continuity-tracking

Apply this skill when:

• Setting up tracking systems
• Checking consistency
• Managing timeline
• Tracking characters and props

Core Tracking Databases

| Database | Tracks |

|----------|--------|

| Character Registry | Physical details, knowledge, relationships |

| Timeline Registry | Story chronology, scene timing |

| Location Registry | Settings, geography, descriptions |

| Prop Registry | Important objects, ownership, status |

| Wardrobe Registry | Costume tracking per scene |

Template

```markdown

[CHARACTER NAME]

#### Basic Info

• Full Name: [name]
• First Appearance: Scene [X], Page [Y]
• Age: [range]
• Role: [protagonist/antagonist/supporting]

#### Physical Description

• Hair: [description]
• Build: [description]
• Distinguishing Features: [list]
• Notes: [production-relevant details]

#### Wardrobe Log

| Scene | Page | Costume | Notes |

|-------|------|---------|-------|

| 1 | 1 | Black suit, white shirt | Intro |

| 5 | 12 | Same | Continuous |

| 6 | 15 | Casual jeans, t-shirt | Next day |

#### Knowledge State

Tracks what character knows at each point:

| By Scene | Knows | Doesn't Know |

|----------|-------|--------------|

| 1 | Normal life | The conspiracy |

| 10 | Father is alive | Where he is |

| 20 | Location revealed | True identity |

#### Relationship Map

| Character | Relationship | Evolution |

|-----------|--------------|-----------|

| SARAH | Ex-wife | Hostile → Allied (Sc. 25) |

| JOHN | Partner | Trusted → Betrayed (Sc. 40) |

#### Arc Tracking

| Act | Internal State | Evidence |

|-----|---------------|----------|

| 1 | Distrustful | Refuses help |

| 2 | Opening up | Accepts Sarah's aid |

| 3 | Transformed | Trusts completely |

```

Template

```markdown

Story Span

• Begins: [Day 1, Morning]
• Ends: [Day 7, Night]
• Total Duration: [7 days]

Chronological Breakdown

#### Day 1 (Monday)

| Scene | Time | Location | Duration |

|-------|------|----------|----------|

| 1 | Morning | Apartment | 2 min |

| 2 | Morning | Street | 1 min |

| 3 | Midday | Office | 5 min |

#### Day 2 (Tuesday)

| Scene | Time | Location | Duration |

|-------|------|----------|----------|

| 10 | Dawn | Rooftop | 3 min |

| 11 | Morning | Hospital | 5 min |

Non-Linear Elements

#### Flashbacks

| Scene | Present Day | Flashback To | Purpose |

|-------|------------|--------------|---------|

| 15 | Day 3 | 10 years ago | Reveal wound |

| 30 | Day 5 | Day 1 (new angle) | Revelation |

#### Flash-forwards

| Scene | From | To | Purpose |

|-------|------|-----|---------|

| 1 | Day 1 | Day 7 | Hook |

Time Validation

• [ ] No impossible jumps
• [ ] Travel times realistic
• [ ] Continuous scenes consistent
• [ ] Day/night matches headings

```

Template

```markdown

[LOCATION NAME]

#### Details

• First Appearance: Scene [X], Page [Y]
• Type: INT / EXT / INT./EXT.
• Real or Fictional: [answer]
• Time Zone: [if relevant]

#### Description

[Key visual details established in script]

#### Geography

• Relative to: [other locations]
• Travel time from [X]: [duration]
• Access: [how characters arrive]

#### Scene Usage

| Scene | Time | Characters Present |

|-------|------|-------------------|

| 3 | DAY | Sarah, John |

| 15 | NIGHT | Sarah alone |

| 40 | DAY | Full cast |

#### Continuity Notes

• [Specific details to maintain]
• [Elements established that must persist]

```

Template

```markdown

[PROP NAME]

#### Details

• First Appearance: Scene [X], Page [Y]
• Owner: [CHARACTER]
• Significance: [plot/character/thematic]

#### Tracking

| Scene | Page | Status | Location | Notes |

|-------|------|--------|----------|-------|

| 5 | 12 | Introduced | Sarah's pocket | Gift from father |

| 20 | 45 | Used | Office | Opens safe |

| 35 | 78 | Destroyed | Warehouse | Fire |

#### Related Props

• [Other props connected to this one]

Critical Props List

| Prop | Intro | Status | Significance |

|------|-------|--------|--------------|

| Locket | Sc. 5 | Active | Plot key |

| Gun | Sc. 10 | Fired Sc. 50 | Chekhov's gun |

| Letter | Sc. 1 | Destroyed Sc. 40 | Mcguffin |

```

Per Scene

• [ ] Time of day matches heading
• [ ] Characters present have reason to be there
• [ ] Props present were previously established
• [ ] Wardrobe consistent with timeline
• [ ] Character knowledge appropriate
• [ ] Weather consistent (if established)

Per Sequence

• [ ] CONTINUOUS scenes flow correctly
• [ ] Time passage makes sense
• [ ] Locations reachable in time
• [ ] Character positions track

Per Act

• [ ] Timeline progresses logically
• [ ] Character arcs advance appropriately
• [ ] No contradictions with earlier acts
• [ ] Subplots maintain consistency

Full Script

• [ ] Character registry complete
• [ ] Timeline validated
• [ ] All props tracked
• [ ] Locations consistent
• [ ] No orphaned setups (Chekhov's gun)

Timeline Errors

| Error | Example | Fix |

|-------|---------|-----|

| Impossible travel | NYC to LA in 2 hours | Add time passage |

| Wrong time of day | NIGHT after DAY-CONTINUOUS | Correct heading |

| Seasonal jump | Summer to snow, no time | Add time marker |

Character Errors

| Error | Example | Fix |

|-------|---------|-----|

| Wrong knowledge | Knows before told | Adjust scene order |

| Wardrobe jump | Suit to casual, same time | Add scene for change |

| Location error | Character in wrong place | Fix or explain |

Prop Errors

| Error | Example | Fix |

|-------|---------|-----|

| Orphaned setup | Gun shown, never used | Use or remove |

| Magic appearance | Prop appears, no intro | Add introduction |

| Wrong status | Destroyed prop reappears | Track status |

Character Check

For each major character:

1. List all scenes they appear in
2. Verify timeline possibility
3. Check knowledge at each point
4. Verify wardrobe changes have opportunity

Prop Check

For each significant prop:

1. Note introduction scene
2. Track every appearance
3. Verify final status
4. Check for unused setups

Timeline Check

1. Build linear timeline
2. Plot all scenes
3. Verify no impossibilities
4. Check flashback consistency