AI is transforming the way we create videos. Instead of starting with cameras, lights, and large production teams, you can now begin with just an idea. The workflow of AI video generation begins with high-quality, cinematic image generation that acts as the foundation of your story. These images serve as the concept art of your film: setting the mood, defining the characters, capturing environments, and giving you a crystal-clear visual direction before a single frame of video is created.
Unlike traditional filmmaking where a camera operator or actor follows your directions, AI video creation uses prompts to guide both the camera movement and subject movement within each shot.
You can specify whether the shot should pan, tilt, zoom, dolly forward, or orbit around a subject. For example, a prompt like “cinematic slow dolly-in on the hero’s face as the background blurs” instructs the AI to simulate that movement with precision.
Similarly, prompts can guide how characters or objects act within the frame. You can describe subtle gestures like “the character looks over their shoulder with a hesitant pause” or complex actions such as “the car speeds down the highway, weaving between traffic before coming to a sudden stop.”
We’ll use the same starting image and apply different prompts to show how variations in description can completely change the resulting shot. This way, you can see how camera movement, subject action, and atmosphere combine to shape the final outcome.
We’ll start with a simple camera movement: the shot zooms in on the woman’s face while she holds her position.
camera: fast zoom in to extreme close-up of woman eyes.
woman: standing, looking at camera, wind in her hair.If your final shot requires specific details, make sure to include them in the prompt. For example, indicate that the woman is wearing red shoes.
camera: continues fast pull back and up focused on woman.
woman: walking slowly on the road with her red shoes.By blending camera movement with subject movement, you can shape the viewer’s focus and enhance the storytelling.
camera: continues fast pull back and up focused on woman.
woman: slowly turns and start walking away with her red shoes.
These prompt examples show how much control you have over the cinematic language of your video. Each prompt acts like a director’s note, turning words into action on the screen. By experimenting with different movements and details, you can refine your storytelling shot by shot.
The next step is bringing these shots together. Using the AI timeline tool, you can sequence, fine-tune pacing, and add transitions - transforming a series of individual prompts into a cohesive movie. This is where your story truly comes alive, evolving from static images to a dynamic, full-length narrative.