A good prompt is the difference between a random clip and a video you can actually publish. The best prompts are not long or fancy. They are clear, ordered and specific.

The 5-part prompt formula

1. Subject. Who or what is in the shot, with a clear look.
2. Action. What exactly happens, and who does it.
3. Scene. Where it happens, the lighting and the mood.
4. Camera. Close-up, wide shot, slow zoom or tracking move.
5. Style and format. For example 3D animation, vertical 9:16, 10 seconds.

Example

Weak prompt: “A cat and a dog playing.”

Strong prompt: “A small orange kitten and a brown puppy in a sunny backyard. The puppy drops a ball, the kitten jumps and catches it. Warm afternoon light, slow tracking camera, Pixar-style 3D animation, vertical 9:16, 10 seconds.”

Keep characters consistent

Describe each character the same way in every prompt, and use a reference image when your tool supports it. This stops the design from changing between clips.

Be clear about who does what

When two characters are in one scene, name the character for every action and every line of dialogue. Vague prompts confuse AI tools just like they confuse people.