---
title: The recommended workflow
description: The order of steps that gives the most consistent films, done by hand or by an AI agent.
sidebar:
  icon: map
---

You can do every step yourself, or ask a connected [AI agent](/guides/agent) to do it for you. [What you need](/requirements) lists what each way needs, such as Blender for the blockout.

1. **Cast the scene**

    Give every person a face close-up and a turnaround, give key props (a car, a bag) a turnaround, and give the location an establishing shot.

    - **By hand:** in [Characters and locations](/guides/characters-and-locations).
    - **Agent:** *"Cast Rosa, her yellow convertible, and a coast road."*

2. **Block out the scene**

    Make a plain grey 3D blockout (a *previs*) that sets the camera moves and cuts, and add it to the scene.

    - **By hand:** start a film with **I have a previs**, build the blockout in Blender, then upload it and import its `sequences.json` in the scene's **1 Previs** step. Then pick the scene's location and cast once, in **2 Cast & location**. See [Make a film with a previs](/guides/previs).
    - **Agent:** *"Previs scene 1 in Blender and add it to the scene."* The agent needs Blender, ffmpeg and the previs skill on the computer it runs on (see [Use an AI agent](/guides/agent#add-the-previs-skill)).

3. **Build the reference sheet**

    One image with the scene's cast, props and location. It keeps them looking the same in every shot.

    - **By hand:** click **Build sheet** on the scene's **3 Reference sheet** step.
    - **Agent:** *"Build the reference sheet for scene 1."*

4. **Try it fast (optional)**

    Render the shots at **Fast** quality (about 480p) to check the timing and camera moves quickly.

    - **By hand:** set **Quality** to **Fast** and click **Animate**.
    - **Agent:** *"Render scene 1 at 480p so I can check the timing."*

5. **Render the final shots in HD**

    Render again at **HD** and redo any shot you don't like.

    - **By hand:** set **Quality** to **HD** and click **Animate**. If a shot skips a cut, raise **Follow previs**.
    - **Agent:** *"Render the final shots in HD and redo any that don't match the sheet."*

6. **Export**

    Join the shots into one film. Add **Film look** if you want it, and **4K** for the final version (slow, so do it last).

    - **By hand:** on the **Timeline** tab, click **Export film**.
    - **Agent:** *"Export the film with the film look, in 4K."*

You can also give an agent the whole job at once: *"Make a 10-second film of Rosa driving the coast road, using the recommended workflow."*