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+# Prompting best practices (Sora)
+
+## Contents
+- [Mindset & tradeoffs](#mindset--tradeoffs)
+- [API-controlled params](#api-controlled-params)
+- [Structure](#structure)
+- [Specificity](#specificity)
+- [Style & visual cues](#style--visual-cues)
+- [Camera & composition](#camera--composition)
+- [Motion & timing](#motion--timing)
+- [Lighting & palette](#lighting--palette)
+- [Character continuity](#character-continuity)
+- [Multi-shot prompts](#multi-shot-prompts)
+- [Ultra-detailed briefs](#ultra-detailed-briefs)
+- [Image input](#image-input)
+- [Constraints & invariants](#constraints--invariants)
+- [Text, dialogue & audio](#text-dialogue--audio)
+- [Avoiding artifacts](#avoiding-artifacts)
+- [Remixing](#remixing)
+- [Iterate deliberately](#iterate-deliberately)
+
+## Mindset & tradeoffs
+- Treat the prompt like a cinematography brief, not a contract.
+- The same prompt can yield different results; rerun for variants.
+- Short prompts give more creative freedom; longer prompts give more control.
+- Shorter clips tend to follow instructions better; consider stitching two 4s clips instead of a single 8s if precision matters.
+
+## API-controlled params
+- Model, size, and seconds are controlled by API params, not prose.
+- Put desired duration in the `seconds` param; the prompt cannot make a clip longer.
+
+## Structure
+- Use short labeled lines; omit sections that do not matter.
+- Keep one main subject and one main action.
+- Put timing in beats or counts if it matters.
+- If you prefer a prose-first template, use:
+```
+<Prose scene description in plain language. Describe subject, setting, time of day, and key visual details.>
+
+Cinematography:
+Camera shot: <framing + angle>
+Mood: <tone>
+
+Actions:
+- <clear action beat>
+- <clear action beat>
+
+Dialogue:
+<short lines if needed>
+```
+
+## Specificity
+- Name the subject and materials (metal, fabric, glass).
+- Use camera language (lens, angle, shot type) for stability.
+- Describe the environment with time of day and atmosphere.
+
+## Style & visual cues
+- Set style early (e.g., "1970s film", "IMAX-scale", "16mm black-and-white").
+- Use visible nouns and verbs, not vague adjectives.
+- Weak: "A beautiful street at night."
+- Strong: "Wet asphalt, zebra crosswalk, neon signs reflecting in puddles."
+
+## Camera & composition
+- Prefer one camera move: dolly, orbit, lateral slide, or locked-off.
+- Straight-on framing is best for UI and text.
+- For close-ups, use longer lenses (85mm+); for wide scenes, 24-35mm.
+- Depth of field is a strong lever: shallow for subject isolation, deep for context.
+- Example framings: wide establishing, medium close-up, aerial wide, low angle.
+- Example camera motions: slow tilt, gentle handheld drift, smooth lateral slide.
+
+## Motion & timing
+- Use short beats: "0-2s", "2-4s", "4-6s".
+- Keep actions sequential, not simultaneous.
+- For 4s clips, limit to 1-2 beats.
+- Describe actions as counts or steps when possible (e.g., "takes four steps, pauses, turns in the final second").
+
+## Lighting & palette
+- Describe light quality and direction (soft window light, hard rim, backlight).
+- Name 3-5 palette anchors to stabilize color across shots.
+- If continuity matters, keep lighting logic consistent across clips.
+
+## Character continuity
+- Keep character descriptors consistent across shots; reuse phrasing.
+- Avoid mixing competing traits that can shift identity or pose.
+
+## Multi-shot prompts
+- You can describe multiple shots in one prompt, but keep each shot block distinct.
+- For each shot, specify one camera setup, one action, one lighting recipe.
+- Treat each shot as a creative unit you can later edit or stitch.
+
+## Ultra-detailed briefs
+- Use when you need a specific, filmic look or strict continuity.
+- Call out format/look, lensing/filters, grade/palette, lighting direction, texture, and sound.
+- If needed, include a short shot list with timing beats.
+
+## Image input
+- Use an input image to lock composition, character design, or set dressing.
+- The input image should match the target size and be jpg/png/webp.
+- The image anchors the first frame; the prompt describes what happens next.
+- If you lack a reference, generate one first and pass it as `input_reference`.
+
+## Constraints & invariants
+- State what must not change: "same shot", "same framing", "keep background".
+- Repeat invariants in every remix to reduce drift.
+
+## Text, dialogue & audio
+- Keep text short and specific; quote exact strings.
+- Specify placement and avoid motion blur.
+- For dialogue, use a dedicated block and keep lines short.
+- Label speakers consistently for multi-character scenes.
+- If silent, you can still add a small ambient sound cue to set rhythm.
+- Sora can generate audio; include an `Audio:` line and a short dialogue block when needed.
+- As a rule of thumb, 4s clips fit 1-2 short lines; 8s clips can handle a few more.
+
+Example:
+```
+Audio: soft ambient café noise, clear warm voiceover
+Dialogue:
+<dialogue>
+- Speaker: "Let's get started."
+</dialogue>
+```
+
+## Avoiding artifacts
+- Avoid multiple actions in 4-8 seconds.
+- Keep camera motion smooth and limited.
+- Add explicit negatives when needed: "avoid flicker", "avoid jitter", "no fast motion".
+
+## Remixing
+- Change one thing at a time: palette, lighting, or action.
+- Keep camera and subject consistent unless the change requests otherwise.
+- If a shot misfires, simplify: freeze the camera, reduce action, clear background, then add complexity back in.
+
+## Iterate deliberately
+- Start simple, then add one constraint per iteration.
+- If results look chaotic, reduce motion and simplify the scene.
+- When a result is close, pin it as a reference and describe only the tweak.