Sora AI

Sora is OpenAI's revolutionary text-to-video AI model that can create realistic, high-quality videos from simple text descriptions. Here's the thing - it represents a massive leap in AI video generation, producing results that were impossible just a year ago.

Key Features

• Text-to-Video - Describe any scene and Sora creates it
• Up to 60 seconds - Create longer, cinematic videos
• Multiple Resolutions - 480p, 720p, or 1080p output
• Aspect Ratios - Widescreen, square, or vertical
• Storyboard Mode - Build videos frame by frame
• Reference Images - Maintain visual consistency

Sora 2 Updates

The latest Sora 2 model includes:

• Improved physical accuracy and realism
• Synchronized dialogue and sound effects
• Better controllability with reference images
• sora-2 (fast) and sora-2-pro (quality) options

Turns out getting started with Sora is straightforward if we have a ChatGPT subscription:

Step 1: Access Sora

1. Go to sora.com
2. Sign in with our ChatGPT Plus or Pro account
3. We'll see a simple, user-friendly dashboard

Step 2: Write Our First Prompt

1. Click on the prompt window
2. Describe the video we want to create
3. Optionally upload a reference image
4. Adjust settings (resolution, duration, aspect ratio)
5. Click Generate

Settings Overview

• Duration: 5, 10, 15, or 20 seconds (longer = more credits)
• Resolution: 480p (fast), 720p (balanced), 1080p (quality)
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (widescreen), 1:1 (square), 9:16 (vertical)
• Variations: Generate multiple versions of our prompt

Credit System

Sora uses a daily credit system:

• 10-second videos = 1 credit
• 15-second videos = 2 credits
• 20+ second videos = 4 credits
• Higher resolution uses more credits

In my view, the quality of our Sora output depends heavily on our prompt. Here's how to craft effective prompts:

Prompt Structure

A great Sora prompt includes:

1. Shot Type - Wide shot, close-up, aerial view, etc.
2. Subject - Who or what is in the scene
3. Action - What's happening
4. Setting - Where and when
5. Lighting - Time of day, mood lighting
6. Style - Cinematic, documentary, dreamy, etc.
7. Camera Movement - Pan, dolly, tracking shot

Example Prompts

Cinematic Landscape

Wide establishing shot of a misty mountain valley at golden hour.
Camera slowly dollies forward through pine trees. Volumetric fog
catches the warm sunlight. Ultra-realistic, cinematic quality,
8K resolution, film grain.

Product Video

Close-up shot of a sleek smartphone rotating on a reflective
black surface. Studio lighting with dramatic rim lights.
Camera slowly orbits around the device. Premium commercial style,
clean and minimal.

Character Scene

Medium shot of a young woman with red hair walking through
a vibrant Tokyo street at night. Neon signs reflect off wet
pavement. Camera follows her in a smooth tracking shot.
Cinematic color grading, shallow depth of field.

Lighting Keywords That Work

• Golden hour - Warm, soft natural light
• Blue hour - Cool, twilight ambiance
• Rim light - Dramatic edge lighting
• Volumetric lighting - God rays, atmospheric
• Chiaroscuro - High contrast light and shadow
• Neon - Cyberpunk, urban feel

The exciting part about storyboard mode is it gives us precise control over our video's narrative arc. It's perfect for creating more complex, story-driven videos.

How Storyboard Mode Works

1. Click the Storyboard option in the input section
2. Define keyframes at specific timestamps
3. Write prompts for each keyframe
4. Sora interpolates between our keyframes

Storyboard Example

KEYFRAME 0s:
Wide shot of an empty city street at dawn.
Mist hanging in the air, street lights still on.

KEYFRAME 3s:
A figure emerges from the mist, walking towards camera.
Silhouette against the rising sun.

KEYFRAME 6s:
Medium shot reveals a young man in a suit.
Determined expression, golden light on his face.

KEYFRAME 10s:
Close-up on his eyes as he looks up at a tall building.
Reflection of the skyscraper in his eyes.

Best Practices for Storyboards

• Plan transitions - Think about how scenes connect
• Consistent style - Use similar lighting and tone throughout
• Character continuity - Use reference images for characters
• Pacing - Vary shot lengths for visual interest

When to Use Storyboard Mode

• Music videos with specific beats to hit
• Narrative shorts with multiple scenes
• Product reveals with dramatic buildups
• Tutorial videos with specific sequences

Bottom line - beyond basic generation, Sora offers powerful editing and enhancement tools:

Reference Images (--oref)

Maintain visual consistency by providing reference images:

• Upload product photos for accurate reproductions
• Use character photos for consistent faces
• Provide mood boards for style guidance

Remix

Take an existing generation and modify it:

• Change the time of day
• Alter the color palette
• Modify the action or movement
• Keep the composition, change the content

Blend

Create smooth transitions between two videos:

• Merge elements from different clips
• Create morphing effects
• Transition between scenes

Loop

Create seamless loops for:

• Background videos
• Social media content
• Loading animations
• Ambient videos

Stitching

Connect multiple clips into longer narratives:

• Select videos you want to combine
• Choose transition points
• Preview and finalize

Dialogue in Videos

Sora 2 can generate synchronized dialogue:

Medium shot of a news anchor at a desk, professional lighting.
Speaking directly to camera.

DIALOGUE:
"Welcome to the evening news. Tonight's top story..."

Keep dialogue natural and concise. Limit to a few sentences
for best lip-sync results.

Here are practical ways we can use Sora:

Marketing & Advertising

• Product showcase videos
• Social media ads (Instagram, TikTok)
• Explainer video b-roll
• Brand story videos

Content Creation

• YouTube video intros and outros
• Stock footage creation
• Podcast visualizations
• Music video concepts

Education

• Historical recreations
• Science visualizations
• Process demonstrations
• Virtual field trips

Business

• Presentation backgrounds
• Training video scenarios
• Concept visualization for pitches
• Internal communication videos

Creative Projects

• Short film production
• Art installations
• Game trailers
• Personal projects and experiments