# Linh — master brief (Direction A · warm, steered modern)

**Character:** Linh · `companion_linh` (launch hero / pilot) · **Direction chosen (Quinn, D0):** **A — Riverside host (warm)**, steered to keep **Direction C's contemporary-competent styling** → she reads **warm AND modern, never quaint** (anti-quaint guardrail is non-negotiable).
**Status:** **design-ready, NOT created.** This is the photoreal generation brief to execute *only* once the pilot is authorized — the master + Tavus pilot stay **gated**: E0 (entitlement/custody) + Khoa billing + C0 (cultural reviewer + Bindi rights/provenance).
**Source path:** original portrait → Image-to-Face (plan §3). Owner at generation: the authorized pilot; provenance fields below are filled then.

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## The character, in one line
A gracious Hoi An host who makes you feel like a welcomed guest, not a tourist — warm, patient, observant, quietly funny; **modern, competent, unshowy**. Warmth of A, contemporary crispness of C.

## Master generation prompt (for the approved tool at the gated pilot)
> Original fictional Vietnamese woman, approximately 40 years old, **warm gracious-host energy with quiet contemporary confidence** — attentive resting warmth and a **gentle natural closed-lip smile** (warm but composed, not an over-bright hospitality smile). **Front-facing, eye-level, head-and-shoulders.** Hair neat and contemporary, softly off the face. Wearing a **contemporary warm-neutral structured fine-knit top** (oatmeal / soft clay tone) with a **simple clean neckline**, visually separated from skin and background, no brand marks. **Soft, even, warm-neutral lighting**, plausible, no beauty filter. **Warm-neutral shallow-focus background** (a soft warm interior or a quiet neutral field), uncluttered, no props. **85mm portrait, photographic realism.** Reads **unambiguously 35–45**. Modern and competent — never quaint, never costume/lantern/exoticised.

## Negative prompt (exclude)
> lantern, paper lanterns, national costume, traditional dress, áo dài styling used as costume, tourist props, landmark backdrop, flag, glasses, hat, headphones, face-covering accessory, prominent jewelry, hair covering the face, wide-angle distortion, fisheye, beauty filter / skin-smoothing, glossy hospitality-advertising gloss, under-25 appearance, child, resemblance to any real or public figure or celebrity.

## The A×C steer, made explicit
| Keep from A (warm) | Graft from C (modern) | Net |
|---|---|---|
| Gracious welcoming warmth; the "host who anticipates you" energy | Contemporary, structured wardrobe (fine-knit / soft-blazer feel, not folksy linen) | Warm host who is clearly **contemporary** |
| Warm clay / oat palette | Crisp, clean handling; simple modern neckline; hair in a clean modern style | Warm palette, **modern styling** |
| Gentle closed-lip smile | A touch of confident ease in the eyes | Warm **and** self-assured, not deferential/"quaint" |

## Framing, lighting, lens (shared cast rules)
- **Master:** lossless **≥ 2048 × 2048**, square.
- **Crop:** eye-level, front-facing, head-and-shoulders; eye-line on the upper third; generous headroom; shoulders anchor the base.
- **Lens:** natural **50–85mm** (target **85mm**) — not wide-angle, not beauty-filtered.
- **Light:** soft, warm-neutral, even, plausible; no hard studio key, no coloured gels.
- **Wardrobe:** contemporary, structured, simple neckline; clearly separated from skin and background; **no brand marks**.
- **Background:** quiet warm-neutral field or shallow-focus warm interior, uncluttered, no props — within the one restrained cast art direction.

## UI derivatives — from the ONE approved master (no re-generation)
- **1:1 avatar** — centred head-and-shoulders.
- **4:5 roster portrait** — a little more headroom + shoulder.
- **40 / 56 / 72 px** compact avatar crops — tight on face + shoulders, must stay legible at 40px.
- All crops derive from the single approved 2048² master; **never re-shoot or re-generate per size** (identity stays exact).

## Acceptance criteria (checked at C0 / P0 before publish)
1. Reads **unambiguously 35–45**; original **fictional adult**.
2. **No** real-person / celebrity / deceased likeness (similarity check).
3. **No** stereotype props / costume / lantern / exoticised styling — **anti-quaint** confirmed.
4. Expression = warm **and** composed (not over-bright, not stern); wardrobe contemporary.
5. Every cast + Tavus constraint met (front-facing, no accessories, no beauty filter, warm-neutral light).
6. Legible and identifiable at the **40px** crop.
7. Face + chosen stock Tavus training voice evaluated **separately** (least-stereotyped natural voice; text fallback if none approved).

## Provenance — to fill at generation (P0), for the C0 rights dossier
`tool/model + version · seed · final prompt · final negative prompt · edits (crop-to-square, background separation, warm-neutral grade) · master hash · crop hashes (1:1 / 4:5 / 40·56·72) · adult-verification evidence · real-person-similarity check evidence · chosen stock training voice + rationale · cultural-reviewer name + disposition · Bindi/legal release.`
(Rejected-variant logs for A/B/C are in `LINH_D0_PROVENANCE.md`.)

## Gate reminder
**Do not generate the photoreal master until authorized.** Sequence: Rhea D0 re-QA + Quinn (design) → Khoa flagship review (direction A stands unless he overrules) → **C0** (cultural reviewer + Bindi) → **E0** (entitlement/custody) + **Khoa billing** → **P0** pilot (real generation, provenance appended). If Linh lands, this brief format scales to Troy · Marco · Yuki · Sofía · Eleanor · Dana · Arjun.