reference-decode

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Decode benchmark videos, contact sheets, frames, or rough ideas into reusable prompt structure. Use this when you need to extract hook essence, viewer question, must-copy visual grammar, and forbidden drift before writing storyboard or generation prompts.

2installs

Sourcepostplusai/postplus-skills

Added on2026-04-30

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add postplusai/postplus-skills reference-decode

SKILL.md Content

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Reference Decode

Follow shared release-shell rules in:

```
postplus-shared
```
release-shell rules

Use this skill before prompt writing when any source material or rough concept exists.

This skill is for:

breaking a good reference into reusable logic
separating what should be copied from what must not be copied
turning vague ideas into promptable structure
creating a stable handoff for storyboard or provider request work

This skill is not for making the final storyboard grid or provider payload.

Core Rule

Do not summarize references as "good vibe", "nice pacing", or "strong chemistry".

Extract four objects:

```
hookEssence
```
```
viewerQuestion
```
```
mustCopyVisualGrammar
```
```
forbiddenDrift
```

Default Workflow

1. Load the smallest sufficient reference set

Prefer:

hook-first clip or first 0-5 seconds
hook-first contact sheet
supporting benchmark note
full-video style board only if hook-first material is insufficient

If the task is specifically hook replication, do not default to downstream style boards or product-demo frames.

2. Decode the opening mechanism

Ask:

what is the first clear promise?
what question enters the viewer's head?
what exact visual structure makes that promise legible?

3. Separate structure from identity

Keep:

camera grammar
shot order
visible object logic
timing logic
relationship logic

Do not keep:

exact faces
exact wardrobe
creator identity
exact text overlay
exact location

4. Print the decode block before writing prompts

Read

references/output-shape.md

Print the decode in that exact shape first.

5. Hand off cleanly

if the target is a grid, hand off to
```
storyboard-grid-writer
```
if the target is a full render request, hand off to
```
video-request-architect
```
if references should be explicitly bounded, hand off to
```
reference-contract-builder
```

No-Reference Rule

If there is no usable reference, you may still use this skill in proxy mode.

In proxy mode:

start from the chosen segment pattern
infer the likely viewer question
write must-copy grammar as required scene anchors, not as imitation notes
write forbidden drift as anti-generic safeguards

Make it explicit that the output is derived from the brief, not from observed benchmark footage.

Failure Mode

Stop and say the decode is under-specified if there is no way to determine:

what the opening promise is
what the viewer should notice first
what the scene must visibly contain

Do not move to storyboard writing with only mood words.