AI Video Generation Prompt Engineering in 2025: What Actually Works

After generating 1000+ AI videos, I've learned what actually works. Here's everything you need to know.

The Foundation: Understanding AI Video Models

AI video generators don't "see" like we do. They understand:

1. Objects and subjects (what)
2. Actions and movements (how)
3. Environment and context (where)
4. Style and aesthetic (feel)

The 5-Part Prompt Framework

1. Subject (WHO/WHAT) - 20% of prompt

Start with the main subject:

• Physical description
• Clothing/appearance
• Age/characteristics

Example: "A professional woman in her 40s, wearing a navy business suit, with short blonde hair"

2. Action (DOING) - 15% of prompt

What is happening:

• Primary action
• Speed/pace
• Emotion/expression

Example: "confidently presenting to a meeting room, gesturing with hands, smiling"

3. Environment (WHERE) - 20% of prompt

The setting and context:

• Location type
• Background elements
• Atmosphere

Example: "in a modern glass-walled conference room with city skyline visible through windows"

4. Camera Work (HOW FILMED) - 25% of prompt

This is crucial but often forgotten:

• Camera angle
• Movement type
• Distance/framing

Example: "Medium shot at eye level, slow push-in toward subject, slight pan right following gesture"

5. Visual Style (LOOK) - 20% of prompt

The aesthetic and technical specs:

• Lighting
• Color grading
• Film style/quality

Example: "Natural office lighting with warm afternoon sunlight, professional corporate video style, shot on 4K with sharp focus"

Complete Example

Putting it all together:

Bad Prompt (12 words): "A woman presenting in an office with good lighting"

Good Prompt (78 words): "A professional woman in her 40s, wearing a navy business suit with short blonde hair, confidently presenting to a meeting room, gesturing with hands and smiling. Modern glass-walled conference room with city skyline visible through windows. Medium shot at eye level, slow push-in toward subject, slight pan right following gesture. Natural office lighting with warm afternoon sunlight, professional corporate video style, shot on 4K with sharp focus."

Advanced Techniques

Technique 1: The Cinematic Triple

Combine three camera moves:

1. Start position
2. Movement
3. End position

Example: "Begin with wide establishing shot, dolly in while rising slightly, end on medium close-up"

Technique 2: Lighting Layers

Describe multiple light sources:

• Key light (main)
• Fill light (softens shadows)
• Back/rim light (separation)

Example: "Soft key light from window left, subtle fill from ceiling fixtures, warm rim light from setting sun creating edge glow"

Technique 3: Motion Anchoring

Reference specific famous shots:

• "Emmanuel Lubezki cinematography style"
• "Wes Anderson symmetrical framing"
• "Christopher Nolan practical effects aesthetic"

Technique 4: Negative Prompting

Tell the AI what NOT to include:

• "No text overlays"
• "Avoid jerky movements"
• "No lens flares"

Common Mistakes & Fixes

Mistake 1: Vague Descriptions

❌ "A nice sunny day" ✅ "Golden hour sunlight at 6pm, warm orange tones, long shadows"

Mistake 2: Missing Camera Info

❌ "Person walking down street" ✅ "Person walking down street, tracking shot following from behind at shoulder height"

Mistake 3: Too Many Actions

❌ "Person walking, talking, eating, and waving" ✅ "Person walking while checking phone, occasionally glancing up"

Mistake 4: Unrealistic Expectations

❌ "Person transforms into dragon with explosion" ✅ Focus on one realistic action at a time

Mistake 5: Ignoring Physics

❌ "Water flowing upward" ✅ Describe natural, physically possible movements

The TikTok Reverse-Engineering Method

The best prompts come from analyzing real videos:

1. Find viral video in your niche
2. Use PromptVid to analyze it
3. Get detailed breakdown of:
   • Camera movements
   • Lighting setup
   • Composition rules
   • Color grading
4. Generate optimized prompt for any AI model
5. Iterate and refine

Platform-Specific Optimization

For Sora 2

• Emphasize cinematic language
• Include film references
• Describe camera movements in detail
• Add artistic style notes

For Veo 3

• Focus on physics and realism
• Be precise with measurements
• Describe lighting technically
• Keep it natural and believable

For Kling AI

• Keep prompts shorter
• Simple, clear descriptions
• One primary action
• Avoid complex movements

The Testing Framework

When experimenting:

1. Baseline prompt - simple description
2. Add camera work - note improvement
3. Add lighting details - compare results
4. Add style references - evaluate difference
5. Combine best elements - create final prompt

2025 Trends in Prompt Engineering

1. Micro-movements

Focus on small, realistic details:

• "Hair gently moving in breeze"
• "Slight eye contact with camera"
• "Fabric wrinkles shifting naturally"

2. Environmental Storytelling

Background tells a story:

• "Coffee shop with laptop crowd, afternoon vibe"
• "Gym with few people, early morning energy"

3. Emotional Authenticity

Capture genuine moments:

• "Genuine surprise reaction, not overdone"
• "Subtle confident smile, not forced"

4. Technical Specifications

Get nerdy with camera gear:

• "Shot on Arri Alexa with Cooke lenses"
• "85mm portrait lens at f/1.8"
• "Gimbal-stabilized tracking shot"

My Personal Prompt Template

Here's the template I use for 90% of prompts:

[SUBJECT with physical details] [DOING primary action with emotion/pace]
[IN specific location with background elements].
[Camera: angle + movement + framing].
[Lighting: time of day + sources + mood].
[Style: film type + quality + color grading].

Resources for Improvement

1. PromptVid - Analyze TikTok videos
2. Save successful prompts - Build your library
3. A/B test variations - Learn what works
4. Study cinematography - Understand the language

Conclusion

Prompt engineering is both art and science. The framework gives you structure, but creativity comes from experimentation.

Key takeaways:

• Use the 5-part framework
• Be specific, not vague
• Camera work is crucial
• Learn from successful videos
• Iterate and refine

Start with PromptVid to analyze viral TikToks, understand what makes them work visually, then craft perfect prompts for any AI video generator.

The future of content creation is here - those who master prompts will lead the way.