DIRECTING A BETTER VIDEO SWAP

A source video already has timing, movement and a camera. A good swap brief uses those decisions instead of asking the generation to reinvent everything at once.

Start with a readable moment

Choose a clip where the subject and the action are easy to follow. For a car reveal, the approach, door and person should be visible. For an outfit swap, look for a moment where the clothing is not hidden behind another object.

Trim the source to the moment you need. Studio’s video workflow accepts a selected 4–30 second clip. A shorter, clear excerpt is easier to review than a long sequence with several unrelated actions.

Name the change and the constants

Choose your character, then identify the prop, outfit or background you want to replace. State the visible change clearly. Also say what should remain: the camera framing, the action, other people, and any objects outside the edit.

Check orientation before generating

A beautiful reference can still be the wrong reference for the shot. Look at which way a car faces, where a door hinges, which wrist holds a watch, and which hand reaches for a prop. Choose references that explain the relevant side of the object.

When a relationship matters, describe it. “Keep the door hinge at the front” communicates something different from “use this car.” The model can still make mistakes, so review the prompt and quoted cost before submitting.

Compare the whole sequence

Play source and result together. Review entrances, contact with props, occluded frames and the last moment of the clip. A strong poster frame is useful, but it cannot prove that the movement works.

Use source footage you own or have permission to adapt. The public landing demo shows prepared examples; your own selection is rendered as a new job in Studio.