AI Video Generator Cheat Sheet

🎬 AI Video Generator Cheat Sheet

Transform your ideas into stunning videos with these 6 cutting-edge AI video generation tools. Master the prompts and techniques for professional results.

1. Runway Gen-3 Alpha

Access: Runway ML web platform (subscription required)

TEXT-TO-VIDEO IMAGE-TO-VIDEO VIDEO-TO-VIDEO
Max Duration: 10 seconds
Resolution: Up to 1280x768
Frame Rate: 24 fps

Industry-leading video generation with exceptional motion quality and temporal consistency. Excels at cinematic shots, smooth camera movements, and realistic physics. Used by professional filmmakers and content creators.

Sample Prompts & Results:

Prompt 1: Cinematic Establishing Shot
"Aerial drone shot slowly descending over a misty mountain valley at golden hour, revealing a small village nestled in pine trees, cinematic lighting, smooth camera movement, 4K quality"
Result: Produces smooth, professional aerial footage with natural mist movement and realistic lighting changes as the camera descends. The village appears gradually with excellent depth perception and atmospheric perspective.
Prompt 2: Product Showcase
"Luxury watch rotating on black velvet surface, dramatic side lighting creating highlights on metal, slow 360-degree rotation, studio quality, macro detail"
Result: Creates elegant product footage with realistic reflections and smooth rotation. Lighting remains consistent throughout, highlighting the watch's details. Professional enough for commercial use.

Best For:

  • Professional film and commercial production
  • High-quality social media content
  • Concept visualization and storyboarding

2. Pika 1.5

Access: Pika.art web platform or Discord (free tier available)

TEXT-TO-VIDEO IMAGE-TO-VIDEO EFFECTS
Max Duration: 3-5 seconds
Resolution: 1280x720
Frame Rate: 24 fps

User-friendly platform with creative effects and scene modification tools. Features "Pikaffects" for explosions, melts, and other dynamic transformations. Great for creative experiments and social media content.

Sample Prompts & Results:

Prompt 1: Nature Scene
"Cherry blossom petals falling in slow motion through sunbeams in a Japanese garden, gentle breeze, peaceful atmosphere, soft pink and green colors"
Result: Generates beautiful slow-motion footage with natural petal movement and realistic physics. Sunbeams create volumetric lighting effects, and the overall mood is serene and cinematic.
Prompt 2: Dynamic Action
"Skateboarder performing kickflip in urban skate park, dynamic camera following the motion, golden hour lighting, street photography style"
Result: Creates energetic footage with good motion tracking. The camera follows the action naturally, and the trick animation is smooth. Lighting adds warmth and style to the urban setting.

Best For:

  • Social media shorts and reels
  • Creative experiments with effects
  • Quick concept videos and animations

3. Luma AI Dream Machine

Access: Luma Labs web platform (free tier available)

TEXT-TO-VIDEO IMAGE-TO-VIDEO EXTEND VIDEO
Max Duration: 5 seconds
Resolution: 1280x720
Speed: ~120 seconds generation

Fast generation with good motion consistency and realistic physics. Strong at character animations and nature scenes. Offers video extension capabilities to create longer sequences.

Sample Prompts & Results:

Prompt 1: Character Animation
"Astronaut walking on Mars surface, red dust kicking up with each step, dramatic landscape in background, sci-fi cinematic style, realistic space suit details"
Result: Produces believable character movement with realistic dust physics. The astronaut's gait and suit movement feel natural. Background maintains consistency while the character moves through the frame.
Prompt 2: Wildlife Scene
"Hummingbird hovering near bright red hibiscus flower, wings beating rapidly, iridescent feathers catching light, shallow depth of field, nature documentary style"
Result: Creates stunning wildlife footage with rapid wing movement that appears natural. The depth of field effect keeps focus on the bird while the background blurs beautifully. Iridescent colors shift realistically.

Best For:

  • Quick turnaround projects
  • Character animations and movement
  • Nature and wildlife scenes

4. Stable Video Diffusion

Access: Open-source (local installation), Stability AI API, or third-party platforms

IMAGE-TO-VIDEO OPEN SOURCE CUSTOMIZABLE
Max Duration: 4-5 seconds
Resolution: 1024x576
Frames: 25 frames default

Open-source video generation offering maximum control and customization. Can be fine-tuned for specific styles or use cases. Best for developers and users who want complete control over the generation process.

Sample Prompts & Results:

Prompt 1: Architectural Visualization
"Modern glass building exterior with clouds reflecting in windows, subtle camera push-in, architectural photography style, professional real estate video"
Result: Generates clean architectural footage with realistic cloud reflections that move naturally across the glass. Camera movement is smooth and professional. Good for real estate presentations.
Prompt 2: Abstract Motion
"Colorful ink drops dispersing in clear water, macro photography, vibrant colors mixing and swirling, slow motion, artistic experimental video"
Result: Creates mesmerizing fluid dynamics with natural ink dispersion patterns. Colors blend realistically, and the motion has organic flow. Perfect for artistic or experimental projects.

Best For:

  • Custom model training and fine-tuning
  • Research and development projects
  • Users wanting full control over parameters

5. Kling AI (Kuaishou)

Access: Kling.ai web platform

TEXT-TO-VIDEO IMAGE-TO-VIDEO LONG DURATION
Max Duration: Up to 10 seconds
Resolution: 1280x720
Special Feature: Extended clips

Chinese-developed platform with impressive motion understanding and physics simulation. Particularly strong at complex movements, interactions, and maintaining temporal consistency across longer clips.

Sample Prompts & Results:

Prompt 1: Complex Motion
"Chef tossing pizza dough in the air in Italian restaurant kitchen, dough spinning and stretching, catching it smoothly, warm kitchen lighting, professional culinary video"
Result: Handles complex physics of spinning dough remarkably well. The tossing and catching motion appears natural, and the dough deforms realistically. Background kitchen activity adds authenticity.
Prompt 2: Fantasy Scene
"Dragon flying through ancient ruins, wings creating wind that rustles nearby banners, magical particles trailing behind, epic fantasy cinematography"
Result: Creates impressive fantasy footage with multiple interacting elements. The dragon's wing movement affects the environment realistically, and magical effects integrate seamlessly with the scene.

Best For:

  • Complex motion and physics simulations
  • Fantasy and imaginative content
  • Longer clip requirements

6. HeyGen

Access: HeyGen.com web platform (subscription required)

AVATAR VIDEOS TEXT-TO-SPEECH MULTI-LANGUAGE
Avatars: 100+ options
Languages: 40+ supported
Duration: Unlimited

Specialized in AI avatar and spokesperson videos with realistic lip-sync and expressions. Perfect for educational content, marketing videos, and corporate communications. No camera or actor needed.

Sample Prompts & Results:

Prompt 1: Training Video
Script: "Welcome to our comprehensive guide on workplace safety protocols. Today, we'll cover five essential practices that every team member should follow to maintain a secure working environment." Avatar: Professional woman in business attire Setting: Modern office background
Result: Creates professional training video with natural-looking avatar, perfect lip-sync to the narration, and appropriate facial expressions. The avatar maintains eye contact and uses subtle gestures. Ideal for corporate e-learning.
Prompt 2: Product Explainer
Script: "Introducing the SmartHome 3000 - your complete home automation solution. With just one app, control lighting, temperature, security, and entertainment throughout your entire home." Avatar: Friendly tech presenter Setting: Modern tech studio
Result: Produces engaging product video with enthusiastic delivery. Avatar's expressions match the promotional tone, and the presentation feels natural and convincing. Background stays consistent throughout.

Best For:

  • Corporate and training videos
  • Educational content and courses
  • Multi-language marketing videos
  • Social media spokesperson content

🌟 Universal Video Prompting Tips:

  • Describe motion clearly: Specify camera movement (pan, tilt, zoom, dolly) and subject action
  • Set the scene: Include lighting conditions, time of day, and atmosphere
  • Reference film styles: Mention cinematography styles (documentary, cinematic, commercial)
  • Control pace: Use terms like "slow motion," "time-lapse," or "real-time"
  • Specify camera work: Mention shot types (close-up, wide shot, aerial, tracking shot)
  • Keep it simple: Start with clear, focused concepts rather than overly complex scenes
  • Think in sequences: For longer videos, generate multiple clips and stitch them together
  • Use reference images: When available, provide a starting image for better consistency
  • Physics matter: Be realistic about physics and movement for better results
  • Iterate and refine: Generate multiple versions and select the best results

⚠️ Current Limitations to Keep in Mind:

  • Most platforms generate 3-10 second clips (longer videos require stitching)
  • Complex scenes with multiple moving elements are challenging
  • Text and fine details may not render perfectly
  • Human faces and hands can still be inconsistent
  • Generation times vary from 1-5 minutes per clip
  • Quality depends heavily on prompt clarity and specificity