Introduction

Once you've got the basics of writing prompts down, the next step is having a structure you can lean on. Instead of staring at the prompt box wondering where to start, you can just walk through a checklist.

In this article, I'll share the 8-part formula I use for almost every text-to-video prompt in VEO 3. It works for cinematic shorts, vlogs, ad mockups, fantasy scenes, and basically anything you'd want to make.

If you haven't read the previous articles, start with the basics of writing VEO 3 prompts first.

The Formula

Here's the full structure:

[CHARACTER] + [ACTION] + [CAMERA ANGLE] + [LIGHTING] +
[STYLE/GENRE] + [MOTION] + [ENVIRONMENT] + [COLOR PALETTE]

Don't worry about the exact order — VEO 3 is forgiving. But hitting all 8 elements is what separates a flat result from a cinematic one.

Let's break each one down with examples.

1. Character

This is your main subject. VEO 3 will shape the entire video around how you describe them, so it's worth being specific.

What to include:

• Physical traits (hair, skin, height, build)
• Outfit and accessories
• Expression or vibe
• Optional cultural or historical context

Examples:

• A muscular Viking warrior with a braided beard and fur cloak
• A schoolgirl with short blue hair, wearing a Japanese uniform
• A robot with glowing blue eyes and a sleek chrome body
• An elderly man with sun-weathered skin in desert robes

2. Action

What is your character actually doing? Use strong verbs. Static prompts make for static videos.

Examples:

• Raises his axe and shouts toward the sky
• Drawing a sword while stepping forward
• Running across a rooftop under moonlight
• Floating weightlessly in space

If you want emotion, layer it in: "limps forward, gasping for air" tells VEO 3 a lot more than "walks".

3. Camera Angle

The camera is what makes a scene feel cinematic instead of flat. If you don't tell VEO 3 where to point the camera, you'll usually get a boring eye-level shot.

Examples:

• A low-angle shot from behind the Viking, emphasizing his strength
• A bird's-eye view of the battlefield from above
• First-person POV running through a rainy alley

We'll go deeper into camera work in the camera angles, shots, and movements article.

4. Lighting

Lighting sets the mood and tells the viewer what time of day it is, often without needing to say so.

Examples:

• Soft golden sunlight at dawn
• Cold blue moonlight cutting through fog
• Harsh industrial fluorescent lighting
• Warm candlelight from a single fireplace
• Flickering neon reflections in puddles

If you're not sure what to write, just describe a real lighting situation you've seen in a movie. VEO 3 understands cinematic references really well.

5. Style / Genre

Tell VEO 3 the visual tone you want. This single line can completely change how your video feels.

Common styles:

• Cinematic film
• Fantasy epic
• 2D anime with expressive features
• Pixar-style 3D animation
• Noir detective film
• Gritty war drama
• Retro sci-fi VHS look
• Documentary realism

Examples:

• Styled like an epic historical battle sequence
• Shot like a post-apocalyptic anime opening
• Looks like a 1980s horror flick with grainy effects

💡 Pro tip: put your style keyword early in the prompt. VEO 3 weights the start of the prompt more heavily.

6. Motion

Motion is what makes the world feel alive. Even small movements — a cloak flapping, dust kicking up, hair moving in the wind — make a huge difference.

Examples:

• His fur cloak flutters in the wind
• Hair drifts slowly in underwater currents
• Rain pelts against the glass window
• Sparks fly as the machine powers up
• Dust rises as the knight walks forward

7. Environment

This is the world your character lives in. Describe geography, weather, and structures, and use emotional adjectives where you can.

Examples:

• A crumbling stone fortress on a snowy cliff
• A narrow Tokyo alley glowing with neon signs
• A misty forest filled with glowing mushrooms
• A battlefield littered with broken armor

Avoid generic phrases like "in a city" or "in a forest" — they're too vague to give you a specific look.

8. Color Palette

Color drives emotion. Even one line about color can transform a scene.

Examples:

• Dark earth tones and muted steel with crimson highlights
• Rich golden sunlight with red-brown earth tones
• Neon pink and purple dominate the cityscape
• Muted olive and gray tones give it a war documentary feel

Putting It All Together

Here's a full prompt that hits all 8 elements:

A young woman in a flowing white dress stands barefoot at the edge of a
cliff. A low-angle shot from behind her, with the camera slowly pushing
forward. The golden sunrise casts soft light over the ocean waves below.
The scene is styled like an indie drama film. Her dress billows gently in
the wind. The cliffs are covered in tall grass and blooming wildflowers.
The color palette includes warm yellows, faded greens, and soft peach
tones.

Notice how each part of the formula is in there:

• Character: young woman in a flowing white dress
• Action: stands barefoot at the edge of a cliff
• Camera: low-angle shot from behind, slowly pushing forward
• Lighting: golden sunrise
• Style: indie drama film
• Motion: dress billows gently in the wind
• Environment: cliffs with tall grass and wildflowers
• Color: warm yellows, faded greens, soft peach

This is the kind of prompt that gets you a video that looks like it was shot by a real cinematographer.

Conclusion

You don't need to be a screenwriter or a filmmaker to write good VEO 3 prompts. You just need to walk through these 8 elements every time. Start with the character, end with the colors, and you'll already be miles ahead of generic one-liner prompts.

In the next article, we'll add audio and dialogue to this formula so your characters can actually speak: VEO 3 audio and dialogue prompt formula.