Sora Video Prompt Generator

Essential Guide to crafting Cinematic Sora Prompts

The Golden Rule

Be specific, not vague. Instead of "person walks," use "Wide shot of protagonist walking down rain-soaked cobblestone street, dolly in to capture their determined expression."

Essential Components

• Camera Shots (Define Framing)
  • Close-Up (CU) — Emotional detail, facial expressions
  • Wide Shot (WS) — Establishing context, showing environment
  • Medium Shot (MS) — Balanced view from waist up
  • Over-the-Shoulder (OTS) — Conversational perspective
  • High/Low Angle — Power dynamics (vulnerability vs. dominance)
  • Bird's Eye View — Omniscient overview
  • Dutch Angle — Tension and unease
• Camera Movements (Add Dynamism)
  • Pan — Horizontal sweep revealing information
  • Tilt — Vertical movement up/down
  • Dolly — Push in/pull out for depth
  • Truck — Side-to-side tracking
  • Crane/Jib — Sweeping overhead reveals
  • Zoom — Magnify or distance subjects
  • Steadicam — Smooth following shots
  • Handheld — Raw, intimate realism
• Lighting & Mood
  • Golden hour — Warm, hopeful
  • High-contrast noir — Dramatic, mysterious
  • Soft diffused — Gentle, romantic
  • Neon-lit — Futuristic, energetic
  • Moody shadows — Suspenseful, dark
• Color Schemes
  • Monochromatic — Single color for unified mood
  • Warm palette — Inviting, nostalgic
  • Cool tones — Melancholic, detached
  • Vibrant saturated — Energetic, bold

Prompt Structure Formula

[OPENING SHOT] → [CAMERA MOVEMENT] → [LIGHTING/MOOD] → [DETAIL SHOT] → [FINAL EMPHASIS]

Example:

Start with a wide shot of the bustling marketplace at dusk. Pan slowly across vendors' stalls as golden-hour lighting bathes the scene. Cut to a close-up of the protagonist's curious expression, then dolly in to emphasize their sense of wonder.

Best Practices

• ✅ DO:
  • Layer multiple cinematic instructions for richness
  • Align shots with emotional intent (close-ups for intimacy, wide shots for isolation)
  • Use descriptive, vivid language
  • Specify lighting, colors, and background details
  • Iterate and refine based on outputs
• ❌ DON'T:
  • Use vague descriptions ("nice scene," "good lighting")
  • Overload with too many conflicting commands
  • Ignore narrative flow and logical progression
  • Forget technical specs (resolution, aspect ratio)

Quick Examples by Genre

• Action: Handheld tracking shot following protagonist through exploding warehouse, high-contrast lighting, rapid whip pans between threats
• Romance: Soft focus medium shot of couple on park bench, slow dolly in, golden sunset backlighting, warm color palette
• Horror: Dutch angle of abandoned asylum corridor, slow forward tracking with flickering lights, deep shadows creating unease
• Sci-Fi: Wide shot of futuristic cityscape, crane descent into neon-lit streets, cyberpunk color palette with vibrant purples and blues

Pro Tips

• Start wide, end tight — Establish context, then focus on emotion
• Match movement to mood — Smooth for calm, shaky for chaos
• Use transitions strategically — Whip pans for energy, fades for time passage
• Think like a director — Every choice should serve the story