AI Video Generation Core Formula: The Complete Prompt Writing Guide

The Core Formula: One Line, Infinite Possibilities

After countless experiments with AI video tools, one pattern emerged: all great prompts follow the same structure. The formula is deceptively simple:

Subject + Action + Camera + Background + Style

These five elements determine the quality ceiling of your AI-generated video. Miss one, and your results will drift. Nail all five, and you unlock cinematic output every time.

In one sentence: "Who is where doing what, how does the camera move, and what kind of film does it look like?" — memorize this, and you've mastered AI video generation.

Common Prompt Structures

1. Single Shot Formula

Character/Scene + Action + Camera Work + Atmosphere

"An astronaut walks across the Martian surface, wide-angle tracking shot, loneliness under a setting sun."

• Subject: Astronaut
• Action: Walking across Mars
• Camera: Wide-angle, tracking
• Atmosphere: Sunset, loneliness

2. Short Narrative Formula

[Action A] → [Action B] → [Camera Change]

"Cat jumps onto windowsill → spots a bird outside → close-up head turn"

Using → to indicate chronological order helps the AI understand this is a coherent narrative flow, not three isolated images.

3. Character Portrait Template

[Profession] in [setting] [doing something], [camera style], [visual style]

"A chef chopping vegetables in a busy kitchen, handheld shaky-cam, documentary style"

The "handheld shaky-cam" description instantly shapes the entire documentary feel.

4. Scene Transition Template

From [Shot A] transition to [Shot B], [subject] [doing something]

"From rain on a window pane zoom in, transition to an interior close-up of a character"

5. Vlog Style Template

[Activity] + first-person POV + fast-paced editing

Must-Know Keywords

Camera Movements

Type	Keywords	Effect
Basic Movement	Tracking / Orbiting / Push-in / Pull-out / Birds-eye	Defines camera motion style
Special Effects	Slow motion / Fast-forward / Handheld shaky	Alters time perception or adds texture
Composition	Close-up / Mid-shot / Wide shot / Panoramic	Determines framing and distance

Tip: Place camera keywords right after the action description in your prompt.

Visual Styles

Category	Keywords
Cinematic	Film look / Cyberpunk / Anime style / Documentary
Artistic	Watercolor / Pencil sketch / Vintage film / Oil painting / 3D render
Lighting	Backlight / Soft light / Neon / Natural light / Golden hour
Color Tone	Warm-cool contrast / Desaturated / High-key / Low-key

Quick-Reference Templates

Scene Type	Template
Character Portrait	[Profession] in [setting] [doing something], [camera] shot, [style]
Action Scene	[Subject] moves from [point A] toward [point B] [action], [speed], [camera] tracking
Mood Short	[Time of day] at [location], [weather/lighting], [slow camera movement], [overall emotion]
Product Showcase	[Product] in [environment], [material/lighting], [camera orbit], [brand tone]
Nature Scenery	[Season] at [location], [specific landscape features], [camera movement], [color description]

Advanced Techniques

Be Specific

Wrong: "A person walking fast"

Right: "A man in a trench coat crosses the crosswalk at 3 steps per second, coat hem blown by the wind"

Numeric precision is the best way for AI to understand speed and intensity.

Maintain Logic

Wrong: "Jump up then suddenly disappear"

Right: "Leap upward → pause at peak for 0.5s → dissolve into particles of light"

Action sequences must follow physical laws. AI is sensitive to causal logic.

Control Rhythm

Use → for temporal progression. Use line breaks or semicolons to separate scenes. Poor rhythm produces inconsistent output.

Avoid Abstraction

Wrong: "A very atmospheric scene"

Right: "Warm yellow light, a coffee cup steaming, raindrops sliding down the window glass"

"Atmosphere" is an outcome, not an input. The elements you describe create the feeling in the viewer.

The Golden Rule Self-Check

After writing your prompt, ask three questions:

1. Is the image clear? — Can you close your eyes and visualize the specific scene?
2. Can the AI understand it? — Does every word have a clear visual counterpart?
3. Is the style consistent? — Do the camera, color, and atmosphere point in the same direction?

Three "Yes" answers, and your output quality will rarely disappoint.

Conclusion

AI video generation is fundamentally about translating the image in your mind into visual instructions the machine can execute.

The "Subject + Action + Camera + Background + Style" formula is essentially the translation protocol from human brain to AI. Memorize the framework, fill in your details, iterate — this is the path from random generation to precise creative control.

Next time you open an AI video tool, don't start from a blank prompt box. Apply the formula, add specifics, and you'll find yourself one step closer to "what you imagine is what you get."