Why “prompt as storyboard” beats “prompt as paragraph” for 10–12s videos

If you’re building 10–12 second ads (product snippets, UGC-style testimonials, app reveals), a single paragraph prompt often collapses into a vague “everything everywhere” request. The model has to guess what matters: the shot order, where to look, what changes between cuts, and what must stay consistent.

Sora 2’s official prompting guidance frames the prompt like briefing a cinematographer who hasn’t seen your storyboard—so you need to communicate intent like shots, not like a novel. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

That same mindset transfers cleanly to Veo3Gen: treat your prompt as a mini storyboard with clear framing + action beats + continuity anchors.

Also: leaving out details forces the model to improvise, which can drift away from what you pictured. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/) On the flip side, the guide notes that leaving some details open can create surprisingly good variations—so you’re balancing control vs. creative range. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

The 6‑line Storyboard Prompt Template (copy/paste)

Paste this into Veo3Gen and fill the brackets. Keep each line tight.

1) STYLE / FORMAT: [genre + realism level + aspect ratio + lens vibe + reference adjectives]
2) SUBJECT: [who/what + key visual identifiers + wardrobe/props + brand colors/logo rules]
3) SETTING: [where + time of day + 2–3 environment anchors that must persist across cuts]
4) CAMERA + FRAMING: [shot types per cut + movement + focus/DoF + what must be in frame]
5) ACTION BEATS (0–12s):
   - 0–4s (Cut 1): [beat + visible goal]
   - 4–8s (Cut 2): [beat + visible goal]
   - 8–12s (Cut 3): [beat + visible goal + end frame]
6) LIGHTING / TONE + AUDIO NOTES: [lighting mood + pacing + SFX/music vibe + (optional) Dialogue block]

Why this works: the Sora 2 guide emphasizes that being specific about what the shot should achieve increases control and consistency. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/) It also calls out that small changes to camera, lighting, or action can dramatically shift results—so isolating those choices by line makes iteration easier. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

How to fill each line (with creator-friendly examples)

Style / format: pick constraints, not just vibes

Instead of “cinematic,” choose 2–4 constraints you can A/B:

Ad type: UGC handheld, product macro, polished studio, screen-record style
Visual feel: natural smartphone, clean commercial, minimal motion graphics
Format: 9:16 for vertical, 16:9 for YouTube pre-roll

Remember: a prompt is a creative wish list, not a contract—so write what you most need, then let the model handle the rest. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

Subject: define “identity tokens”

For products and recurring characters, include identifiers you want to repeat:

“Matte white bottle with teal label and bold black logotype”
“Creator: mid-20s, short curly hair, green hoodie, silver nose ring”

If you omit these, the model may invent them. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

Setting: add two continuity anchors

A setting line that just says “kitchen” invites random kitchens.

Better: “bright kitchen, white subway tile backsplash, wooden cutting board, morning sun from right.” Those anchors help continuity across cuts.

Camera + framing: storyboard like a cinematographer

Sora 2 prompting guidance explicitly leans on describing shots like a storyboard and calling out camera details such as framing and depth of field. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

In practice for short ads:

Cut 1: wide to establish context
Cut 2: medium for human/product interaction
Cut 3: close-up for payoff + logo/end frame

Action beats: tie every cut to a visible goal

For 10–12 seconds, you typically want 2–3 cuts. Write them as outcomes:

“shows problem” → “demonstrates fix” → “ends on benefit + brand”

Also keep in mind that running the same prompt multiple times will produce different results—this variability is expected. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

Lighting/tone + audio notes: keep it minimal but intentional

Don’t over-script sound. A few notes are enough:

“soft room tone, subtle whoosh on transitions”
“upbeat, light percussive music bed”

Mini guidance for dialogue (ads/UGC)

If you include dialogue, keep it short and attach it to a visible action beat (e.g., speaking while holding the product). Higgsfield’s Sora 2 prompt guide suggests placing short dialogue lines in a dedicated Dialogue block. (https://higgsfield.ai/sora-2-prompt-guide)

3 ready-to-run storyboard prompts (10–12s, 2–3 cuts)

Use these as starting points in Veo3Gen, then swap only one line at a time when iterating.

1) Product demo (physical product)

1) STYLE / FORMAT: Clean modern product ad, realistic, 9:16 vertical, crisp detail, minimal text overlays
2) SUBJECT: Matte white insulated water bottle with teal label, bold black logo centered; condensation droplets; no other brands
3) SETTING: Bright kitchen counter, white subway tile backsplash, wooden cutting board, morning light from camera-right
4) CAMERA + FRAMING: Cut 1 wide establishing; Cut 2 medium hands-on; Cut 3 macro close-up with shallow depth of field, logo sharp
5) ACTION BEATS (0–12s):
   - 0–4s (Cut 1): Bottle sits beside a melting ice cube puddle; hand places warm drink glass next to it to imply heat problem
   - 4–8s (Cut 2): Hand unscrews bottle, drops ice in, quick pour; bottle immediately shows cold condensation
   - 8–12s (Cut 3): Macro on teal label + logo as bottle turns slightly; end frame holds steady for readability
6) LIGHTING / TONE + AUDIO NOTES: Bright, fresh, optimistic. Subtle kitchen ambience, soft “click” on cap twist, gentle whoosh on cuts. Dialogue (optional): “Cold all day—no leaks.”

2) UGC testimonial (creator-led)

1) STYLE / FORMAT: UGC selfie-style, natural smartphone realism, 9:16 vertical, slight handheld motion
2) SUBJECT: Creator in green hoodie, short curly hair, small silver nose ring; holding a plain kraft-box skincare jar with a simple white label and black text (no other brands)
3) SETTING: Bathroom mirror area, neutral tiles, soft towel hanging on hook, warm morning light
4) CAMERA + FRAMING: Cut 1 selfie medium close-up; Cut 2 over-the-shoulder showing product and face; Cut 3 close-up of jar + texture on fingertip, shallow DoF
5) ACTION BEATS (0–12s):
   - 0–4s (Cut 1): Creator looks into camera, points to dry patch on cheek (problem)
   - 4–8s (Cut 2): Opens jar and applies a small amount, quick visible rub-in (proof)
   - 8–12s (Cut 3): Close-up of jar label and creamy texture; creator smiles in soft focus behind; end on jar held steady
6) LIGHTING / TONE + AUDIO NOTES: Friendly, casual, believable. Light room tone. Dialogue block:
   Dialogue: “I tried this for a week—my skin feels way calmer.”

3) App/SaaS feature reveal (screen + real-world)

1) STYLE / FORMAT: Polished but approachable startup ad, realistic, 16:9, clean motion, minimal UI glow
2) SUBJECT: Phone showing a productivity app (generic UI), user’s hands, notebook with a small teal sticker; brand colors: teal + charcoal; avoid other app logos
3) SETTING: Coffee shop table by window, latte, soft background bokeh, daytime
4) CAMERA + FRAMING: Cut 1 wide table scene; Cut 2 top-down over phone; Cut 3 tight close-up on screen with shallow DoF and slight push-in
5) ACTION BEATS (0–12s):
   - 0–4s (Cut 1): User looks stressed, messy sticky notes scattered (problem)
   - 4–8s (Cut 2): Top-down: user taps “Auto-plan my day” button; sticky notes slide into a neat stack beside phone (visual metaphor)
   - 8–12s (Cut 3): Close-up: app shows a clean schedule with teal highlights; end frame holds on the schedule
6) LIGHTING / TONE + AUDIO NOTES: Calm, organized transformation. Soft café ambience. Subtle tap SFX, gentle riser into final frame. Dialogue (optional): “Two taps, and my day’s finally clear.”

Continuity & control: keep character/product consistent across cuts

The official guidance notes that detailed prompts can increase control and consistency. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/) In short ads, continuity is most often lost between cuts—so add “continuity anchors” directly into your Subject/Setting/Camera lines.

Continuity anchor checklist (quick)

Wardrobe & accessories: same color, same notable items (hoodie, ring, watch)
Props: same product packaging, same label color, same cap shape
Brand colors: specify 1–2 colors that must recur
Logo placement: where it appears (centered, facing camera, readable in final frame)
Environment identifiers: same backsplash, same towel, same table items

Common failure modes (and quick fixes)

The model “improvises” the wrong details

If the jar label changes or the scene jumps locations, you likely under-specified identifiers. The guide warns that leaving out details leads to improvisation. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

Fix: add 2–3 identity tokens to Subject and 2 anchors to Setting.

The pacing feels off or the ending isn’t usable

Fix: rewrite the last beat as a clear deliverable: “end frame holds steady for readability.” Also simplify to 2 cuts if needed.

You tweak one thing and everything changes

This is normal: small changes to camera, lighting, or action can shift outcomes dramatically. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

Fix: change only one line at a time (usually Line 4 or Line 5).

You repeat the prompt and get different results

The guide explicitly says rerunning the same prompt yields different results—and that’s a feature. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

Fix: embrace it for variation, then “lock” the winning structure and adjust only one variable for A/B tests.

A/B testing your storyboard prompt: what to change first (and what not to)

When you’re iterating ads, you want learning—not chaos.

Change first (highest leverage)

Line 5 (Action beats): tighten the story. Remove any beat that isn’t visible.
Line 4 (Camera + framing): adjust shot size and focus to clarify the hero.
Line 1 (Style/format): swap “UGC handheld” vs. “clean commercial” to match channel.

Avoid changing simultaneously

Subject identity tokens and setting anchors and camera moves at once.

Keep the storyboard stable, or you won’t know what caused the difference.

FAQ

Is this only for Sora 2, or does it work in Veo3Gen too?

It’s inspired by Sora 2’s official guidance to describe prompts like storyboards and specify camera/framing/DoF, but the structure is tool-agnostic and works well as a Veo3Gen workflow. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/)

How long should each cut be for a 12-second ad?

A simple starting point is three cuts of ~4 seconds each (0–4, 4–8, 8–12). Adjust if your concept needs fewer beats.

Should I write every visual detail?

Not necessarily. The guidance notes that lighter prompts can leave room for creative freedom and surprising variations. (https://developers.openai.com/cookbook/examples/sora/sora2_prompting_guide/) Write what must be true; leave the rest open.

What’s the safest way to include dialogue?

Keep lines short and tie them to visible actions. If you add dialogue, place it in a dedicated “Dialogue” block (as suggested in Higgsfield’s guide). (https://higgsfield.ai/sora-2-prompt-guide)

CTA: turn the template into a repeatable pipeline

If you want to generate storyboarded 10–12s variations at scale (and keep your A/B testing organized), build around the Veo3Gen API: see the docs at /api. When you’re ready to estimate costs for testing multiple versions per concept, check /pricing.

Sora 2’s “Storyboard Prompt” (Veo3Gen Edition): A 6‑Line Template for Repeatable 10–12s Ads