How to Extract AI Prompts from a Video: Scene-by-Scene Workflow

To extract a reusable AI prompt from a video, break the reference into scenes, note a timestamp for each one, and write a start-frame prompt that names the subject, framing, lighting, and style. Then add an end-frame prompt plus motion directions so the shot can be regenerated in a tool like Sora or Veo. This works best when the reference has clear cuts and a consistent look; a single continuous shot with no distinct beats is harder to split into prompts.

The workflow below follows the structure used by the Video to Prompt Generator on tubeprompter.com, which turns YouTube videos and Shorts into editable, scene-by-scene prompts with camera, lighting, and style details.

Step 1: Split the video into scenes and log timestamps

Watch the reference once without pausing, then again while marking every cut, camera move, or subject change. Each of those is a scene.

For each scene, record:

• Timestamp — start and end time, e.g. 0:00–0:03
• Subject — what is on screen and what it is doing
• Shot type — wide, medium, close-up, vertical
• Camera behavior — static, push in, pan, handheld
• Lighting — direction, quality, color temperature
• Style notes — color palette, texture, mood

The tool's output format is "scene timestamps → visual notes → start and end frame prompts," so keeping your notes in that order makes the next steps faster.

Step 2: Write a start-frame prompt for each scene

The start frame is the first image the video model sees, so it needs to be specific enough to reproduce the composition. Cover these elements in one paragraph:

• Subject and material (e.g. "a matte cream ceramic mug")
• Setting and surface
• Shot type and camera height
• Light direction and quality
• Background and color palette
• What must stay visible or absent (e.g. "the entire mug visible, no text or logos")

Example start-frame prompt (product reveal):

A matte cream ceramic mug on a warm oak table beside a window. Medium close-up at table height, soft daylight from camera left, gentle shadow to the right, muted beige background, the entire mug visible, no text or logos.

Example start-frame prompt (cinematic landscape):

Wide landscape view from a rocky ridge at sunrise. Dark grass and stones in the foreground, a misty valley in the middle distance, layered blue mountains on the horizon, warm light along the ridge, restrained natural colors.

Step 3: Add an end-frame prompt and motion directions

A start frame alone produces a still. To get motion, describe where the shot ends and how the camera or subject gets there.

End-frame prompt (product reveal):

The same cream ceramic mug and oak table, now in a tighter close-up of the handle and rim. Keep the soft left-side daylight, beige background, and warm colors consistent; the mug remains still.

Motion directions to add:

Add a slow camera push toward the handle. Keep the mug fixed in place and end on the close-up. Set the shot duration in your video tool.

End-frame prompt (cinematic landscape):

The same valley at sunrise, framed from slightly farther forward so the foreground rocks sit near the lower edge. Preserve the mountain shapes, pale mist, and warm rim of light; reveal more of the valley floor.

Motion directions to add:

Move the camera forward slowly with a level horizon. Let the foreground pass out of frame while the distant mountains remain steady.

The key rule: repeat the same subject, palette, and lighting language in both frames. If the start frame says "soft daylight from camera left," the end frame must say the same thing, or the model will drift.

Step 4: Assemble the prompts into a copyable, editable block

Keep each scene as a self-contained unit so you can paste it into Sora, Veo, or another generator without editing:

Scene 1 — 0:00–0:03
Start frame: [prompt]
End frame: [prompt]
Motion: [directions]
Duration: [seconds]

Store the scenes in order. If a generated clip fails, you can revise only that scene's block instead of rewriting the whole sequence.

Step 5: Verify and fix gaps

Before generating, check each scene against the reference:

Common failure points and fixes:

• Subject changes shape between frames — repeat the exact noun and material in both prompts.
• Lighting flips direction — copy the lighting sentence from the start frame into the end frame.
• Too much motion in one clip — split into more scenes with shorter durations.
• Style feels generic — add texture, color, and mood words from your visual notes.

Using a generator instead of manual notes

If you would rather not log timestamps by hand, the Video to Prompt Generator on tubeprompter.com accepts YouTube videos and Shorts and returns scene timestamps, start and end frame prompts, and editable visual descriptions. Signing in gives 5 free analyses per month. The output is designed to be copied and adapted, so you still review each scene against the checks above before generating.

FAQ

Can I extract prompts from a Short? Yes. Shorts are vertical, so state "vertical composition" in the start frame and keep the subject centered or rule-of-thirds consistent across frames.

Do I need one prompt per scene or one for the whole video? One per scene. A single prompt covering multiple cuts usually produces a muddled clip.

What if the reference has no cuts? Treat camera moves and subject actions as scene boundaries instead, and give each a timestamp range.

Which tools can use the extracted prompts? Any text-to-video or image-to-video model, including Sora and Veo. The prompt structure is tool-agnostic; only the duration setting changes.