What you need

Steps

Describe one shot, not a story
Generators make short clips. Describe a single moment: who or what is in it and what changes during the clip.
Weak
A day in the life of a coffee shop.
Better
A barista pours steamed milk into a cup, forming a leaf pattern.
Say where the camera is and how it moves
Name the framing (close-up, wide shot) and one movement (slow push in, pan left, static).
Example
Close-up, slow push in, shallow depth of field.
Set the light and look
Time of day, light source and style give the model strong cues.
Example
Warm morning light from a window, soft shadows, realistic.
Keep motion simple
One main movement per clip. Several actions at once often blend into a mess.
Starting from a photo? Describe only what should move
When you animate an image, the picture already sets the scene. Describe the motion and the camera, not the whole picture again.
Example
The steam rises from the cup; camera stays still.

A prompt with shot, camera, light and one movement. Plan for a few attempts per usable clip — outputs vary between runs.

Describing a whole story in one prompt.
Using real people’s names or faces without permission.
Using clips commercially without checking the tool’s terms — some tools limit commercial use; each tool card links to the terms.