ReStructure ManpowerACADEMY · ENGLISH

ORIGINAL COURSE · BEGINNER LEVEL

Create your next story
with artificial intelligence

From a simple idea to a three-shot scene. Learn through original examples, practice and review.

7 written lessonsNo purchase neededPlain English
Course contents · Lesson 1 of 7

Your first AI video

Lesson 1 of 7 · 10 minutes of practice

Define a scene and compare two prompts.

Concept illustration of a cup and storyboard
Original concept illustration, not a generated video.

By the end

You will have a scene brief and two versions of a prompt for a short clip. If you have a video tool, you can test them; otherwise, you can do all the preparation on paper.

1. Decide what you want to show

Start with one scene, one action and one intention. In this example, we will convey a peaceful break with a cup of coffee beside a window.

SubjectAn unbranded ceramic cup.
ActionA gentle wisp of steam rises from the cup.
Place and lightWooden table beside a window, soft morning light.
Framing and cameraClose-up of the cup. Static camera.
IntentionA peaceful break before starting the day.

A prompt is the instruction you give the tool. A close-up keeps attention on the subject. A static camera means you are not asking the camera to move.

2. Write a first version

Use this structure: subject + action + setting + framing + light. Add limits that matter to your idea without turning the text into an endless list.

If your tool offers duration and format settings, choose a short clip and a vertical format for this exercise. Check the cost before generating: you do not need to buy anything to study this lesson.

3. Review before changing

  1. 1Is the cup still recognizable, and does it keep its shape?
  2. 2Is the main action clear without an explanation?
  3. 3Do the framing and light convey the break you intended?

Write down one priority problem. Do not change the subject, light and camera at the same time: comparing two attempts is easier when you change just one instruction.

If the movement distracts from or distorts the cup, keep the camera static. Choosing a simple version that communicates the idea is also a good creative decision.

Your practice · About 10 minutes

  1. 1Choose an object you own or a generic one: a notebook, a plant or a cup.
  2. 2Write the five lines of your brief: subject, action, place and light, framing and camera, intention.
  3. 3Write prompt A. Then create prompt B by changing only the camera.
  4. 4If you decide to generate, compare the clips using the three questions above. Without a tool, draw one frame for each version.
  5. 5Submit your brief, both prompts and one sentence: "I prefer version __ because __".

Narration script · Approximately 90 seconds

Before generating a video, decide what you want the viewer to see and feel. Today we will work with a small idea: a cup of coffee that conveys a peaceful break.

You do not need to start with a complicated scene. Choose a subject, an action and a place. Our cup is on a table beside a window. Steam rises slowly and the morning light is soft.

Now describe the framing. We will use a close-up and a static camera. That is our first version. Write the instruction in clear words; you do not need to fill it with effects.

Then review with a specific intention. Does the cup keep its shape? Is the steam clear? Does the scene feel calm? Choose one problem before changing the prompt.

In the second version, change only the camera: ask for a slow move closer. Compare both attempts. If movement makes the scene worse, return to a static camera. The aim is to communicate better, rather than add more.

Your challenge is to repeat the exercise with a different object. Save the brief, both prompts and a sentence explaining which you prefer. That small record will help you make your next decision.

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