What is the best way to prompt AI video in 2026?

Use the six-part cinematographer's formula: (1) Subject, (2) Context, (3) Action, (4) Style, (5) Camera, (6) Lighting. This structure works across every frontier AI video model — Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 Pro, Seedance 2.0, Hailuo 2.3. Two-word prompts produce generic output; six-part prompts produce cinematic output.

How long should an AI video prompt be?

Aim for 60–120 words total across the six parts (10–20 words per part). Longer isn't better — packing 30 adjectives dilutes signal. If style is hard to articulate in words, use a reference image or video instead.

Do I need to prompt differently for each AI video model?

The 6-part formula is universal. Each model has specific tips on top of the formula — Veo 3.1 benefits from audio direction, Kling 3.0 Pro benefits from "4K" anchoring, Seedance 2.0 benefits from references, Hailuo 2.3 benefits from motion-intensity verbs. See our model-specific prompting guides at /veo-3-prompts, /kling-prompts, /seedance-prompts, /hailuo-prompts.

How do I control the camera in an AI video prompt?

Lead with a cinematography term: tracking shot, dolly-in, push-in, pull-back, whip pan, crane shot, handheld, locked-off, Dutch angle. Frontier models interpret cinematography vocabulary directly. Specify lens feel for additional control: "shot on 35mm anamorphic, shallow depth of field."

How do I iterate on AI video prompts efficiently?

Change one variable at a time — lighting only, then camera only, then style only — and compare. Don't rewrite the whole prompt between generations. Flik AI keeps prior takes side-by-side so you can A/B across the six dimensions and merge the best single-variable choices into a final winning prompt.

Can AI models handle dialogue in video prompts?

Veo 3.1 from Google DeepMind generates synchronized dialogue natively — include the line in quotes inside the prompt: "the cyclist whispers 'I shouldn't be here.'" Other frontier models (Kling 3.0 Pro, Seedance 2.0, Hailuo 2.3) generate ambient audio but dialogue is weaker; use ElevenLabs 3.0 for voice layered over the video.

How to Prompt AI Video: The Complete 2026 Framework

The six-part prompt formula that turns two-word ideas into cinematic clips across Veo 3.1, Kling 3.0 Pro, Seedance 2.0, and Hailuo 2.3 — with real examples.

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