📚 Your text is the new video studio

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Hello AI Enthusiast,

OpenAI's Sora is changing the video creation game - turning simple text descriptions into polished videos without cameras or editing software. Let's dive into how you can start using this tool to solve one of the biggest content bottlenecks facing teams today.

The Problem

Video content creation traditionally requires expensive equipment, technical know-how, and hours of production time. For most businesses, this creates a frustrating reality: you know video boosts engagement, but the resources required make it impractical. Marketing teams struggle to produce video assets quickly, trainers can't easily visualize concepts, and social media managers can't keep up with demand.

What Have We Tried

Getting Started : How to access Sora

Sora is available for paying ChatGPT users. If you already have a ChatGPT subscription, you can access Sora using the same credentials at sora.chatgpt.com

Create your first video : Sora’s interface

When you first log in, you'll see an "Explore" page showcasing creations from other users. This can be great for inspiration before creating your own videos.

At the bottom of the page, you'll find the creation box where you enter your text prompt, along with several important settings that affect your final video.

Content Type: Select "Video" (since we're creating video content, not still images).

Aspect Ratio: Choose based on your distribution platform:

• 16:9 (Landscape) for YouTube, presentations

• 9:16 (Portrait) for TikTok, Instagram Stories

• 1:1 (Square) for Instagram feed, LinkedIn

Resolution: Higher resolution means better quality but requires more processing time:

• 480p (SD): Basic quality, faster generation

• 720p (HD): Good balance of quality and speed

• 1080p (Full HD): Best quality, only available for ChatGPT Pro users

Duration: How long your video will be (5-20 seconds):

• 5-10 seconds: Ideal for simple concepts or social media teasers

• 15-20 seconds: Better for more complex scenes (Pro users only)

Variations: How many different versions of your prompt you want Sora to generate:

• Start with 1-2 variations to conserve your daily generation quota

• Use more variations when you need multiple options to choose from

Preset: Pre-defined visual styles that give your video a consistent look. You can also create and save your own presets for consistent branding

here’s an example of a preset

Storyboard: An optional planning tool to visualize your video's sequence before generating:

• Use this for more complex videos with multiple scenes

• Add photos, text, and timing details to guide Sora's generation

Crafting Effective Prompts

Now for the most important part: writing prompts that produce amazing videos. Here's our prompt formula that consistently yields great results:

[Scene setting] + [Subject description] + [Action] + [Visual style] + [Camera angle/movement] + [Lighting] + [Atmosphere]

Here's a detailed example:

A minimalist home office with a wooden desk and ergonomic chair. A young professional is typing on a laptop while AI visualizations float around her in holographic form. The scene is shot from a slow, orbiting perspective, with soft natural light coming through large windows. Morning atmosphere with steaming coffee cup visible.

And here's a template you can adapt:

A [location type] with [key elements]. A [subject] is [action] while [secondary elements]. The scene is shot from [camera perspective], with [lighting description]. [Time of day] atmosphere with [additional detail] visible.

💡Pro tip: Be extremely specific about what you want to see. Sora has no context about your intentions beyond what you write in your prompt. You can also upload a photo and use it as a base layer for generating your video-you will get a better result.

Understanding Sora's Strengths and Limitations

Based on our testing, here's what Sora excels at and where it still struggles:

Strengths:

• Fantasy and stylized content (animated, cinematic, artistic styles)

• Static scenes with minimal movement

• Environmental shots (landscapes, interiors, nature scenes)

• Simple object interactions

Current Limitations:

• Complex physics (water splashing, fabric movement)

• Multiple human interactions

• Fast camera movements

• Text legibility

For best results, start with simple scenes using static camera angles and gradually experiment with more complex concepts as you get comfortable with the tool.

Your Turn

Ready to create your first AI-generated video? Try this quick exercise:

1. Choose your use case: Pick one of these practical business applications:

   • Product demonstration

   • Office environment visualization

   • Brand mood video

   • Abstract concept explanation

2. Write your prompt: Using our template above, craft a 2-3 sentence description that includes all the key elements: scene, subject, action, style, camera, and lighting.

3. Generate and analyze: Create your video in Sora and evaluate the results. What worked well? What could be improved in your prompt?

4. Refine and regenerate: Based on your analysis, adjust your prompt to address any issues and generate a new version.

Want to get even more practical? Explore hands-on AI learning with AI Academy:

• AI Academy Membership: Get 12 months of access to all our cohort-based programs, live webinars, on-demand courses, and tutorials.

• AI Agent Bootcamp: Accelerate processes and solve business problems by mastering prompts and building AI Agents, without coding.

• Corporate Training: Equip your team with the skills they need to unlock the potential of AI in your business.

• Practical Introduction to ChatGPT: A free course on using ChatGPT confidently, understanding its workings, and exploring its potential.

We'll be back with more AI tips soon!