How to Write an AI Video Prompt

Your AI Video Prompts Are Probably Boring. Make Sure Yours SCREAMS With Clarity

Veo just landed in Google Workspace. That means AI video generation has officially left the tech bro basement and walked straight into your browser.

No more fancy setups. No more waitlists. No more “Can I get an invite code?” energy.

Just open a tab, write a prompt, and boom! Cinematic wizardry in seconds.
Or at least… it could be.

Because let’s be real: most people’s prompts are hot garbage.

The Prompting Problem

Here’s what we’re seeing a lot of:

“Make a video of a dog running through a field.”

Awesome… You’ll get something.
But will it be good? Not likely. Not memorable. Not worth sharing. Not worth watching twice.

Because AI video tools like Veo (or Runway, or Pika, or Sora, or whatever’s next) are only as good as what you feed them. Rubbish in = grainy nonsense out.

And now that Veo’s sitting pretty inside Google Workspace, prompt writing isn’t just for creatives. It’s for everyone. Your SEO exec. Your client’s intern. Your Dad at some point, probably.

So how do you make sure your AI videos actually slap?

You use the SCREAMS Method.

Wait, What’s SCREAMS?

We invented it. You’re welcome.

SCREAMS is your prompt-writing cheat code. A simple framework that helps you go from “generic fluff” to “holy sh*t, that’s cool” in 7 steps:

• S – Subject: Who or what is in the scene?
• C – Context: Where/when is it happening?
• R – Restrictions: What should be avoided or limited?
• E – Environment: What’s the setting like?
• A – Action: What’s happening?
• M – Motion: How is the scene captured or moving?
• S – Style: What does it look like?

You don’t need to use every letter every time, but the more detail you pack in, the better your tool performs (that’s what she said etc.). 

SCREAMS in Action (Literally)

Here’s a regular prompt:

“Make a video of a frog detective.”

Here’s a SCREAMS-style prompt:

A grumpy frog in a trench coat investigates lily pad theft in a shadowy back alley. Noir-style black-and-white, slow side pan, heavy shadows, rain falling under a flickering lampost. Tarantino dialogue delivery meets Shaun of the Dead humour.

Spot the difference?

Same idea. Massively better output.

Why SCREAMS Works

It’s basically production direction in sentence form.
You’re giving the AI what it craves: clarity, story, specificity, and a dash of chaos.

And now that tools like Veo are showing up in mainstream platforms like Google Workspace, this kind of prompt craft isn’t just useful. It’s essential. Because everyone is making AI videos now. Your job is to make ones people actually want to watch.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

Before you unleash your inner Denis Villeneuve, remember:

• Character limits exist. Some platforms cut you off mid-scene. Trim the fat. Keep it punchy.
• Time matters. Don’t cram a feature film into an 8-second render. Keep scope realistic.
• One scene per prompt. If you want a montage, break it down and stitch later.
• Use references, not name-drops. “Studio Ghibli vibes” is usually safer than “make it like Spirited Away.”

SCREAMS = Strategy in Disguise

This isn’t just fun. It’s focused. SCREAMS helps you:

• Write better briefs for video tools
• Build creative consistency across teams
• Speed up ideation and iteration
• Avoid “meh” results and wasted renders (those generation limits will get ya)

Want Help SCREAMing?

We’ll be honest — most brands are about to start churning out mid-level AI videos just because they can. But if you want yours to look like they were made by actual humans with taste, we’ve got you.

We can help you:

• Build branded prompt templates
• Train your team on writing for AI tools
• Craft shareable, scroll-stopping AI visuals
• Create assets that are worth putting your logo on

Let’s make something weird, smart, and genuinely watchable.

Book a call. Bring your weirdest idea. We’ll bring the popcorn.