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How to write an AI video prompt

GlossaryPrompts
Portrait of Bohdan Kossak
Bohdan Kossak · @bohdanDJA
Updated July 16, 2026 · 3 min read
How to write an AI video prompt
TL;DR — updated July 16 2026

A working AI video prompt has three parts: what happens on screen (action verbs — 'the steak drops onto the grill', not 'a steak'), material truth ('matte black finish', 'soft velour' — lighting follows materials), and the audio intent (voice tone, spoken line) where relevant. What to leave out: camera directions — the format's director chooses lens and movement, and amateur camera talk fights it. This is the distilled version of v4v's studio guide formula: [what happens] + [voice description] + [spoken text].

The three-part formula in action

'Show the screen flipping out and rotating to face the viewer. Voice: female, energetic. Says: convenience in every movement — now you always see what you shoot.' Concrete action, material context, audio intent — nothing else.

Common prompt failures

Adjective piles with no verbs (nothing moves), camera micromanagement (fights the director), and describing a different product than your photos show (fidelity conflict).

Paste a product link. The brief builds itself.

Generate product videos, UGC-style ads and hooks in about 5 minutes.

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FAQs

How long should a prompt be?

2–4 sentences. Precision beats length; the system supplies the craft.

Where do I find proven prompt examples?

The prompt library pages by category — cameras, BBQ, pets, electronics — each with copy-paste starters (coming to /prompts).

Facts checked July 16, 2026. Competitor claims from public pricing pages; verify before relying on them.