💡Sora 2 Prompt Guide for Creators: Simple, Visible, Repeatable
Think like a director explaining the shot to a crew who has never seen your scene. If your words describe what the camera and subject physically do, Sora tends to do the right thing.
By Alici.AI October 11, 2025
TL;DR
Keep it visible and simple. First set the basics in Sora (video length and frame size). Then write your prompt like a tiny storyboard: setting → shot type/angle → one clear subject action → lighting + color palette → optional line of dialogue or sound. Favor concrete nouns and motion verbs over moods or abstractions. In tests, one camera move and one subject action per clip produces the most stable results. Iterate with small tweaks—change one thing at a time (shot, motion, lighting, palette, or timing). For consistent characters or products, reuse the same descriptor or provide a reference image as your first frame.
1) Before You Write: Choose Your “Container”
Duration: 4s, 8s, or 12s. Shorter clips are more predictable; stitch later if needed.
Frame: 16:9 (landscape) or 9:16 (vertical) depending on where it will live.
Reference Image (optional): If you need a specific look, provide a still as the first frame so Sora locks onto identity, wardrobe, layout, or product.
Rule of thumb: start with 4–8s to explore; when it works, you can extend or stitch.
2) Prompt Anatomy (Write Like a Mini‑Storyboard)
1) Setting: place + time + vibe you can see.
2) Shot & Angle: wide/medium/close; low/eye‑level/high; static/dolly/pan (choose one move).
3) Subject & Action: who/what + 1–2 beats (e.g., “walks three steps, stops, turns”).
4) Lighting & Color: where the light comes from; 3–5 anchor colors.
5) Dialogue / Sound (optional): short lines; match the clip length and rhythm.
If a sentence cannot be drawn as a frame, rewrite it until it can.
3) Weak vs Strong Wording
| Weak (abstract) | Strong (visible) |
|---|---|
| "cinematic, beautiful vibes" | "wet asphalt at night, neon reflections, low angle wide shot" |
| "moves fast" | "sprints three steps, skids to a stop on the zebra crossing" |
| "nice lighting" | "soft key from left window, warm lamp fill, blue rim from shop sign" |
| "cool outfit" | "charcoal trench, white tee, indigo denim; silver zipper detail" |
4) Shot Cheatsheet
| Shot size | Use when |
|---|---|
| Wide | Establish place and movement paths. |
| Medium | Show gestures and interactions. |
| Close | Show textures, product details, or emotion. |
5) Timing & Beats
Mastering Hailuo 02's camera movements is like learning the grammar of a movie language. Start with simple push-pull-pans and gradually explore more complex combinations, and you'll find yourself able to create increasingly cinematic work with AI.
Remember, the best camera movements are those that serve the story, enhance emotion, and direct the eye. Don't use complex motion just to show off, but make every shot count.
Now, grab your creativity and start your journey of creating AI movies!
6) Lighting & Color
Compound Movement Formula
Combine multiple movements to create more complex cinematic language:
7) Dialogue & Sound (Optional)
Compound Movement Formula
Combine multiple movements to create more complex cinematic language:
8) Using a Reference Image as First Frame vs. Text‑Only
When to use a reference image
You need consistent identity (mascot, or product).
You want a specific layout (desk arrangement, logo placement, packaging).
How it changes prompting
Keep your prompt aligned with the image: describe what changes (camera move, action, lighting), not what’s already in the picture.
If the image shows a character or product, repeat the same descriptor across clips (“red raincoat, bob haircut”).
For text‑only generation, describe those anchors from scratch in the prompt.
9) Iteration Strategy (One‑Knob Tweaks)
When to use a reference image
You need consistent identity (mascot, or product).
You want a specific layout (desk arrangement, logo placement, packaging).
How it changes prompting
Keep your prompt aligned with the image: describe what changes (camera move, action, lighting), not what’s already in the picture.
If the image shows a character or product, repeat the same descriptor across clips (“red raincoat, bob haircut”).
For text‑only generation, describe those anchors from scratch in the prompt.
10) Ready‑to‑Use Prompt Templates
A.Product Unbox (vertical 9:16, 8s)
Setting: clean white desk with a small green plant.
Shot: medium‑close, slight 15° top‑down, gentle handheld sway.
Action: right hand slides in the box → peels seal at 2s → lifts product and holds it to camera at 7s.
Lighting & color: soft key from left; warm lamp fill on right; palette: ivory, light gray, leaf green.
Optional text/VO: product name + 3‑word benefit.
B. Street UGC (8s)
Setting: rainy city corner at night; neon signs reflecting on wet asphalt.
Shot: low‑angle wide; slow pan to the right.
Action: lead sprints three steps and skids to a stop at the crosswalk, then looks back and smiles in the last second.
Lighting & color: warm street lamps + blue neon rim; palette: amber, cyan, charcoal.
C. Craft a Warm Storybook Moment
Style: Hand-painted 2D/3D hybrid animation with soft brush textures, warm tungsten lighting, and a tactile, stop-motion feel. The aesthetic evokes mid-2000s storybook animation — cozy, imperfect, full of mechanical charm. Subtle watercolor wash and painterly textures; warm–cool balance in grade; filmic motion blur for animated realism.
Inside a cluttered workshop, shelves overflow with gears, bolts, and yellowing blueprints. At the center, a small round robot sits on a wooden bench, its dented body patched with mismatched plates and old paint layers. Its large glowing eyes flicker pale blue as it fiddles nervously with a humming light bulb. The air hums with quiet mechanical whirs, rain patters on the window, and the clock ticks steadily in the background.
Cinematography:
Camera: medium close-up, slow push-in with gentle parallax from hanging tools
Lens: 35 mm virtual lens; shallow depth of field to soften background clutter
Lighting: warm key from overhead practical; cool spill from window for contrast
Mood: gentle, whimsical, a touch of suspense
Actions:
- The robot taps the bulb; sparks crackle.
- It flinches, dropping the bulb, eyes widening.
- The bulb tumbles in slow motion; it catches it just in time.
- A puff of steam escapes its chest — relief and pride.
- Robot says quietly: "Almost lost it… but I got it!"
Background Sound:
Rain, ticking clock, soft mechanical hum, faint bulb sizzle.
11) Example: “Weak → Strong → Best”
Weak: “A cinematic morning commute, poetic vibes.”
Strong: “Dawn subway platform, yellow safety line; medium shot; slight leftward slide; lead turns to the light.”
Best: “Dawn subway platform; yellow safety line foreground. Medium shot, slight left slide. Lead in navy coat steps once, then turns face into left sun at 3s. Soft key from sun, cool station fill; palette: amber, cream, slate.”
12) From Clip to Post
Explore with 4–8s clips.
Select strongest takes.
Stitch in your editor; add captions, music, and cuts on the beat.
Export a stable thumbnail from the hero moment.
Publish with a clear title and description that matches what viewers will see.
13) One‑Page SOP
Title the piece and write a one‑sentence summary.
Choose frame and length; add a reference image if needed.
Write prompt using the anatomy above.
Generate → review → tweak one knob at a time.
Save the best take; branch variations from it.
Stitch, caption, and ship.
14) Notes for Using a Reference Image
Match the orientation (vertical vs landscape) to reduce surprises.
Keep the subject position similar between the image and your words.
Repeat the same identity descriptors across clips.
If the look drifts, re‑anchor with the same image and tighten the prompt to camera + action only.
Closing Thought
Small, concrete instructions beat grand wishes. Describe what the lens sees and what the subject does. The rest follows.
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