Cinematic scene prompt template
A fill-in-the-blanks structure for text-to-video prompts that consistently produces composed, cinematic shots instead of generic stock footage.
Fill in your details
Values are inserted into every prompt below. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
9 field(s) left — unfilled variables stay as {{placeholders}}.
1Fill the template
Fill every slot, even with a simple choice. Empty slots are filled by the model's defaults, which is why outputs look generic. Order matters: most models weight earlier words more heavily, so put the shot and subject first.
{{camera}}, {{lens}} look. {{subject}} {{action}} in {{setting}} at {{time_of_day}}. {{lighting}}. Mood: {{mood}}. Shallow depth of field, natural motion, film grain, cinematic colour grade. Duration {{duration}}. Avoid: text, watermarks, distorted faces or hands, sudden cuts.2Know what each slot does
Camera: shot size + angle + one movement, e.g. 'Low-angle medium shot, slow dolly-in'. Lens: '24mm wide' exaggerates space; '85mm' compresses and isolates the subject. Subject: who or what, with 2-3 visual details. Action: one verb phrase, present tense. Setting: specific place with one texture detail. Time of day and lighting: these do most of the work for mood ('golden hour backlight', 'overcast soft light', 'neon practicals'). Mood: one or two words, not a list.
3Iterate one slot at a time
Change only one slot between generations so you learn what caused the difference. Keep a log of prompt, seed (if available) and result.
Example input
Fisherman coiling rope on a boat at dawn, quiet determination, slow dolly-in, 50mm anamorphic.
Example output
Low-angle medium shot, slow dolly-in, 50mm anamorphic look. An elderly fisherman in a yellow oilskin jacket coils a wet rope onto the deck in a small wooden boat in a grey harbour at dawn. Soft overcast light with a warm glow on the horizon. Mood: quiet determination. Shallow depth of field, natural motion, film grain, cinematic colour grade. Duration 6 seconds. Avoid: text, watermarks, distorted faces or hands, sudden cuts.
Troubleshooting
- The camera ignores your movement: move the camera slot to the very start and use common terms (dolly-in, pan left, orbit).
- The result looks like stock footage: make the subject and setting more specific and add one imperfect detail (rust, wet surfaces, wind).
- Some models ignore 'Avoid' lines: use the tool's negative-prompt field if it has one, otherwise rephrase positively ('clean frame with no text').
Known limitations
- Lens and film terms are interpreted loosely; they steer the look rather than simulate optics.
- Supported durations differ by model; the duration slot may be ignored and set in the interface instead.