Crafting Cinematic Prompts

Transform rough idea → detailed cinematic prompt:

Input: "Superhero in city" Output: "Medium shot of weathered superhero standing atop glass skyscraper at golden hour, city sprawling below through hazy atmosphere. Shot on 85mm lens with shallow depth of field. Dramatic rim lighting from setting sun creates silhouette with orange glow. Moody, contemplative tone. Rule of thirds composition with hero positioned left third. Photorealistic style with slight desaturation. --ar 16:9 --style cinematic"

Progress:

• Identify subject - Main character/object and their state/action
• Set environment - Location, time of day, weather, atmosphere
• Choose lens - Focal length and camera type for desired perspective
• Design lighting - Key light source, shadows, color temperature
• Define mood - Emotional tone and visual atmosphere
• Plan composition - Framing, angles, rule of thirds, leading lines
• Set realism level - Photorealistic, stylized, or artistic approach
• Add camera language - Movement, depth, focus techniques
• Include negatives - What to avoid in the final image

Example 1: Input: "Detective in rain" Output: "Low angle shot of noir detective in long coat walking down wet cobblestone alley at night. Shot on 35mm lens with deep focus. Dramatic chiaroscuro lighting from single street lamp creates harsh shadows across face. Mysterious, tension-filled mood. Leading lines from alley walls draw eye to subject. High contrast black and white photography style. Rain visible in light beams. --no bright colors, daylight, crowds --ar 2.35:1"

Example 2: Input: "Space battle" Output: "Wide establishing shot of massive space cruiser firing lasers through asteroid field. Shot on 14mm ultra-wide lens for epic scale. Key lighting from ship's engines and weapon fire against deep space backdrop. Intense, action-packed mood. Dynamic diagonal composition with debris flying toward camera. Photorealistic VFX style with practical lighting effects. Motion blur on fast-moving objects. --no earth, atmosphere, lens flares --ar 21:9"

Example 3: Input: "Romantic dinner" Output: "Over-shoulder medium shot of couple at candlelit table in intimate restaurant booth. Shot on 50mm lens with shallow depth of field. Warm candlelight as key source with subtle ambient restaurant lighting. Romantic, cozy atmosphere. Subject positioned using rule of thirds with soft background bokeh. Cinematic color grading with warm tones. --no harsh lighting, crowds, modern decor --ar 16:9"