Lesson 6 · 17 min
One of the most visible mistakes in generated video is the character who changes face, clothes, or hair from one shot to the next. The defense is a written character sheet and a pack of reference images, decided before the first generation and repeated in every shot.
Start the lesson
Goal: write the sheet for the character and setting you'll reuse as a reference in every shot, without imitating a real person.
Six parts. Click each one.
The character sheet is your own text and works for any generator. How each tool receives the references is covered in course 1, lesson 5.
The character in the first batch is fictional: Dona Lia, 58 years old.
The generator doesn't remember the previous shot. What holds the character together is you repeating the same words in every prompt.
That's why the character sheet uses concrete detail: color, material, shape, a mark on the face. "Friendly" changes from shot to shot; "freckles on the nose and thin-rimmed glasses" doesn't.
Navy canvas apron over a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, gray scarf over the hair.
The 2026 generators accept several reference images to keep character, prop and style consistent. Dated examples (Oct/2026): Veo 3.1 accepts up to 3 images; Seedance 2.5, up to 30 images, 10 videos and 10 audios.
Kling 3.0's "elements" are reported by third-party sources, still without official confirmation. The names change; the character sheet and the image pack work for all of them.
The character's reference image says what they look like. The framing, angle, and pose come from your shot. Mixing the two can lead the generator to copy the reference's pose instead of following your direction.
That's why the references are made in a neutral studio, neutral pose, natural light and plain background: appearance only, no scene.
A fictional character can't look like a recognizable real person, nor use a real brand. An avatar with your own face only with your consent.
Labeling, image and voice rights, and model licensing are covered in course 2, lesson 7.
The character sheet and the request for the reference images in a neutral studio.
Name: <name of the fictional character> Age: <apparent age> Face: <shape, marks, eyes, resting expression> Hair: <color, length, how it's tied up> Body: <height, build, posture> Wardrobe: <pieces, colors and materials> Prop: <the scene prop that carries the story> Setting: <the place, the materials, the time> Light: <the light from the look card, in one line> Never changes: <the list of what stays the same in every shot>
Character reference photograph, neutral studio, plain gray background, soft natural light, neutral pose, full body from the front, looking at the camera. <paste here the Age, Face, Hair, Body and Wardrobe from the character sheet>. Fictional character, no resemblance to a real person, no text, no logo.
Ten fields, each with at least two letters or numbers of description.
The character (or product) in your scene.
Fill in the ten fields of the character sheet with concrete, repeatable detail. If your anchor is a product, the sheet is for the person who appears with it, and the product goes in detail under Prop. Check it and download the ficha.txt to the project folder.
Done when: the page answers OK: sheet with 10 fields filled in for your text and the ficha.txt is in the project folder.
At the end of the ficha.txt, write the list of reference images you will generate in course 1: one line per image, starting with Ref:.
Done when: the ficha.txt ends with at least 4 lines that start with Ref: (character from the front, in profile or full body, wardrobe or prop, empty setting).
Four questions. The explanation shows up after each answer.
Question 1 of 4
Which description best keeps the same face from one shot to another?
Question 2 of 4
Why are the character's reference images made in a neutral studio with a neutral pose?
Question 3 of 4
About Kling 3.0's "elements," what does the course state?
Question 4 of 4
What goes on the "Never changes" line of the sheet?
Pick an answer. The explanation appears after you try.