Skills are custom instructions you upload to Claude once and they're available in every conversation automatically. No copy-pasting prompts, no setup each time. This guide walks through the install process using cinema-director-v3 as the example, but the exact same steps work for any skill file.
Four steps, under two minutes
Get the skill ZIP → go to Settings > Customize > Skills → upload the ZIP → flip the toggle. Done. The skill is live in every new chat from that point on.
Step 1
Every skill is packaged as a ZIP file containing a folder with a skill.md inside. If you're following along from the Doodles PFP tutorial, download cinema-director-v3.zip below. It's pre-packaged and ready to upload. If you're installing a different skill, the same steps apply as long as it's in the correct ZIP format.
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💡Every skill ZIP follows the same structure: one folder at the root, one skill.md inside. If someone sends you a skill as a .md file instead of a ZIP, you'll need to package it yourself. Create a folder, put the file inside renamed to skill.md, then compress it.
Step 2
Open Claude.ai in your browser or the desktop app. Click your profile icon in the top right, then go to Settings. In the left sidebar under Customize, click Skills.
Step 3
Click '+ Add skill' and select the ZIP file when prompted. Claude unpacks it, reads the skill.md, and adds the skill to your account. You'll see it appear in your list. For cinema-director-v3 it shows up as 'Structures cinematic video prompts for Seedance 2.0/2.5 and Higgsfield.'
This works the same way for any skill ZIP. The name and description come from inside the file.
Key Tips
Step 4
Once it appears in your list, flip the toggle next to the skill name to turn it on. That's the entire install. The skill is now active in every new conversation you start.
If Claude prompts you to enable code execution, go to Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation.' Some skills need it, some don't.
Key Tips
Step 5
Skills activate automatically. You don't invoke them by name or type a command. Just start a conversation the way you normally would. Claude reads the active skills at the start of every session and applies them when relevant.
For cinema-director-v3 specifically: describe your video scene in plain language and it structures the output into a full production prompt for Higgsfield.
FAQ
Do I need a paid Claude plan to use skills?
No. Skills work on Free, Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. You just need a Claude account.
Does the skill stay active between conversations?
Yes. Once enabled in Settings, the skill is active in all new chats automatically. You don't need to do anything in each conversation. It runs in the background every time.
Can I install multiple skills at once?
Yes. You can upload and enable as many skills as you want. They all run simultaneously. If two skills overlap or conflict, the one higher in your list takes precedence.
What if someone shares a skill as a .md file, not a ZIP?
You'll need to package it yourself: create a folder with the skill name, put the .md file inside renamed to skill.md, then right-click the folder and compress it (Mac: Compress, Windows: Send to → Compressed folder). Then upload that ZIP.
Questions about installing skills or the video workflow? Drop a reply.
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