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name: video-generator description: Generate AI videos using Google VEO 3.1 or OpenAI Sora. Use this skill when content needs short-form video — social clips, promotional teasers, ambient backgrounds, or creative visual storytelling. Two providers for different strengths - VEO for native audio, Sora for visual quality and longer clips.

Video Generator

Generate professional short-form videos using Google VEO 3.1 (with native audio) or OpenAI Sora (high visual quality, up to 12s).

Prerequisites & Setup

API Keys

VEO (Google): Uses the same key as the image-prompt-generator skill. If you already have GEMINI_API_KEY set, you're ready.

Sora (OpenAI): Requires OPENAI_API_KEY (already in OpenEd Vault/.env).

export GEMINI_API_KEY=your_gemini_key_here
export OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_key_here

Install Dependencies

pip install google-genai requests

Available Models

Provider	Model	CLI --model	Best For
VEO	Veo 3.1 Standard	standard (default)	Quality, audio fidelity, final assets
VEO	Veo 3.1 Fast	fast	Drafts, iteration, quick previews
Sora	Sora 2	sora-2 (default)	Visual quality, creative motion
Sora	Sora 2 Pro	sora-2-pro	Highest Sora quality, slower

When to Use Which

Need	Use
Native synchronized audio (dialogue, SFX)	VEO - Sora has no audio
Longer clips (12 seconds)	Sora - VEO maxes at 8s
Higher visual fidelity / artistic styles	Sora - stronger on visual aesthetics
Fast iteration / drafts	VEO Fast - quickest turnaround
4K resolution	VEO - Sora uses fixed sizes
Negative prompts (exclude elements)	VEO - Sora doesn't support them

Video Parameters

Parameter	VEO Options	Sora Options	Default
Duration	4, 6, or 8 seconds	4, 8, or 12 seconds	8s
Resolution	720p, 1080p, 4K	Fixed (from aspect ratio)	720p
Aspect Ratio	16:9, 9:16	16:9 → 1280x720, 9:16 → 720x1280	16:9
Count	1-4 variations	1-4 variations	1
Negative Prompt	Supported	Not supported (ignored)	none

Latency

Video generation is async — expect 11 seconds to 6 minutes depending on server load and provider. The script polls automatically and saves when ready.

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Workflow Overview

1. Define the Concept — What story does the video tell in 4-8 seconds?
2. Storyboard the Shot — Camera, motion, subject, environment
3. Add Audio Direction — Dialogue, sound effects, ambient sound
4. Generate Video — Run via API
5. Iterate — Adjust prompt based on results

Prompt Rules (From Research)

Before diving into the workflow, internalize these rules from extensive testing across Veo, Runway, and Sora:

1. 150-300 characters is the sweet spot. Under 100 = generic. Over 400 = the model drops elements unpredictably.
2. One shot = one action. Don't pack multiple scene changes or style shifts into one prompt. One camera move + one subject action.
3. Describe what you want, not what you don't want. Use the --negative flag for exclusions, not the main prompt.
4. Treat audio as a separate layer. Write audio cues in their own sentences, not mixed into visual descriptions.
5. Use colon syntax for dialogue. A man says: "Hello!" prevents subtitle artifacts. Without the colon, text may appear on screen.
6. Keep dialogue under 7 words per line. Longer speech causes lip-sync drift or rushed garbling.
7. Start simple, then layer. Begin with a basic prompt, evaluate, then add one variable at a time.
8. Slow camera movements win. Fast pans and spins break output. Use tight framing for perceived speed.

See references/prompt-engineering-research.md for the complete research.

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Step 1: Define the Concept

A good video prompt answers three questions:

• What's happening? (action/motion)
• Where? (environment/setting)
• What does it sound like? (audio landscape)

Unlike images, video is temporal. Think in terms of movement and change, not a static composition.

Good concepts for 8-second clips:

Use Case	Example Concept
Social teaser	A hand flipping through pages of a book, stopping on a highlighted passage
Ambient background	Rain falling on a window with city lights blurring behind it
Product reveal	Camera slowly orbits a product on a table, warm studio lighting
Podcast promo	A microphone in a cozy studio, coffee steam rising, morning light
Newsletter visual	A typewriter striking keys, with the sound of each keystroke

Step 2: Storyboard the Shot

Structure your prompt with cinematic language. Veo responds well to film terminology:

Camera Language

Term	Effect
Wide shot	Shows full environment, establishes context
Close-up	Tight on a subject, emphasizes detail
Tracking shot	Camera follows subject movement
Dolly in/out	Camera moves toward or away from subject
Static shot	Locked camera, subject moves within frame
Slow pan	Camera rotates horizontally across scene
Overhead / bird's eye	Looking straight down
Low angle	Looking up at subject, adds drama

Motion Description

Be explicit about what moves and how:

Don't	Do
"A dog in a park"	"A golden retriever runs toward camera through tall grass, ears bouncing"
"City at night"	"Camera slowly dollies through a neon-lit Tokyo alley as rain puddles reflect signs"
"Ocean"	"A single wave forms, curls, and crashes onto wet sand in slow motion"

Lighting & Atmosphere

Term	Mood
Golden hour	Warm, nostalgic, cinematic
Overcast	Soft, even, contemplative
Neon / artificial	Urban, energetic, modern
Candlelight	Intimate, quiet
Hard shadows	Dramatic, high contrast

Step 3: Add Audio Direction

Veo 3.1 generates synchronized audio natively. This is a major differentiator — use it.

Three Types of Audio Cues

1. Dialogue — Use colon syntax before quotes (prevents subtitle artifacts):

A barista says: "Here you go!" as she slides a latte across the counter.

Keep lines under 7 words for clean lip-sync. One sentence max per 8-second clip.

2. Sound Effects — Describe specific sounds:

The sound of a match striking, then a candle flame flickering to life.

3. Ambient Sound — Set the sonic environment:

Birds chirping in the background, distant traffic hum, morning atmosphere.

Audio Tips

• Be specific: "the crunch of gravel underfoot" beats "footstep sounds"
• Layer audio: combine ambient + specific sounds for depth
• Match audio to motion: "a door creaks open" timed with the visual action
• Dialogue should be short — 1-2 sentences max for 8 seconds

Step 4: Craft the Full Prompt

Prompt Structure (5-Element Priority)

Structure prompts in this order of priority — you don't need all five every time:

1. Shot Specification — camera work, framing, movement
2. Setting & Atmosphere — location, time, weather, lighting
3. Subject & Action — who/what, described in beats
4. Audio Layer — dialogue, SFX, ambient (separate sentences)
5. Style/Grade — artistic treatment, lens, color

[Shot type + camera movement]. [Setting and lighting]. [Subject doing action].
[Audio: what you hear]. [Style/grade].

Example Prompts

Podcast promo (16:9):

A close-up tracking shot of a vintage microphone in a warmly lit podcast studio.
Steam rises slowly from a coffee mug beside it. Morning sunlight filters through
blinds, casting soft stripes across the desk. The sound of a quiet room — a clock
ticking, the faint hum of equipment. Cinematic, intimate, inviting.

Social teaser — vertical (9:16):

A hand reaches into frame and opens a leather-bound journal on a wooden desk.
The pages flutter briefly before settling on a page covered in handwritten notes.
A pen is set down beside the book. The sound of pages rustling, a pen clicking,
and soft ambient music. Warm overhead lighting, shallow depth of field.

Newsletter header — ambient loop (16:9):

A static wide shot of rain falling on a large window. Behind the glass, a blurred
cityscape with warm lights. Water droplets slide slowly down the pane. The sound of
steady rain and distant muffled city noise. Moody, contemplative, cozy.

Product reveal (16:9):

Camera slowly orbits a pair of wireless headphones placed on a dark marble surface.
Dramatic studio lighting with a single warm key light from the left. The headphones
cast a sharp shadow. Subtle electronic ambient music. Premium, minimal, modern.

Step 5: Generate via API

Running the Script

# VEO: Basic generation (8s, 720p, 16:9)
python scripts/generate_video.py "Your prompt here"

# VEO: Fast draft for iteration
python scripts/generate_video.py "Your prompt here" --model fast

# VEO: High quality vertical video for social
python scripts/generate_video.py "Your prompt" --aspect 9:16 --resolution 1080p

# VEO: Multiple variations to choose from
python scripts/generate_video.py "Your prompt" --count 2 --output ./videos

# VEO: Short clip with specific settings
python scripts/generate_video.py "Your prompt" --duration 4 --resolution 4k --name "hero-clip"

# VEO: Exclude unwanted elements
python scripts/generate_video.py "Your prompt" --negative "text overlays, watermarks, blurry"

# Sora: Basic generation
python scripts/generate_video.py "A cat on a windowsill, warm light" --provider sora

# Sora: 12-second clip (longer than VEO allows)
python scripts/generate_video.py "A dog running through a meadow" --provider sora --duration 12

# Sora: Pro model, vertical
python scripts/generate_video.py "Latte art being poured" --provider sora --model sora-2-pro --aspect 9:16

# Sora: Multiple variations
python scripts/generate_video.py "Ocean waves at sunset" --provider sora --count 2 --output ./videos

Options:

Flag	Values	Default	Notes
--provider	veo, sora	veo	VEO for audio, Sora for visual quality
--model	VEO: standard, fast / Sora: sora-2, sora-2-pro	standard / sora-2	Provider-specific models
--aspect	16:9, 9:16	16:9	Vertical for Reels/TikTok/Shorts
--resolution	720p, 1080p, 4k	720p	VEO only (ignored by Sora)
--duration	VEO: 4, 6, 8 / Sora: 4, 8, 12	8	Sora supports 12s
--negative	text	none	VEO only (ignored by Sora)
--count	1-4	1	Generate variations
--output	path	.	Save directory
--name	text	none	Filename prefix

Output: MP4 files with timestamp-based filenames.

Step 6: Iterate

After reviewing generated video:

• Motion wrong? Be more explicit about direction, speed, and sequence
• Audio off? Add or refine audio cues — the model needs clear direction
• Too much happening? Simplify. One clear action per clip works best
• Style drift? Add a negative prompt to exclude unwanted aesthetics
• Wrong mood? Adjust lighting and atmosphere descriptors

Iteration Strategy

1. Start with --model fast and --duration 4 for quick drafts
2. Refine the prompt through 2-3 fast iterations
3. Switch to --model standard with full duration/resolution for the final take
4. Generate 2 variations of the final prompt and pick the best

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Negative Prompt Guide

Use --negative to steer away from common problems:

Problem	Negative Prompt
Text/watermarks appearing	"text, watermarks, logos, subtitles"
Uncanny faces	"distorted faces, morphing features"
Jittery motion	"jerky motion, flickering, stuttering"
Over-saturated look	"oversaturated, HDR, neon colors"
Stock footage feel	"generic, corporate, stock footage aesthetic"

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Prompting Principles

Think in Shots, Not Scenes

8 seconds is one shot. Don't try to cram a narrative arc — describe a single continuous moment.

Don't	Do
"A chef makes a meal from scratch and serves it"	"A chef's hands julienne carrots on a wooden cutting board, knife moving rhythmically"
"A day at the beach from sunrise to sunset"	"Waves gently lap at bare feet on sand, golden hour light, camera at ground level"

Be Specific About Motion

Vague motion descriptions produce vague results. Describe what moves, how fast, and in which direction.

Layer Your Audio

Don't just describe one sound — create a soundscape:

The crackling of a vinyl record playing soft jazz,
a distant car horn outside the window,
the quiet clink of an ice cube in a glass.

Use Negative Prompts Proactively

Always include --negative "text, watermarks" at minimum. The model occasionally generates unwanted text overlays.

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Use Cases by Content Type

Social Media (9:16, 4-8s)

Short, punchy, loop-friendly. Favor close-ups and strong motion.

python scripts/generate_video.py "Close-up of coffee being poured into a ceramic mug, steam rising, warm morning light. The sound of liquid pouring and a soft sigh." \
  --aspect 9:16 --duration 4 --resolution 1080p

Podcast/Newsletter Headers (16:9, 8s)

Ambient, atmospheric. Favor wide shots and subtle motion.

python scripts/generate_video.py "A vintage radio on a wooden shelf, dial slowly turning. Warm tungsten light. Soft static transitioning into faint music." \
  --resolution 1080p --name "podcast-header"

Product/Brand (16:9, 6-8s)

Clean, controlled, premium feel. Studio lighting, slow orbits.

python scripts/generate_video.py "Camera slowly orbits a leather notebook on a dark wood desk. Single warm key light. The sound of pages turning gently." \
  --resolution 4k --duration 6 --negative "text, watermarks, busy background"

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Multi-Clip Consistency

When generating multiple clips for a project (e.g. a social series, product launch, or multi-shot sequence):

Lock Your Constants

Create a consistency block and repeat it verbatim across all prompts:

CHARACTER: A woman in her thirties with short silver hair and a black turtleneck
PALETTE: amber, cream, walnut brown, deep olive
LIGHTING: Soft key light from camera right, warm tungsten
STYLE: Cinematic, shallow depth of field, warm film grain
NEGATIVE: no subtitles, no on-screen text, no watermarks

Frame Chaining

For sequential shots, use the last frame of clip N as the reference image for clip N+1. This preserves subject orientation, lighting continuity, and motion vectors.

Consistency Checklist

• Same character description, word for word — never paraphrase between shots
• Same palette anchors (3-5 named colors)
• Same lighting direction and quality
• Same aspect ratio and resolution
• Same style/grade language
• "No subtitles, no on-screen text" included
• Simple wardrobe — solid colors and notable anchors (red jacket, silver pendant) are more consistent than busy patterns

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Related Skills

• image-prompt-generator — Static images with the same API key and similar workflow
• youtube-title-creator — Pair video content with optimized titles
• social-content-creation — Use videos in platform-optimized posts

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For prompt engineering research and advanced techniques, see references/prompt-engineering-research.md