Sora Prompt Tutorial: Master Text-to-Video Generation

OpenAI's Sora has revolutionized video generation, but crafting effective prompts requires a different approach than image generation. This tutorial will teach you the specific techniques needed for stunning text-to-video results.

Understanding Video Prompt Fundamentals

Unlike image generation, video prompts need to describe motion, timing, and scene progression. A great Sora prompt includes:

• Subject Action: What the main subject is doing
• Camera Movement: Pan, zoom, tracking shots
• Duration: How long the action lasts
• Scene Transitions: How the video evolves
• Environmental Motion: Background elements in motion

Sora-Specific Parameters

Sora introduces unique parameters designed specifically for video generation:

• --duration Xs - Video length in seconds (5-60s)
• --resolution - Output resolution (720p, 1080p, 4K)
• --fps - Frame rate (24, 30, 60)
• --style - Cinematic, documentary, animation, etc.

Crafting Dynamic Video Prompts

The key to great video prompts is thinking in sequences rather than static images. Consider how the scene evolves over time:

• Start with the establishing shot
• Describe the main action sequence
• Include camera movements (slow zoom, pan left, tracking shot)
• Add environmental details that enhance motion (wind, water, light)
• Specify the mood through lighting and color grading

Common Video Prompt Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls when creating Sora prompts:

• Forgetting to specify camera movement (results in static footage)
• Requesting overly complex scenes that confuse the AI
• Neglecting to describe temporal progression
• Ignoring audio-visual synchronization needs

Practical Example Breakdown

Weak Prompt: "A dog running in a park"

Strong Prompt: "Golden retriever chasing a tennis ball in slow motion, camera tracking alongside, sunlight filtering through oak trees, grass blades waving in wind, cinematic warm color grading, 10 seconds, 24fps"