As chatbots continue to get smarter and gain the ability to do more, AI video generators are evolving just as fast. And while many still get only betas or invitations, one thing is clear. Fast quality makes a big difference.
After testing several platforms (including Google Veo 3, including premium video generators currently available at $249 a month on Google Ultra), I found that the way I write the prompt changes the results completely.
Here's how you level up your AI video: It's a trick you can use to make your clip look more sharp, cinematic and consistent.
To keep things fair, all prompts were tested using VEO 2. This is Google's low-rise video generator that does not contain audio. To try it yourself, you will need to join the WaitList of Google Labs' VideoFX tool, which VEO 2 is currently available.
You can also access Veo 3 via Google AI Studio or Canva Pro. These prompts can be used with the best AI video generators including Midjourney, Firefly and Sora.
Start with structure, not style
A common mistake many users make is to start with adjectives such as “a stunning movie video of the beach at sunset.” That's good, it's vague.
Instead, when I lead in structure, I always find better success. The more you write like a director, the more refined the results.
Think of it like a camera operator
Veo appears to be responsive to the language of the film.
Prompts such as “low angle tracking shots of a child running through the tall grass” and “drone shots pulling away from the mountain hut at sunrise” produced visuals that were far more dynamic than the basic description.
If you're new to filmmaking terminology, think about width, medium, close-up, overhead, and more with shots. I'm not a camera operator, but I write enough scripts and I'm on enough TV and movie sets to remember these.
Here are some basic filmmaking terms that you often use at prompts.
Camera angle and movement
- Establishing a shot – Wide view for setting the scene
- close – Focusing on the subject's face and details
- Wide shot / Long shot – Fully show subjects in the environment
- Over the shoulder – Often used in dialog scenes
- Tracking shot / Dolly Shot – The camera tracks the subject smoothly
- Crane shot – Sweep overhead movement
- Static shot – No camera movement
- Zoom in/out – The camera pushes and pulls
- Handheld Camera – Unstable and realistic effects
- POV shot – From a character's perspective
- Netherlands angle – Horizon tilted due to tension
Lighting and atmosphere
- Understanding lighting – A gruesome and dramatic shadow
- High-key lighting – Bright, cheerful and minimal shadows
- Natural light – Outdoor or simulated daylight
- Backlight – Light from behind the subject (silhouette)
- Lens flare – Light striped pattern across the lens
- The sparkle of the movie – Soft, dreamy lighting
- Neon lighting – Vibrant and futuristic tone
- Film Grain – Add texture, retro feel
Divide it into beats
Instead of asking for the entire story in one sentence, divide the prompt into visual beats. for example:
Beat 1: Wide shot of a skateboarder riding downhill at sunset
Beat 2: Slow motion close-up of a wheel hitting the pavement
Beat 3: Sparks flies off the board, and the camera continues from behind
Even if your preferred AI video generator doesn't support full scene migration yet, this approach can help guide your system to more intentional storytelling.
Add movement, mood, details – then test and iterate
Movement is important. I've started adding phrases like “The camera is tilting,” “The mist is caught in,” and “The rustling tree of the wind.”
These made a surprising difference between realism and cinematic feeling. There were also mood clues such as “soft lighting,” “cloudy sky,” and “neon glow.”
AI video is still new and the results are unpredictable. I ran each prompt multiple times to compare the output and fine-tuned the words here and there.
Veo's consistency is significantly better than the other tools I have tried. It doesn't always nail it, but when it does, the results can seem like they come from professional video shoots. The prompts below were used in VEO 3, so there is also a sound.
Prompt to try
Scenery
Landscape Prompt: The wide established shot of the mountain range at Golden Hour, the camera slowly pans to the left. The mist between the peaks, soft ambient lighting, and the depths of the movie round.
Sports
Sports Prompt: Slow motion shot of a skateboarder jumping off a ramp at sunset. Once the dust begins, the camera continues from a low angle. Warm lighting, dynamic energy.
Food reel
Food reel prompt: An overhead shot of a steamed bowl of ramen served at Tokyo Street Market. Close-up of glasses lifting chopsticks, steam rises. Warm lighting, lively details.
Action POV
Action POV Prompt: A first-person POV for a cyclist riding a forest trail. The leaves fly and the sun flickers through the trees. GoPro-style realism, immersive movements.
Take home
If your AI video looks generic or “like AI”, your prompt may be responsible. There are some smart adjustments. Focusing on structure, camera angles and specific action will give you a more refined, more cinematic result.
Google Veo is one of the most capable tools I've tested, but like any other AI, it's just as good as what you feed it.
Would you like to try it yourself? Start small. Choose a scene, explain it like a shot list, and see what happens next. Please tell us in the comments how everything came out!
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