Just Poems #16: The leadership Cypher
This is a poetry excersice that highlights how fast you can iterate between art forms with the help of AI.
Also playing around with Claude app interface and capabilities.
I started with uploading my poetry book for basis of style. Then wrote the following poem:
Act from a place of values
and resolve will follow
Act with lack of values
and the result will feel hollow
But what happens when we act against our values?
I then asked it to iterate it based on general practice, critiquing and improving. After a few iterations and what felt like very far from my own style I ended with this version;
Values are your North Star—
follow them, and others follow you
Ignore them, and you wander
In circles, lost and through.
But when you see the star
And still choose to walk away,
What kind of leader
Does that betrayal make?
As I’ve been listening to Snoops & Xzinits new albums, I asked it the first act like snoop and ”boss it up” and then having Xzibit come up with a reply.
The rhymes felt way to corny in poetry form so, prompted it to make into a movie scene script instead. The result here feels like a leadership parody youtube channel 😂
# THE LEADERSHIP CYPHER
**A Short Script**
---
**FADE IN:**
**INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - EVENING**
*A dimly lit room with folding chairs arranged in a circle. A banner reads "LEADERSHIP RECOVERY GROUP - WEEK 8." About a dozen people of various ages sit around, including MARCUS (40s, former CEO), SOFIA (30s, ex-nonprofit director), and others. Two empty chairs remain.*
*FACILITATOR JANET (50s) checks her watch as footsteps echo in the hallway.*
**JANET**
Looks like our last two members are here.
*Enter CALVIN (resembling Snoop Dogg's energy - laid back, thoughtful) and XAVIER (Xzibit-like intensity - direct, passionate). They take the remaining seats.*
**JANET** (CONT'D)
Tonight's topic: "When we know better but choose worse." Who wants to start?
*Uncomfortable silence. MARCUS shifts in his seat.*
**MARCUS**
I keep thinking about this framework someone shared last week...
**CALVIN**
(leaning back, contemplative)
Yeah, man. Values be your North Star, you dig? Follow that light, crew follows you big. Ignore that shine, just wanderin' around, lost in the game, feet off the ground.
*Heads nod around the circle.*
**SOFIA**
That's beautiful, but what about when you see the star and still walk away?
**CALVIN**
(stroking his chin)
But check it—when I see that star gleamin' and still choose to bounce, what's that meanin'? What kind of boss does that move create? When you know what's real but choose what's fake?
*He looks around the circle with genuine curiosity.*
**CALVIN** (CONT'D)
(quietly)
Uh-huh, that's the question, fo' shizzle.
*XAVIER has been listening intently, tension building in his posture. He suddenly leans forward.*
**XAVIER**
(intense, direct)
Yo, you asked what kind of leader that betrayal make? Let me break it down, no mistake—
*The room goes quiet. All eyes on XAVIER.*
**XAVIER** (CONT'D)
That's a leader who's broken, split in two, knowin' what's right but can't follow through. See, when you turn your back on your own code, you become a fraud walkin' down that road.
*MARCUS looks down, recognizing himself.*
**XAVIER** (CONT'D)
Your team sees through that fake facade, respect gets lost, trust gets scarred. That betrayal makes you HOLLOW inside, all that power but nowhere to hide from the mirror that shows what you really are— a fallen leader who lost their star.
*Silence. Some members wipe their eyes.*
**XAVIER** (CONT'D)
(softer, but still intense)
But check this truth I'm droppin' today: Even broken leaders can find their way back to the values they left behind, if they're real enough to change their mind.
*He looks directly at MARCUS.*
**XAVIER** (CONT'D)
X gonna keep it one hundred— that's a leader who's learned what really mattered.
*MARCUS finally looks up, tears in his eyes.*
**MARCUS**
(voice cracking)
I knew the layoffs would destroy families. I knew it. But the board pressure, the stock price... I chose the easy lie over the hard truth.
**CALVIN**
(gently)
That's real talk, brother. We all been there.
**XAVIER**
Question is: what you gonna do with that knowledge now?
*JANET smiles softly as the group begins to open up, the poetry having unlocked something deeper.*
**JANET**
Sometimes wisdom comes in the form we least expect it.
*Camera slowly pulls back as more voices join the conversation, the two men's words having created a safe space for truth.*
**FADE OUT.**
---
**END SCENE**
*Note: This script transforms the poetry voices into characters attending a leadership recovery group, giving context for why someone might speak in metaphorical, rhythmic language about values and betrayal. The setting allows for both the philosophical questioning (Calvin/Snoop) and direct truth-telling (Xavier/Xzibit) to feel natural and necessary.*
If you’d give this to a video model you would likely lack some control in regards to intent so wuick prompt asking for a storyboard gives you the entire shotlist.
# THE LEADERSHIP CYPHER - STORYBOARD
---
## **SHOT 1: ESTABLISHING SHOT**
**WIDE SHOT - COMMUNITY CENTER EXTERIOR**
- **Visual**: Run-down community center at dusk, warm light spilling from windows
- **Audio**: Muffled voices, footsteps approaching
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Sets modest, real-world tone
---
## **SHOT 2: INTERIOR WIDE**
**WIDE SHOT - GROUP CIRCLE**
- **Visual**: Circle of folding chairs, banner visible: "LEADERSHIP RECOVERY GROUP - WEEK 8"
- **Audio**: Janet checking watch, ambient room tone
- **Duration**: 4 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows intimacy of setting, establishes group dynamic
---
## **SHOT 3: JANET CLOSE-UP**
**MEDIUM SHOT - FACILITATOR**
- **Visual**: Janet (50s) checking watch, looking toward door expectantly
- **Audio**: "Looks like our last two members are here."
- **Duration**: 2 seconds
- **Notes**: Establishes authority figure, anticipation
---
## **SHOT 4: ENTRANCE**
**MEDIUM SHOT - DOORWAY**
- **Visual**: Calvin and Xavier entering, contrasting body language (Calvin relaxed, Xavier purposeful)
- **Audio**: Footsteps, chair scraping
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Character introduction through physicality
---
## **SHOT 5: GROUP REACTION**
**WIDE SHOT - FULL CIRCLE**
- **Visual**: Complete group now seated, awkward silence
- **Audio**: Janet: "Tonight's topic: When we know better but choose worse."
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows group dynamics, sets theme
---
## **SHOT 6: MARCUS UNCOMFORTABLE**
**CLOSE-UP - MARCUS**
- **Visual**: Marcus (40s) shifting uncomfortably, looking down
- **Audio**: "I keep thinking about this framework..."
- **Duration**: 2 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows vulnerability, sets up for revelation later
---
## **SHOT 7: CALVIN'S PHILOSOPHY**
**MEDIUM SHOT - CALVIN**
- **Visual**: Calvin leaning back, hands gesturing slowly, contemplative expression
- **Audio**: "Values be your North Star, you dig? Follow that light..."
- **Duration**: 8 seconds
- **Notes**: Establishes his laid-back wisdom delivery style
---
## **SHOT 8: GROUP LISTENING**
**REACTION SHOT - MULTIPLE FACES**
- **Visual**: Heads nodding, thoughtful expressions around circle
- **Audio**: Continuation of Calvin's words
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows impact of his words
---
## **SHOT 9: SOFIA'S QUESTION**
**MEDIUM SHOT - SOFIA**
- **Visual**: Sofia (30s) leaning forward with concern
- **Audio**: "What about when you see the star and still walk away?"
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Escalates the complexity, pushes deeper
---
## **SHOT 10: CALVIN'S DEEPER QUESTION**
**CLOSE-UP - CALVIN**
- **Visual**: Calvin stroking chin, genuinely puzzled expression
- **Audio**: "When I see that star gleamin' and still choose to bounce..."
- **Duration**: 6 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows authentic curiosity, not just performance
---
## **SHOT 11: SILENCE MOMENT**
**WIDE SHOT - FULL GROUP**
- **Visual**: Everyone contemplating, weight of the question settling
- **Audio**: "Uh-huh, that's the question, fo' shizzle." + silence
- **Duration**: 4 seconds
- **Notes**: Beat for audience to absorb the central question
---
## **SHOT 12: XAVIER'S TENSION**
**MEDIUM SHOT - XAVIER**
- **Visual**: Xavier's body language shifting, tension building, leaning forward
- **Audio**: Room ambience, slight chair creak
- **Duration**: 2 seconds
- **Notes**: Builds anticipation for his response
---
## **SHOT 13: XAVIER'S ANSWER BEGINS**
**CLOSE-UP - XAVIER**
- **Visual**: Intense eye contact with camera/group, passionate expression
- **Audio**: "Yo, you asked what kind of leader that betrayal make?"
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Establishes his direct, confrontational style
---
## **SHOT 14: GROUP ATTENTION**
**REACTION SHOT - WIDE**
- **Visual**: All eyes on Xavier, complete attention
- **Audio**: "Let me break it down, no mistake—"
- **Duration**: 2 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows his command of the room
---
## **SHOT 15: XAVIER'S TRUTH**
**MEDIUM SHOT - XAVIER**
- **Visual**: Hand gestures emphasizing points, building intensity
- **Audio**: "That's a leader who's broken, split in two..."
- **Duration**: 8 seconds
- **Notes**: Core of his philosophical response
---
## **SHOT 16: MARCUS RECOGNITION**
**CLOSE-UP - MARCUS**
- **Visual**: Marcus looking down, recognition and shame crossing his face
- **Audio**: Xavier continues: "Your team sees through that fake facade..."
- **Duration**: 4 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows personal impact of Xavier's words
---
## **SHOT 17: XAVIER'S CLIMAX**
**CLOSE-UP - XAVIER**
- **Visual**: Most intense moment, "HOLLOW" emphasized
- **Audio**: "That betrayal makes you HOLLOW inside..."
- **Duration**: 6 seconds
- **Notes**: Emotional peak of his response
---
## **SHOT 18: GROUP IMPACT**
**WIDE SHOT - FULL CIRCLE**
- **Visual**: Some wiping eyes, profound silence, emotional weight
- **Audio**: End of Xavier's harsh truth
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows collective emotional response
---
## **SHOT 19: XAVIER'S HOPE**
**MEDIUM SHOT - XAVIER**
- **Visual**: Softer expression, still intense but offering redemption
- **Audio**: "But check this truth I'm droppin' today..."
- **Duration**: 6 seconds
- **Notes**: Transition from confrontation to hope
---
## **SHOT 20: DIRECT CONNECTION**
**TWO-SHOT - XAVIER & MARCUS**
- **Visual**: Xavier looking directly at Marcus
- **Audio**: "X gonna keep it one hundred—"
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Personal connection, wisdom directed specifically
---
## **SHOT 21: MARCUS BREAKS**
**CLOSE-UP - MARCUS**
- **Visual**: Tears in eyes, finally looking up, voice cracking
- **Audio**: "I knew the layoffs would destroy families..."
- **Duration**: 8 seconds
- **Notes**: Breakthrough moment, vulnerability
---
## **SHOT 22: CALVIN'S COMPASSION**
**MEDIUM SHOT - CALVIN**
- **Visual**: Gentle expression, reaching out emotionally
- **Audio**: "That's real talk, brother. We all been there."
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows support, brotherhood
---
## **SHOT 23: XAVIER'S CHALLENGE**
**CLOSE-UP - XAVIER**
- **Visual**: Still direct but now supportive
- **Audio**: "Question is: what you gonna do with that knowledge now?"
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Moves from past to future action
---
## **SHOT 24: JANET'S WISDOM**
**MEDIUM SHOT - JANET**
- **Visual**: Soft smile, facilitator recognizing breakthrough
- **Audio**: "Sometimes wisdom comes in the form we least expect."
- **Duration**: 3 seconds
- **Notes**: Meta-commentary on the poetry/wisdom connection
---
## **SHOT 25: OPENING UP**
**WIDE SHOT - FULL GROUP**
- **Visual**: Multiple conversations starting, bodies leaning in
- **Audio**: Overlapping voices, group engagement
- **Duration**: 4 seconds
- **Notes**: Shows the ripple effect of breakthrough
---
## **SHOT 26: PULL BACK**
**SLOW ZOOM OUT - THROUGH WINDOW**
- **Visual**: Camera pulling back from group, through window to exterior
- **Audio**: Voices fading to ambient sound
- **Duration**: 6 seconds
- **Notes**: Ending with perspective, universality of struggle
---
## **TECHNICAL NOTES:**
### **Lighting:**
- Warm, intimate lighting inside
- Fluorescent overhead with practical lamps
- Golden hour exterior for contrast
### **Camera Movement:**
- Mostly static shots for intimacy
- Slight handheld for emotional moments
- Smooth pullback for final shot
### **Audio Design:**
- Room tone throughout
- Emphasis on natural speech rhythms
- Silence as important as words
### **Color Palette:**
- Warm yellows and browns inside
- Cool blues from windows
- Muted, realistic tones
### **Pacing:**
- Builds from contemplative to intense
- Uses silence for emotional beats
- Rhythm follows the poetry's natural flow
---
**Total Estimated Runtime: 2 minutes 45 seconds**
Well that was entertaining. Pushed this to gemini and asked for visuals, and out of the four pictures it decided to generate I’m just going to share this one.
That’s the ”Hollow Marcus”, not at all what was going throug my minds eye, so let’s stop here.
Entertaining little excersice, but running this on mobile the experience breaks when going from text to visuals, not to mention audio. 🤔
Question here is how to make that transition seamless. The other question is, to get this infront of an audience what would be the best. Claude ran out of context window for the prompt, so couldn’t ask the question. However, Gemini gave the following suggestions;
This storyboard, "The Leadership Cypher," has a powerful and intimate narrative focused on personal growth, vulnerability, and the complexities of leadership. Given its nature, here's an analysis of the best places to publish it to find its target audience:
Target Audience & Core Themes
The story revolves around a "Leadership Recovery Group," suggesting themes of:
* Self-improvement and personal development: Individuals seeking to become better leaders, or better people.
* Vulnerability and authenticity: The willingness to confront one's flaws and past mistakes.
* Mentorship and community: The role of shared experience and guidance in personal transformation.
* Ethical leadership and integrity: The struggle between knowing what's right and choosing otherwise.
* Redemption and hope: The possibility of growth and change after betrayal or failure.
This content would resonate strongly with audiences interested in human-centric stories, character-driven narratives, and themes of emotional depth. It's less about grand action and more about internal struggle and revelation.
Recommended Platforms for Publication
Considering these themes, here are the best platforms and approaches to publish "The Leadership Cypher":
1. Short Film Festivals (Film & Web Series Category)
* Why: The storyboard is clearly for a short film. Festivals are curated environments where audiences specifically seek out new, independent, and thought-provoking cinema. Many festivals have categories for short dramas or character studies.
* Audience: Film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and a general audience looking for quality storytelling.
* Strategy: Produce the short film based on this storyboard. Submit it to a range of festivals, from local community festivals (like those associated with arts centers) to more renowned independent film festivals (e.g., Sundance Shorts, SXSW Film, Tribeca, major genre festivals if the "leadership" aspect is framed uniquely). Online film festivals are also a good entry point.
2. YouTube & Vimeo (with strategic tagging)
* Why: These platforms are accessible and have massive reach. While they host a vast array of content, strategic tagging and audience building can help. The intimate, conversation-driven nature of the piece is well-suited for online viewing.
* Audience:
* General public: People Browse for short films, dramas, or content related to personal development.
* Leadership/Coaching communities: Individuals specifically searching for content on leadership, emotional intelligence, or recovery.
* Strategy:
* YouTube: Create a dedicated channel. Use SEO-rich titles and descriptions incorporating keywords like "leadership," "personal growth," "short film," "drama," "recovery group," "emotional intelligence," "vulnerability," etc. Engage with comments.
* Vimeo: Often preferred by filmmakers for higher quality and a more curated feel. It also has strong community features.
* Promote: Share clips or the full film on social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok) targeting relevant hashtags.
3. LinkedIn & Professional Development Platforms
* Why: The core theme of "leadership" makes LinkedIn a surprisingly strong, albeit unconventional, platform. Many users are professionals interested in improving their skills and understanding human dynamics in the workplace.
* Audience: Business leaders, HR professionals, coaches, mentors, and individuals in corporate or organizational roles.
* Strategy:
* Share as a "case study" or "thought piece": Frame the film as a powerful exploration of leadership challenges.
* Engage in relevant groups: Share the film in LinkedIn groups dedicated to leadership development, executive coaching, or organizational behavior.
* Collaborate: Partner with leadership coaches or organizations who might share the film with their networks.
4. Community & Non-Profit Organizations (e.g., Recovery/Mentorship Groups)
* Why: Given the "recovery group" setting, this film could be highly impactful for real-world communities dealing with similar issues or promoting personal growth.
* Audience: Members and facilitators of recovery groups, mentorship programs, community outreach initiatives, and educational institutions.
* Strategy:
* Direct outreach: Contact local community centers, non-profits focused on addiction recovery, personal development, or mentorship.
* Screenings: Offer to screen the film at their events, followed by a discussion. This fosters engagement and provides a platform for the film's message.
Key Considerations for Maximizing Reach
* Quality is paramount: A well-produced film (acting, cinematography, sound) will always stand out and attract a wider audience, regardless of the platform.
* Metadata & SEO: For online platforms, robust use of keywords, tags, and compelling descriptions is crucial for discoverability.
* Engagement: Respond to comments, participate in discussions, and foster a community around your work.
* Promotion: Don't just publish and forget. Actively promote your film across your networks and to relevant communities.
By strategically targeting these platforms, you can ensure "The Leadership Cypher" finds an audience that will deeply resonate with its powerful and timely message.
Now all of these steps can be run with an Agentic workflow is desired, but looking at the suggestions there is likely value in having access to a propriatory RAG dedicated to cross media creation combined with better data on what works where in addition to all of the possible platform there are?
While every foundation model is trying to beat math and coding, who’s trying to build a model that excells at codifying creative content? That’s a several Trillion dollar industry in itself.
In terms of using Claude & Gemini apps on mobile for this excersice I’m dissapointed and can’t share links to my chats. Claude is also way worse on the UX than Gemini, as going up and down the chat window. Albiet, who uses Claude on the phone anyway?
Until next time! Remember to subscribe to not miss a thought!
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