Video Prompting Techniques

We've covered individual tools. Now let's master the art of video prompting itself—techniques that work across any AI video platform.

The Video Prompt Framework

Great video prompts follow a structure. Here's a framework that consistently produces good results:

[SUBJECT] + [ACTION/MOTION] + [ENVIRONMENT] +
[CAMERA] + [LIGHTING] + [STYLE] + [QUALITY]

Breaking Down Each Element

SUBJECT: Who or what is the focus?

• Be specific about appearance, clothing, characteristics
• Include quantities ("a single tree" vs "trees")

ACTION/MOTION: What's happening?

• Use dynamic verbs
• Specify speed (slowly, rapidly, gracefully)
• Describe the arc of motion

ENVIRONMENT: Where does this take place?

• Set the scene and atmosphere
• Include relevant background elements
• Note weather or conditions

CAMERA: How do we see it?

• Shot type (close-up, wide, medium)
• Camera movement (pan, track, dolly)
• Movement speed and direction

LIGHTING: What's the light like?

• Time of day or light source
• Quality (soft, harsh, diffused)
• Direction and color

STYLE: What's the visual treatment?

• Reference (cinematic, documentary, commercial)
• Medium (35mm film, digital, etc.)
• Aesthetic (moody, bright, gritty, clean)

QUALITY: What technical specs?

• Resolution (4K, HD)
• Frame rate implications (slow motion)
• Quality descriptors (sharp, detailed, crisp)

Prompt Examples by Category

Cinematic Establishing Shot

Aerial drone shot of New York City at sunset,
slowly descending toward Central Park, golden hour
light reflecting off skyscrapers, cinematic,
atmospheric haze, 4K, film grain

Product Video

A sleek black smartphone rotating slowly on a
reflective surface, studio lighting with soft
highlights, commercial quality, shallow depth of
field, seamless loop potential

Nature Documentary

A hummingbird hovering beside a red flower,
drinking nectar, extreme close-up, natural
daylight, slow motion, National Geographic
style, sharp detail on feathers

Abstract/Artistic

Flowing liquid gold morphing and transforming
through abstract shapes, slow hypnotic movement,
dark background, dramatic side lighting,
surreal, mesmerizing

Social Media Content

A happy golden retriever puppy discovering
snow for the first time, playful jumping
and pouncing, bright winter day, handheld
camera following, heartwarming, viral energy

Motion Control Techniques

Specifying What Moves

Be explicit about motion:

Vague:

A city street at night

Better:

A city street at night, cars passing with
light trails, neon signs flickering, steam
rising from manholes, people walking in
the background

Controlling Speed

Add speed modifiers:

• Slow motion: "slow motion", "time slowing down"
• Normal speed: Default, no modifier needed
• Fast motion: "time lapse", "hyperlapse", "sped up"
• Speed changes: "starts slow, then speeds up"

Ambient vs. Subject Motion

Separate these in your prompt:

A woman standing perfectly still, meditating,
while cherry blossom petals fall around her
and wind moves through the trees behind her

The subject is still; the environment moves.

Camera Language That Works

Shot Types

Term	Description
Extreme close-up	Face fills frame, or detail shot
Close-up	Head and shoulders
Medium shot	Waist up
Full shot	Entire body
Wide shot	Subject plus environment
Extreme wide	Vast landscape, subject small

Camera Movements

Term	Description
Static	No camera movement
Pan	Rotate left/right on axis
Tilt	Rotate up/down on axis
Track/dolly	Move through space
Crane	Vertical movement
Zoom	Change focal length
Orbit	Circle around subject
Follow	Track moving subject

Combining Movements

Starting on a close-up of hands, slowly
pulling back and tilting up to reveal
the full figure against a dramatic sky

Solving Common Problems

Problem: Motion is Too Chaotic

Solution: Add stability keywords

smooth, steady, subtle movement, gentle motion,
controlled, minimal camera shake

Problem: Nothing is Moving

Solution: Specify motion explicitly

[specify what moves], dynamic, kinetic energy,
movement in the [element], flowing, active

Problem: Inconsistent Style Frame-to-Frame

Solution: Strengthen style keywords

consistent style throughout, coherent visual
language, maintaining [specific style]

Problem: Wrong Mood/Atmosphere

Solution: Add emotional and atmospheric terms

[emotion] atmosphere, [mood] feeling,
evoking [emotion], [adjective] tone

Problem: Subject Morphs or Changes

Solution: Add consistency keywords

consistent subject, stable appearance,
maintaining form, coherent throughout

Advanced Techniques

The "Beat" Structure

Structure prompts like video beats:

Opens on [opening shot],
then [transition/movement] to reveal [main subject],
[subject action], ending on [final composition]

Reference Anchoring

Reference known visual styles:

in the style of a Christopher Nolan film,
IMAX cinematography, hans zimmer energy

Wes Anderson aesthetic, symmetrical framing,
pastel color palette, whimsical

Negative Prompting (When Available)

Some tools support negative prompts. Use them to exclude:

Negative: blurry, distorted, morphing, glitchy,
watermark, low quality, cropped

The Two-Part Prompt

Describe the static scene, then the motion:

Scene: A cozy cabin in winter woods, smoke
from chimney, snow-covered pine trees,
warm light from windows.

Motion: Snow falling gently, smoke rising
and dissipating, subtle light flicker from
windows, camera slowly pushing toward cabin.

Creating Prompt Libraries

Build a library of successful prompts:

Template Categories

1. Establishing shots - Various locations and times
2. Character moments - Different emotions and actions
3. Product shots - Various products and styles
4. Transitions - Morphs, reveals, sweeps
5. Abstract backgrounds - Loops and textures

Prompt Variables

Create templates with blanks:

A [SUBJECT] [ACTION] in a [ENVIRONMENT],
[CAMERA MOVEMENT], [LIGHTING] lighting,
[STYLE] style, [QUALITY]

Then swap variables:

• SUBJECT: person, animal, object
• ACTION: walking, floating, spinning
• And so on...

Key Takeaway

Effective video prompting is a skill that improves with practice. Use the framework (subject + action + environment + camera + lighting + style + quality), be specific about motion, and build a library of successful prompts. The same prompting principles apply whether you're using Runway, Pika, or the next tool that emerges. In the next module, we'll apply these skills to AI video editing.