Prompt guide
HappyHorse Prompt Guide
Good prompting for AI video is usually less about writing more words and more about writing clearer instructions. If you want better HappyHorse-style results, focus on subject, action, camera logic, visual mood, and what should not happen in the scene.
Short answer: the best prompts are clear, visual, and controlled — not vague, overloaded, or contradictory.
Best beginner rule: build prompts in layers instead of dumping every idea into one line.
A simple prompt structure
A practical prompt structure for AI video looks like this:
- subject: who or what is in the scene
- action: what is happening
- camera: how the scene is framed or moving
- environment: where the action takes place
- style: visual mood, lighting, or texture
- constraints: what to avoid or keep stable
Example: talking scene prompt
A young woman speaking directly to camera in a softly lit studio, natural facial movement, subtle head motion, medium close-up framing, warm cinematic lighting, clean background, realistic lip movement, calm confident expression, no sudden camera shake, no extra faces.
This works better than a vague prompt because it tells the model what matters most: the subject, the speaking behavior, the framing, and the stability constraints.
Example: product demo prompt
A premium smartwatch rotating slowly on a clean reflective surface, dramatic side lighting, close-up product video, smooth camera push-in, sharp material detail, modern tech ad style, dark gradient background, no human hands, no clutter.
Example: cinematic mood prompt
A lone traveler walking through a rainy neon city street at night, slow forward camera movement, reflections on wet pavement, cinematic blue and magenta lighting, drifting mist, moody atmosphere, high contrast, no text overlays, no crowd blocking the subject.
Prompt mistakes to avoid
- adding too many scene ideas at once
- mixing conflicting camera instructions
- using vague words like “cool” or “amazing” instead of visual detail
- forgetting to specify what should stay stable
- writing one giant paragraph with no clear priority
How to improve weak prompts
If your prompt is not working, do not immediately make it longer. Usually, a better fix is to make it cleaner.
- remove extra ideas
- keep one subject and one action
- clarify the shot type
- add one or two constraints
- revise based on the actual failure mode you saw
What matters most for beginners
Beginners often think style words are the most important part. Usually they are not. The most important part is scene clarity. If the model does not clearly understand who is in the scene, what they are doing, and how the shot should behave, extra style language will not save the result.
FAQ
How long should a prompt be?
Long enough to be clear, short enough to stay coherent. For many tests, one tight paragraph works better than a bloated multi-paragraph brief.
Should I use negative constraints?
Yes, when they are useful. Simple constraints like “no extra faces,” “no text,” or “no sudden camera shake” can improve control.
What should I test first?
Start with one subject, one action, one camera idea, and one mood. Then iterate from there.