Mastering Text Prompts for AI Video Generation

The Art and Science of Prompt Engineering

In the world of AI video generation, your text prompt is the blueprint that guides the AI in creating your vision. The difference between a generic result and a stunning, precisely targeted video often comes down to how well you craft your prompts. This guide will help you master the art of prompt engineering specifically for video generation.

What You'll Learn in This Guide

The anatomy of effective video generation prompts
How to structure prompts for different types of videos
Advanced techniques for fine-tuning visual style and movement
Tool-specific prompt optimization strategies
Troubleshooting common prompt issues

The Anatomy of Effective Video Prompts

Unlike prompts for still images, video prompts need to account for motion, scene transitions, and temporal consistency. A well-crafted video prompt typically includes several key components:

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Subject Description: What or who is the main focus of your video?

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Action/Movement: How do elements move or change throughout the video?

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Setting/Environment: Where does the action take place?

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Visual Style: What aesthetic should the video have?

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Camera Movement: How should the camera behave throughout the clip?

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Lighting/Atmosphere: What mood or lighting conditions should be present?

Prompt Template Structure

[Subject] [Action/Movement] in [Setting/Environment], [Visual Style], [Camera Movement], [Lighting/Atmosphere]

Basic vs. Advanced Prompt Examples

"A car driving through a city"

"A sleek red sports car speeding through a futuristic neon-lit cityscape at night, cinematic wide angle shot with smooth tracking movement, dramatic lighting with blue and purple accents reflecting off wet streets"

"Ocean waves"

"Turquoise ocean waves crashing against a pristine white sand beach at golden hour, aerial drone perspective slowly panning from left to right, soft warm lighting creating golden reflections on the water surface"

Structuring Prompts for Different Video Types

Narrative/Story-Based Videos

For videos that tell a story or have a narrative flow, structure your prompts to reflect a beginning, middle, and end. Consider using sequential prompts or keyframes for different scenes.

Example Narrative Prompt Structure

Scene 1: "A young explorer discovering an ancient map in a dusty attic, close-up shot, warm golden lighting streaming through a small window"

Scene 2: "The explorer hiking through a dense jungle following the map, medium tracking shot, dappled green lighting filtering through the canopy"

Scene 3: "The explorer uncovering a hidden temple entrance overgrown with vines, reveal shot starting close and zooming out, dramatic lighting with sun rays piercing through clouds"

Music Videos and Audio-Reactive Content

When creating videos synchronized to music, your prompts should reflect the mood, rhythm, and energy of the audio. Compeller AI excels at this with its audio-reactive capabilities.

Example Music Video Prompt Structure

For a high-energy electronic track: "Vibrant geometric patterns pulsing and transforming to the beat, flowing through a digital space, neon colors against black background, dynamic camera movements that intensify during drops, energetic lighting flashes synchronized with percussion"

For a melancholic piano piece: "Gentle ocean waves washing over a moonlit shore, slow-motion movement, soft blue tones, smooth camera drift, ethereal misty atmosphere with subtle light particles floating in the air"

Product or Promotional Videos

For marketing videos, focus your prompts on highlighting the product's features and benefits in an appealing way.

Example Product Video Prompt

"A sleek smartphone floating and rotating in a minimal white environment, close-up shots revealing key features, clean professional lighting with subtle reflections, smooth camera movements that showcase the product from multiple angles"

Advanced Techniques for Visual Style and Movement

Visual Style Modifiers

Including specific style references can dramatically influence the aesthetic of your video:

Cinematic Styles

"cinematic wide shot"
"film noir aesthetic"
"8mm vintage film look"
"Wes Anderson symmetrical composition"

Artistic Styles

"impressionist painting style"
"anime-inspired"
"watercolor illustration look"
"cyberpunk aesthetic"

Technical Styles

"photorealistic rendering"
"4K detailed textures"
"high dynamic range lighting"
"volumetric fog effects"

Lighting Styles

"golden hour warm lighting"
"dramatic low-key lighting"
"neon glow with strong color contrast"
"soft diffused daylight"

Camera Movement Vocabulary

Specifying camera movements creates more dynamic and professional-looking videos:

Basic Movements

"static shot" (no movement)
"pan left/right" (horizontal movement)
"tilt up/down" (vertical movement)
"zoom in/out" (changing focal length)

Complex Movements

"dolly in/out" (camera moving forward/backward)
"tracking shot" (following a subject)
"orbit" (circling around subject)
"crane shot" (vertical elevation change)

Specialty Movements

"drone aerial perspective"
"handheld shaky cam"
"steady gimbal movement"
"slow motion capture"

Transitions

"smash cut to"
"dissolve transition"
"match cut between scenes"
"whip pan transition"

Temporal Control Words

Including words that convey the speed and flow of movement:

Speed: "slowly," "rapidly," "gradually," "suddenly"
Continuity: "seamlessly," "continuously," "intermittently"
Transformation: "morphing into," "evolving from," "transitioning between"

Tool-Specific Prompt Optimization

Different AI video generation tools respond best to different prompt structures and vocabularies. Here are optimization tips for popular platforms:

Compeller AI

Compeller AI excels at audio-reactive content. For optimal results:

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Include mood words that match your audio's emotional tone

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Use Compeller AI's storyboard feature to create targeted prompts for different segments of your audio

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Specify visual elements that should react to beats (e.g., "light flashes synchronized with the beat")

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Balance consistency terms with transformation terms for dynamic yet coherent visuals

Other Popular Tools

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Runway Gen-3: Favors cinematic language and detailed scene descriptions

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Kaiber: Responds well to style references and abstract descriptors

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PIKA: Works best with concise, clear descriptions and specific action words

Troubleshooting Common Prompt Issues

Problem: Inconsistent Visuals Between Frames

Solution: Add consistency anchors like "consistent lighting," "stable background," or "maintaining the same style throughout."

Problem: Undesired Elements Appearing

Solution: Use negative prompting with "no [unwanted element]" or "without [unwanted element]" if your tool supports it.

Problem: Too Generic Results

Solution: Add specific, unusual details and avoid clichéd descriptions. Use precise adjectives rather than general ones.

Problem: Chaotic or Too Busy Scenes

Solution: Simplify your prompt and focus on fewer elements. Add terms like "minimalist," "clean composition," or "focused on a single subject."

Prompt Libraries and Frameworks

As you gain experience, consider building your own prompt library or framework:

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Style Library: Keep a collection of style descriptions that work well for different moods and contexts

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Modular Approach: Create interchangeable modules for subjects, environments, lighting, and camera movements

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Template System: Develop templates for different video types (e.g., product showcases, nature scenes, abstract visuals)

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Prompt Journal: Document what works and what doesn't in different contexts to refine your approach over time

Beyond Text: Multimodal Prompting

Some advanced AI video tools support multimodal prompting, where you can combine text with other inputs:

Image Prompting

Using reference images alongside text to guide style, composition, or specific visual elements.

Audio Prompting

Using music or sound as input to guide the rhythm and mood of the generated video.

Storyboard Prompting

Using a sequence of images or sketches to guide scene transitions and narrative flow.

Put Your New Prompt Skills to Work

Ready to create stunning AI videos with your newly refined prompt techniques?

Try Compeller AI Back to Resources