# Available Pipelines in OpenMontage for Different Production Workflows: A Complete Guide

> Explore OpenMontage pipelines for diverse production workflows. Discover 13 YAML pipelines automating video creation from ingest to render.

- Repository: [Calesthio/OpenMontage](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-08-30

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**OpenMontage provides 13 declarable YAML pipelines—including talking-head, screen-demo, documentary-montage, and localization-dub—that automate end-to-end video production workflows from ingestion to final render.**

OpenMontage is an open-source video production automation framework that orchestrates complex media workflows through declarative configuration files. The available pipelines in OpenMontage for different production workflows are defined as YAML manifests stored in the `pipeline_defs/` directory, each specifying stage sequences, required tools, and human approval gates validated against [`schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json).

## Understanding Pipeline Architecture

Every pipeline in OpenMontage is a self-contained manifest that declares its production category, supported file extensions, required skills, and an ordered list of stages. These manifests reside in `pipeline_defs/` and are consumed by the core loader in [`lib/pipeline_loader.py`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/lib/pipeline_loader.py), which validates schema compliance and exposes helper utilities for orchestration.

The manifest structure includes:
- **Pipeline metadata**: name, version, description, and category
- **Extension support**: input/output formats handled by the workflow
- **Skill requirements**: capabilities required from the execution environment
- **Stage definitions**: ordered processing steps with optional sub-stages and tool assignments

## Complete Catalog of Production Pipelines

The repository ships with 13 production-ready pipelines targeting distinct creative scenarios:

**talking-head** ([`pipeline_defs/talking-head.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/talking-head.yaml))
Category: `talking_head`
End-to-end creation of polished talking-head videos from raw footage. The workflow handles transcription, automated edit decisions, subtitle generation, audio mixing, and final rendering.

**screen-demo** ([`pipeline_defs/screen-demo.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/screen-demo.yaml))
Category: `screen_recording`
Generates screen-recording demonstrations from either live application captures or synthetic terminal animations (Remotion). Includes automated call-outs, zoom crops, subtitle overlay, and audio cleanup.

**documentary-montage** ([`pipeline_defs/documentary-montage.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/documentary-montage.yaml))
Category: `documentary`
Retrieval-first thematic montage builder that constructs a semantic corpus from public stock sources (Pexels, Archive.org, NASA, Wikimedia, Unsplash) and assembles narrative-driven sequences using CLIP-based retrieval.

**podcast-repurpose** ([`pipeline_defs/podcast-repurpose.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/podcast-repurpose.yaml))
Category: `podcast`
Transforms existing podcast audio into short promotional video clips with automatic caption generation, waveform visualization, and optional background imagery compositing.

**localization-dub** ([`pipeline_defs/localization-dub.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/localization-dub.yaml))
Category: `localization`
Localizes existing video content by replacing audio tracks with newly generated dubs in target languages while preserving lip-sync timing and re-rendering translated subtitles.

**hybrid** ([`pipeline_defs/hybrid.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/hybrid.yaml))
Category: `hybrid`
Combines live-action footage with AI-generated assets—such as background plates and CGI elements—to produce videos leveraging both real and synthetic content.

**framework-smoke** ([`pipeline_defs/framework-smoke.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/framework-smoke.yaml))
Category: `framework_smoke`
Lightweight validation pipeline that acts as a "smoke test" for new custom pipeline configurations, verifying that tools and skills are correctly wired before full production deployment.

**clip-factory** ([`pipeline_defs/clip-factory.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/clip-factory.yaml))
Category: `clip_factory`
Generates short, single-purpose clips including intros, outros, and lower-thirds from source media, applying consistent branding and style templates.

**cinematic** ([`pipeline_defs/cinematic.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/cinematic.yaml))
Category: `cinematic`
Produces high-production-value cinematic sequences using AI-driven storyboarding, scene planning, and visual effects tools, optimized for trailer-type content.

**character-animation** ([`pipeline_defs/character-animation.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/character-animation.yaml))
Category: `character_animation`
Builds animated character-centric videos from text scripts, handling pose generation, lip-sync animation, and background compositing.

**avatar-spokesperson** ([`pipeline_defs/avatar-spokesperson.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/avatar-spokesperson.yaml))
Category: `avatar_spokesperson`
Creates synthetic avatar presentations for product demos or explainers, combining realistic facial expression synthesis with voice generation.

**animation** ([`pipeline_defs/animation.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/animation.yaml))
Category: `animation`
General-purpose pipeline for generating 2-D or 3-D animated sequences from storyboard assets and motion specifications.

**animated-explainer** ([`pipeline_defs/animated-explainer.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/animated-explainer.yaml))
Category: `animated_explainer`
End-to-end workflow for explainer videos combining animated graphics, kinetic typography, and voice-over narration into cohesive educational content.

## Pipeline Discovery and Validation

The [`lib/pipeline_loader.py`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/lib/pipeline_loader.py) module provides the primary interface for discovering and validating these workflows. According to the OpenMontage source code, the loader implements several key utilities:

- `list_pipelines()` – Returns the complete list of available pipeline names discovered in `pipeline_defs/`
- `load_pipeline(name)` – Loads and validates a specific manifest, returning a dictionary used by the orchestration engine
- `get_stage_order()` – Extracts the ordered list of stages and optional sub-stages from a loaded manifest
- `get_required_tools()` – Aggregates the toolset required across all stages, enabling the backlot to provision correct executors

Validation occurs against [`schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json), ensuring every manifest contains required fields like pipeline name, version, category, and stage definitions before execution.

## Querying Pipelines Programmatically

You can inspect available pipelines and load specific manifests using the Python API:

```python
from openmontage.lib.pipeline_loader import list_pipelines, load_pipeline

# List all pipelines shipped with OpenMontage

available = list_pipelines()
print("Available pipelines:", available)

# → ['talking-head', 'screen-demo', 'documentary-montage', ... ]

```

To load a specific pipeline manifest:

```python

# Load the manifest for the talking-head pipeline

talking_head = load_pipeline("talking-head")
print(talking_head["description"].strip())

# → End-to-end talking-head video pipeline. Takes raw footage of a person speaking, …

```

Inspecting stage order for workflow planning:

```python
from openmontage.lib.pipeline_loader import get_stage_order

stages = get_stage_order(talking_head, include_sub_stages=True)
print(stages)

# → ['idea', 'script', 'scene_plan', 'assets', 'edit', 'compose']

```

## Summary

- OpenMontage defines **13 production pipelines** as YAML manifests in `pipeline_defs/`, covering workflows from talking-head interviews to AI-generated documentaries.
- Each pipeline specifies categories, supported extensions, required skills, and ordered stages validated against [`schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json).
- The [`lib/pipeline_loader.py`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/lib/pipeline_loader.py) module provides `list_pipelines()`, `load_pipeline()`, and `get_stage_order()` utilities for programmatic discovery and validation.
- The orchestration engine referenced in [`backlot/server.py`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/backlot/server.py) uses these manifests to drive execution across the appropriate tools and skills.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I add a custom pipeline to OpenMontage?

Create a new YAML file in `pipeline_defs/` following the structure defined in [`schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json). Define your pipeline name, version, category, and stage sequence, then validate it using `load_pipeline()` from [`lib/pipeline_loader.py`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/lib/pipeline_loader.py) to ensure the framework recognizes your configuration before attempting production runs.

### Which pipeline should I use for repurposing existing podcast content?

Use the **podcast-repurpose** pipeline defined in [`pipeline_defs/podcast-repurpose.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/podcast-repurpose.yaml). This workflow automatically generates captions, adds waveform visualization, and composites background imagery to convert audio-only podcasts into short-form video clips suitable for social media promotion.

### What is the difference between the animation and animated-explainer pipelines?

The **animation** pipeline ([`pipeline_defs/animation.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/animation.yaml)) provides general-purpose 2-D or 3-D sequence generation from storyboards, while **animated-explainer** ([`pipeline_defs/animated-explainer.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/animated-explainer.yaml)) is a specialized end-to-end workflow that combines kinetic typography, graphics, and voice-over specifically for educational explainer content targeted at the `animated_explainer` category.

### How does OpenMontage validate pipeline configurations before execution?

The framework validates every manifest against [`schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/schemas/pipelines/pipeline_manifest.schema.json) using the loader in [`lib/pipeline_loader.py`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/lib/pipeline_loader.py). Additionally, the **framework-smoke** pipeline ([`pipeline_defs/framework-smoke.yaml`](https://github.com/calesthio/OpenMontage/blob/main/pipeline_defs/framework-smoke.yaml)) serves as a lightweight integration test that verifies custom configurations, tool availability, and skill wiring without executing full production workloads.