. | — |
Remaining dialogue — full export (Acts 4–8)¶
Use for Seedance master clips or reference; detach audio in iMovie.
=== ACT 4 ===
Seth: They've got me on tape.
Seth: Both copies. Before they pull them.
Henchman A: After hours?
Seth: Batch run. I'm done.
=== ACT 5 ===
Seth: Stay there.
=== ACT 6 ===
Seth: Same cohort.
Henchman B: Box is open. Cohort seven is gone.
Voss: Camera four has him on the rack. Pull every copy before dawn.
Henchman B: The student?
Voss: Find him. Samples and any copy he made. Bethesda thinks the purge is clean.
Henchman B: What if he already has the security tape?
Voss: Then we go to the rental. Now.
Seth: That's not when I was there. That's when they found it.
Seth: She knows where I live.
=== ACT 7 ===
Voss: Seth.
Voss: Is he out?
Henchman A: Yeah.
Voss: Basement. Freezer for vials. Every reel and cassette. Tear it apart.
Henchman B: The car outside?
Voss: After. Go.
Henchman A: I got the security tape!
Voss: Good.
Voss: You—
Voss: Stop—
Voss: Seth!
Henchman A: He's up!
=== ACT 8 ===
Seth: They got the tape. The film's still rolling.
Seth: …Doesn't matter.
=== OPTIONAL L6 ===
Official: The security dub is gone. He duped it onto film. Find the reels.
Deprecated — do not use¶
- Phone distraction in lab
- “After midnight” dialogue
- Full cryo watch in security room before grab
- Motor off on ambush punch (use motor on ceiling oner)
- 20s black during knockout
- Seth escapes with Lab 2 VHS
- Long basement truth-drug interrogation
- Triumph ending / exposé claims
- Naming real officials in dialogue
- Clean 35mm hero two-shots (unless framed as CRT/CCTV)
Tool stack¶
| Task | Tool |
|---|---|
| Character dialogue scenes | Seedance — master clips, @Video continuation, voice bible |
| Ambience / SFX | Eleven Labs or iMovie foley |
| Archive POV / preamble | Existing Super 8 |
| CCTV / TV content | Seedance surveillance aesthetic — NOT Super 8 grain |
| Assembly | iMovie — detach Seedance audio, crossfade ambience |
Runtime¶
| Original act estimate | Acts 0–8 ≈ 8:30–9:00 if every shot held full duration |
| Final cut (2026-07-08) | ~5 minutes after assembly trim and pacing |