OpenAI Releases Sora 2 Prompting Guide: Skeleton, Multi-Scene Tactics, and Remix Workflow
OpenAI quietly published a practical “Sora 2 Prompting Guide” that shows how to structure text prompts for its video model, complete with a reusable skeleton, step-by-step staging for multi-scene clips, and a minimalist Remix workflow for iteration.
What’s actually new in the guide
The document focuses on doing fewer things better: start from a clean, explicit structure, tell Sora exactly what to show and what to avoid, and iterate in tight loops. The emphasis is on production-style clarity — camera, subject, action, timing, and mood — instead of open-ended “make it pretty” prompts. The guide also demonstrates Remix: rather than rewriting a paragraph, change a single aspect per pass (for example, color, actor, or lighting) to keep the scene stable.
Prompt skeleton, explained
At the core is a repeatable skeleton that reads like a shot list. It nudges creators to define:
- Setting & time: where and when the scene happens.
- Subject & appearance: who or what is on camera — and what must not appear.
- Action & beats: concrete steps, not vibes (“the robot walks to the window; turns; waves”).
- Camera & framing: lens, angle, movement, framing rules (keep full subject in frame).
- Look & mood: lighting, palette, texture, pacing, soundtrack cues.
- Duration & format: clip length targets and output style.
This skeleton turns a vague idea into a director’s note. It also helps you isolate variables later: if the camera drifts or a subject mutates, you know which block to adjust.
Say what you want — and what you don’t
Sora 2 is creatively proactive. If you omit dialogue or background activity, the model may invent them. That’s powerful for story beats, but risky for precision. The guide suggests adding negative constraints: “no dialogue”, “no extra characters”, “no text overlays”, or “keep background minimal”. Explicit “don’t” lists reduce surprises and keep continuity consistent across shots.
Multi-scene sequencing without chaos
Sora 2 can generate multi-scene videos, but coherence depends on staged instructions. The recommended approach is to number scenes and describe each with action + camera + transition. Example pattern:
- Interior café, close-up of main character reading; slow dolly in.
- Cut to exterior street; character exits café; wide shot; maintain same outfit and lighting tone.
- Insert close-up on phone screen; reflections subdued; no extra hands in frame.
The Remix rule: one change at a time
The guide’s most pragmatic advice is its Remix discipline: when a draft is “almost there”, alter one variable per remix — color, actor, lighting, lens, or movement — instead of rewriting the whole prompt. That preserves composition while nudging the look. If a stubborn shot keeps misfiring, strip it back: freeze the camera, simplify the motion, clear the background, and rebuild complexity step by step.
Starter templates you can adapt today
1) Single-subject hero shot (cinematic)
- Setting: golden-hour rooftop in Tokyo; soft haze; no crowds.
- Subject: one skateboarder in black hoodie; no helmet; no logos.
- Action: pushes forward, ollies once, lands clean; no speech.
- Camera: 35mm lens; low angle; gentle gimbal follow; keep full subject in frame.
- Look: warm highlights, cool shadows; subtle film grain; city bokeh.
- Duration: 10–15 s; no text overlays; natural ambience only.
2) Two-beat product demo (tabletop)
- Beat 1: close-up coffee grinder on oak table; top-down camera; beans pour in; no hands visible.
- Beat 2: cut to side angle; grounds flow into glass jar; steam wisps; no labels, no extra props.
- Constraints: neutral background, no reflections; consistent lighting; no dialogue.
3) Character variation via Remix
- Base prompt: urban runner at dawn; steady cam; 24fps look.
- Remix pass: “change jacket color to orange”, nothing else.
- Remix pass: “add light rain”, nothing else.
- Remix pass: “switch to 50mm lens”, nothing else.
Common pitfalls and quick fixes
- Camera drift → Lock camera movement; specify “static tripod” or a named move.
- Over-busy backgrounds → Add “minimal background; no bystanders; no signage”.
- Character inconsistency → Reiterate outfit, age, hair, and “same character across scenes”.
- Unwanted text/logos → Explicitly forbid overlays and branding.
- Muddy timing → State beats by seconds: “0–3s dolly in; 3–6s hold; 6–10s action”.
Bottom line
The new guide reads like a compact director’s handbook for Sora 2. Treat prompts as shot plans, define negatives as carefully as positives, sequence scenes deliberately, and iterate with one-change remixes. That’s how you turn a clever idea into a reliable, repeatable workflow for AI video.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab