# Utility, recipes and skills

> Test the connection with ping, load tested recipes with get_recipe, start the Film Director skill, and prepare UGC website videos with the builder tools.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/utility

The **utility, recipe and skill tools** help an assistant start well. `ping` tests the connection, `get_recipe` loads tested multi-step playbooks, `start_film_director` loads the Film Director skill, and the three UGC builders prepare a creator video about a website. None of them generates media or spends credits.

Other tools that return instructions are documented with their family: [`start_workflow_editor` and `get_node_skill`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/projects-and-workflows#start_workflow_editor), [`start_video_director`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/shot-sequence-and-video-director#start_video_director), [`get_studio_production_skill`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/studio-productions#get_studio_production_skill) and [`get_recast_authoring_skill`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/recast#get_recast_authoring_skill).

## `ping`

Returns `pong`, your Nodaro user id and the name of the client that called it. Use it to check that the connector works.

**Permission:** none, always visible. **Credits:** free.

This tool has no parameters.

## `get_recipe`

Lists and loads content recipes: tested playbooks that walk an assistant through a full multi-tool flow, such as a narrated animated explainer. The tool only returns text. The actions a recipe asks for are done with the other tools, each with its own permission and price. See [Content recipes](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/recipes) for the catalog.

**Permission:** none, always visible. **Credits:** free.

| Parameter | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `recipe` | string | A recipe name, such as `video-explainer`. Leave it out to list every recipe. |
| `file` | string | A reference file inside the recipe, such as `references/prompts.md`. Needs `recipe`. |

**Returns:** without arguments, each recipe's name, description and trigger phrases. With `recipe`, the recipe's full instructions. With `file`, that file. An unknown name returns an error with the valid names.

On Nodaro Cloud, the list also includes a UGC website video: a creator talking to the camera about a site, with its screenshots shown as cards.

## `start_film_director`

Returns the Film Director skill: the instructions that make the assistant direct a film in 10 stages, from the script to the final cut, and build an editable workflow on your canvas as it goes. Assistants call it first for any multi-shot video request, such as a trailer, a short film, a music video, a reel or an ad. See [Film Director](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/film-director).

**Permission:** none, always visible. **Credits:** free.

This tool has no parameters. It changes nothing.

## The UGC video builders

Three free helpers used by the UGC website recipe. They generate nothing: each one checks or prepares its part and returns the exact arguments of the next generation calls. They are available on Nodaro Cloud only, and need no permission, except `build_ugc_creator` with a saved character, which needs `assets:read`.

### `build_ugc_creator`

Prepares the creator who talks to the camera: a newly sampled person, one of your saved characters, or your own photo.

| Parameter | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `source` | string | **Required.** `sampled`, `character` or `photo`. |
| `character_id` | string | For `character`: the saved character. |
| `photo_url` | string | For `photo`: your photo. |
| `gender` | string | `woman` or `man`. |
| `product_category`, `overrides`, `previous`, `seed` | | Optional details to steer or repeat the sampled creator. |

**Returns:** the creator's identity images, or an image prompt with the exact arguments of the image generation to run next.

### `build_ugc_clips`

Checks a UGC video script and turns it into clip requests. An invalid script returns every problem at once, each with its fix.

| Parameter | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `plan` | object | **Required.** The script. |
| `gender` | string | **Required.** `woman` or `man`. |
| `identity_images` | array | **Required.** One or two images of the creator. |
| `traits`, `seed` | | Optional. |
| `spent_job_ids` | array | The jobs already run for this video, which the quote lists as spent. |

**Returns:** one ready-to-run `generate_video` call per clip, the call that joins the clips, and a credit quote for the rest of the video.

### `build_ugc_cards`

Times the screenshot cards and the captions of a UGC video from its word timings.

| Parameter | Type | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `plan` | object | **Required.** The script. |
| `alignment` or `words` | array | The word timings, from [`forced_alignment`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/shot-sequence-and-video-director#forced_alignment) or from [`transcribe`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/audio#transcribe). |
| `video_duration_ms` | number | The length of the video. |

**Returns:** the layers for [`overlay_images`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/video-editing#overlay_images) and the caption segments for [`add_captions`](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/tools/video-editing#add_captions).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I check that my assistant is connected to Nodaro?

Ask it to call ping. The tool answers with pong, your Nodaro user id and the name of your client, and it needs no permission.

### What does get_recipe return?

Instructions, not media. Without an argument it lists the recipes with their descriptions and trigger phrases; with a recipe name it returns that recipe's full playbook, which the assistant then follows with the other tools.

### Do the UGC builder tools generate the video?

No. They are free helpers of the UGC website recipe. They prepare the creator, check the script and time the cards and captions, and they return the exact calls to make next, with a credit quote.