The Cinematic AI Prompt Method

A system for turning filmmaking fundamentals into precise AI prompts that generate visually cinematic results. Part 1.

Introduction

Welcome to The Cinematic Prompt Method — a practical system for crafting visually compelling scenes using the language of film and the power of AI.

Whether you're creating shot lists, concept art, or full sequences, this guide will teach you how to:

• Frame your shots with clarity and emotion

• Use camera movement and lens choices to shape mood

• Translate cinematography principles into structured prompts

• Build complete visual sequences—one prompt at a time

This isn’t about “just typing something in and hoping it looks good.”
This is filmmaking thinking applied to next-gen tools.

Every great filmmaker needs to know the language of cinema. Camera moves, framing choices, and composition techniques create the grammar filmmakers use to tell visual stories clearly and powerfully.

As we transition into an era of AI-generated filmmaking, mastering this visual language is more important than ever.

This guide introduces you to foundational cinematography concepts—from framing basics to dynamic camera movements—and provides practical instructions to craft effective prompts for AI video generators.

Although AI tools like Runway Gen-4, Kling and Google’s Veo 3 have extraordinary capabilities, results can vary. Use this guide as your creative compass, but always anticipate a bit of experimentation and iteration to achieve your desired look.

How to Structure Your AI Video or Image Prompt

Prompts are the backbone of your cinematic process.

Think of them like shot descriptions you’d give your cinematographer. They carry the visual intent, emotional tone, and technical direction for every frame.

The more specific and intentional your language, the more control you have over what gets rendered—whether you're building a single shot or extending a full scene.

Just like on set, clarity and vision go further than complexity.

Option 1: Standard Cinematic Prompt Format

Structure:

[Subject] in a [Location], shot with a [Shot Type] using [Camera Movement], in [Lighting Style].

Prompt Example:
A lone cowboy standing in the desert at sunset, shot with a medium wide shot using a slow dolly-in, in dramatic golden-hour lighting. Cinematic. 35mm Film. Muted Colors

Option 2: “5W + H” Stack

This method layers key elements to simulate how a real filmmaker approaches visual storytelling.

WHO: The subject. Be specific: age, look, wardrobe.

WHAT: The action. Keep it tight: one physical moment.

WHERE: The setting. Add time of day and atmosphere.

WHEN: Era, if important. Modern? 1970s? 2150?

WHY / MOOD: Tone, emotion, inner state

HOW: Camera move, lens, framing, lighting, aspect, grade.

Prompt Example:
An astronaut drifts weightless past stained-glass shards inside a shattered cathedral orbiting Mars, dusk red light pouring in, year 2125, slow dolly-in, 35mm lens, shallow DOF, 16:9, soft teal-orange grade.

Best Practice: Start with Structure, Then Experiment

Each AI video or image generator interprets prompts a little differently.

• Runway, Pika, Suno, Veo, Midjourney, Kling—each one has different strengths.

• Some prioritize visual tone; others respond best to technical language or scene structure.

Use this structure as your foundation. Then adapt based on the platform’s quirks, strengths, and your creative goals.

Framing & Composition Techniques

Framing and composition set the foundation for visual storytelling. Here are essential principles every filmmaker—AI-driven or traditional—should master: