Quickstart

This guide walks you through your first production using COCKPIT → PLAN → GENERATE → COMBINE → EXPORT. Many steps can be done entirely on the Director Board with Snap — you only need the Creation Engine when you want the full generate workspace.

Before you start

  • Sign in to MediaSnap with Google or email
  • Open Director Studio (cinematic UI) and create or open a project

Step 1: Create a project

  1. From the dashboard, click New Project
  2. Enter a name (and optional description)
  3. Click Create

Everything below lives inside this project.

Step 2: PLAN — Director Board

Go to PLAN in the top bar — it opens Director Board (plan script workspace).

Recommended: start with Snap

  1. Open the Snap chat drawer on Director Board
  2. Describe your idea (genre, length, tone, characters)
  3. Snap drafts a production script with chapters, shots, cast, and sets
  4. Review the script panel — edit anything you want
  5. After a long script, use the confirmation wizard to create a chapter when you are ready (Snap does not add chapters silently)

Chapter board (same PLAN area)

Director Board includes the chapter board — organize chapters and shots:

  • Add chapter for each story beat
  • Add shots inside a chapter (each shot is one clip you will generate)
  • Use filters and layout toggles as needed

You can build structure in Snap first, then refine on the chapter board — or add chapters manually.

Work with Snap (talk — no Creation Engine required)

On Director Board, Snap is the assistant. Stay in chat to:

  • Create scripts, chapters, shots, cast, locations, and props
  • Enhance prompts and get cinematic ideas
  • Generate image, video, or audio — describe what you want; confirm model and prompt
  • Use Generate on script rows for inline reference images
  • Rewrite shot scripts before you generate

Snap remembers your project as you go. Results land in the project library; attach them to shots when prompted.

Step 3: GENERATE — Creation Engine (when you want it)

Open GENERATE in the top bar for the Creation Engine — the full generate page with canvas, modes, and shot handoff from the chapter board.

Use it when you prefer:

  • Opening a shot via Open in Creation Engine from a shot card
  • Multi-try sessions on the canvas
  • Director Controls and the full model picker layout

Attach finished media to the shot when done. You can skip this step for a first test if Snap already generated what you need on Director Board.

Step 4: COMBINE — Production Studio

  1. Go to COMBINE (Edit Timeline) — Production Studio
  2. Import chapter shots or add clips to the timeline
  3. Arrange, trim, and preview your sequence
  4. Save your production version

Step 5: EXPORT — Render Movie

  1. Go to EXPORT in the top bar
  2. Choose resolution and start the render
  3. Wait for the async job (you will be notified)
  4. Download your MP4 from the export center

You are done

You planned on Director Board, generated with Snap and/or the Creation Engine, edited in Production Studio, and exported a finished movie — all in one project.

Quick tips

  • PLAN = Director Board (script + chapter board + Snap)
  • Use clear names for cast and sets — reference detection works better
  • GENERATE = Creation Engine page; not the only way to create media
  • Start with one chapter and one shot for the shortest first run

Next steps