AI video has seriously levelled up with the release of Google’s new Veo 3 video generator developed by DeepMind! It’s one of the most powerful AI tools out there right now, capable of creating cinematic, high-resolution video clips with impressive camera movement, lighting, and realism. And the best part? You can start experimenting with it today through Envato’s own AI video tool, VideoGen, which has just been upgraded to run on Veo 3.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, designer, or just curious about AI video, this is a great place to start creating with more intention and impact.
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1. What makes a video feel cinematic?
When we think of a cinematic moment, it’s never just about sharp visuals or expensive gear, it’s about the emotion, the atmosphere, and the way a shot tells a story. Even with AI, that same visual storytelling magic still applies.
These are the key ingredients I focus on when I want my Veo 3 clips to feel like they belong on the big screen:
Depth of field adds focus and drama
One of the easiest ways to make a shot feel cinematic is by playing with depth of field, which is basically how much of the scene is in focus.
- Shallow depth of field (where the subject is sharp but the background is blurry) creates a more intimate, emotional look.
- Deep focus (everything is sharp from foreground to background) gives a sense of scale and clarity, great for sci-fi or landscape shots.
Prompt tip: Try using phrases like “shallow depth of field” or “bokeh background” for softer, cinematic focus.
Framing and composition guide the viewer’s eye
A strong composition makes your scene feel intentional and powerful. Here are some classic techniques I like to prompt for:
- Rule of thirds: Place the subject off-center to create balance and interest.
- Leading lines: Roads, hallways, or shadows that draw the eye toward your subject.
- Symmetry: Creates a bold, clean look (think Wes Anderson-style framing).
- Close-ups vs. wide shots: Use close-ups for emotional moments and wide shots to set the scene.
Lighting sets the emotional tone
Lighting is one of my favourite ways to shape mood. Even subtle changes in light can make a massive difference in how a scene feels.
- Low-key lighting = moody, dramatic, and shadow-filled (great for noir or thrillers).
- High-key lighting = bright, clean, often cheerful (perfect for comedies or product ads).
- Golden hour = warm, romantic, and nostalgic.
- Backlighting = silhouettes and atmosphere.
Prompt tip: try “soft cinematic lighting” or “backlit silhouette in sunset haze” to instantly change the vibe.
2. How to write effective prompts in Veo 3
Prompting with Veo 3 feels a lot like directing your own scene (just with text instead of a crew). Once you start thinking like a filmmaker, you’ll find it way easier to get the results you want. Let’s start with a basic prompt structure that I like to use and then break it down:
[Subject] + [action] + [setting] + [lighting] + [camera direction] + [mood/genre] +
Subject: Who or what is the focus?
Start with the star of your scene. This could be a person, a group, an object, or even an animal or environment. Be specific when it matters (age, style, clothing, emotion) it all helps shape the visual. Here are a few examples:
| A rusty old robot | A woman in a flowing red dress | A hooded man in his 40s |
Action: What’s happening?
Next, give your subject something to do. Motion adds life and cinematic energy, even in subtle ways. Use clear, simple verbs like walks, runs, turns and gazes. Here are a few examples:
| walks slowly through the fog | turns to face the camera | stands perfectly still |
Setting: Where is this taking place?
Your setting is your stage. Think about location, time of day, and what’s in the environment. This helps ground the scene and gives the AI something to build from. Here are a few examples:
| in a neon-lit alleyway at night | on a windy cliff by the ocean | a foggy meadow at dawn |
Lighting: How is the scene lit?
Lighting plays a huge role in mood. It’s one of the quickest ways to make a scene feel cinematic, emotional, or dramatic. Veo 3 responds really well to clear lighting direction. Here are a few examples:
| soft golden hour lighting | soft cinematic lighting | sunlight through dusty windows |
Prompt tip: You can also add mood words like “dreamlike,” “tense,” or “gritty” to shape the emotional tone of the clip.
Camera direction: How is it filmed?
This is where you get to “direct the shot.” You can describe the lens type, movement, angle, or position of the camera. It gives your prompt a dynamic feel, and makes the result feel intentional. Here are a few examples:
| slow dolly-in from a low angle | wide angle establishing shot |
| handheld tracking shot from behind | overhead drone shot circling the subject |
Mood/Genre: What’s the vibe?
Finally, layer in tone. This helps guide everything from the lighting to the pacing to the color grading. You can describe the feeling, or name a genre or reference film. Here are a few examples:
| tense and atmospheric | dark and ominous |
| dreamy and nostalgic | isolated and surreal |
Audio: What should the viewer hear?
This is the newest and most exciting thing about Veo 3! VideoGen now supports audio generation, so you can prompt for background music and ambient sounds. Make sure to toggle Audio “on”. Here’s some tips for prompting audio:
- Be clear about the type of sound (music, ambient noise etc.)
- Use genre or instrument cues to shape the style
- Include adjectives to influence mood or tempo
Here are some examples of what you can use to prompt for audio:
| soft piano music playing in the background | distant thunder and rain falling gently |
| ambient city sounds with footsteps echoing | birds chirping and wind rustling through trees |
Bringing it all together
Here’s how it looks when you put it all together:
- “A young woman in a flowing red dress”
- “walks slowly”
- “across a foggy meadow at dawn,”
- “soft cinematic lighting,”
- “the camera tracks her from behind in a wide shot,”
- “dreamy and melancholic atmosphere”
- “gentle piano music plays in the background with birds chirping in the distance”
This kind of structure keeps the prompt focused and helps avoid that “AI randomness” we’ve all seen before. Once you get the hang of it, it really does feel like you’re directing with words.
4. How to replicate different film styles and genres
One of the best things about working with Veo 3 is that it doesn’t just generate video, it responds to style. If you prompt it with intention, you can create something that feels like it was pulled from a noir classic, a sci-fi epic, or even a dreamy indie drama. And yes, mentioning the genre in your prompt absolutely helps guide the result.
Film noir: Moody, shadowy, and full of mystery
When I think of noir, I picture dramatic lighting, high contrast, and characters half-hidden in shadow. Veo 3 nails this if you use the right prompts.
Prompt strategy: Use dark, urban settings + night-time lighting + low-key lighting + mysterious subjects. Include the word “noir” or “in the style of a noir thriller” to guide tone and color palette.
Prompt example:
A mysterious man in a trench coat walks down a dark alley at night, low-key lighting with long shadows, backlit by a flickering neon sign, camera follows from behind, tense noir atmosphere.
Sci-fi epic: Clean, expansive, and futuristic
Sci-fi epics are visually bold. Think sweeping landscapes, sterile architecture, deep space, or high-tech dystopias. Use wide shots, dramatic skies, and cold, surreal lighting.
Prompt strategy: Set your scene on another planet or in a futuristic city + use technical-sounding descriptors like “holographic,” “synthetic,” or “neon glow.” Include “sci-fi epic” or “inspired by Blade Runner or Dune.”
Prompt example:
A lone astronaut walks across a vast alien desert under a huge purple sky, cold ambient lighting, wide-angle drone shot from above, in the style of a sci-fi epic like Dune.
Indie drama: Raw, emotional, and personal
Indie dramas often feel handmade. They lean into natural light, handheld movement, and emotionally quiet scenes. The style is understated, but deeply human.
Prompt strategy: Use real-world, relatable locations + natural lighting cues (golden hour, overcast, window light) + focus on small gestures. Add “indie drama” or “coming-of-age film” to shape tone and pacing.
Prompt example:
A teenage girl sits on a fire escape in the early morning, sipping tea as traffic hums below, natural window light, handheld camera slowly zooms in, soft nostalgic tone in the style of an indie drama.
Action thriller: Movement, tension, and grit
Think fast cuts, gritty city scenes, and lots of dynamic motion. These scenes are often set at night with intense lighting and chase-style camera angles.
Prompt strategy: Use fast-paced verbs (“runs,” “jumps,” “escapes”) + high-stakes environments (dark streets, rooftops, industrial zones) + urgent camera direction. Add “action thriller” to encourage drama and contrast.
Prompt example:
A masked figure sprints across a rooftop at night, harsh neon light from signs below, the camera follows quickly in a shaky handheld shot, high contrast lighting, in the style of an action thriller
Romance: Soft light, close emotion, and subtle storytelling
Romance isn’t just hearts and flowers, it’s about capturing emotion, longing, connection. These scenes are often grounded in reality but softened with light, color, and close, thoughtful framing.
Prompt strategy: Use real, intimate settings (bedrooms, cafés, parks at dusk) + soft or golden lighting + slow or still movement. Mention “romantic film” or “romantic drama” for emotional tone.
Prompt example:
A young couple sits across from each other in a small café at sunset, soft golden light pouring in through the windows, the camera slowly zooms in on their faces as they smile, warm romantic drama tone
Fantasy: Enchanted worlds and magical detail
Fantasy is full of imagination, lush forests, glowing lights, mythical creatures, castles in the mist. The key here is otherworldliness and visual richness.
Prompt strategy: Use nature-heavy or surreal settings (enchanted forests, floating islands) + magical details (fireflies, glowing crystals) + dreamlike lighting. Add genre terms like “fantasy adventure,” or “high fantasy.”
Prompt example:
A warrior stands at the edge of an enchanted forest glowing with floating lights, soft twilight haze in the background, the camera slowly orbits around her, high fantasy tone inspired by The Lord of the Rings
Cinematic results take a director’s mindset
The more I use Veo 3 with VideoGen, the more I realise that great results don’t come from complex prompts. They come from thinking like a filmmaker! When you approach your scene with intention, consider your lighting, camera, mood, and now audio, you start creating with purpose instead of just generating clips.
So treat every prompt like you’re directing a scene. Picture it in your head, feel the pacing, hear the sound. The tools are powerful, but it’s your creative choices that make it cinematic.
