How to Make an AI Video: A Step-by-Step Guide

To make an AI video, describe the shot you want in a sentence or two (or upload an image), pick a model and a length, generate the clip and then revise it until it looks right. Most AI video generators work this way; the difference is in how much of the prompt writing and settings they handle for you.

This guide walks through the whole process with EveryGen AI as the example. The prompt formulas and tips work with any generator.

What you need

• An idea for one shot. AI video models render short clips, so think in shots, not whole films.
• Optionally, an image. A photo, product shot or drawing can become the first frame of the video.
• An account with credits. In EveryGen AI a 5-second clip costs between 80 and 400 credits depending on the model and resolution. The pricing page lists every rate.

Step 1: Choose text to video or image to video

There are two ways to start, and they suit different jobs.

• Text to video builds everything from your words. Use it when you have an idea but no picture, and when you want the model to invent the look.
• Image to video starts from an image you upload. Use it when the subject has to look exactly like something that exists: your product, your character, your photo. You can add a second image as the closing frame to control where the motion ends.

You can also attach reference images, clips or audio that guide the style, motion or rhythm without being used as a frame.

Step 2: Write the prompt

A good video prompt describes one shot the way a director would. This order works well:

1. Subject: who or what is in the shot. "A red fox cub"
2. Action: one clear thing that happens. "sniffs a glowing mushroom and jumps back"
3. Setting: where and when. "in a misty forest at night"
4. Camera: how the shot is filmed. "low angle, slow push-in"
5. Light and style: the look. "soft moonlight, 3D animated film style"
6. Sound: what we hear, if the model renders audio. "crickets and a soft magical chime"

Put together: "A red fox cub sniffs a glowing mushroom and jumps back, in a misty forest at night, low angle, slow push-in, soft moonlight, 3D animated film style, crickets and a soft magical chime."

In EveryGen AI you don't have to write the full prompt yourself. Type the short version, such as "a fox cub finding a glowing mushroom, Pixar-like", and the video agent expands it into a full shot description before rendering. The prompt library has more examples with the clips they produced.

Step 3: Pick the model and settings

The model decides how long, how sharp and how expensive the clip is. EveryGen AI offers two:

As a rule of thumb, pick MiniMax H3 for sharp 2K shots at a lower cost, and Seedance 2.5 for long takes. Then set the aspect ratio for where the video will be watched: 16:9 for YouTube and websites, 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, 1:1 for feeds.

Step 4: Generate and review

Send the prompt and wait for the render. In EveryGen AI the render keeps running if you close the tab, and the finished clip appears in the chat and in your library.

When you watch the result, check three things:

• Does the main action happen? If not, the prompt probably asks for too much.
• Does the subject hold its shape? Faces, hands and logos are where models slip most.
• Does the camera do what you asked? Camera words like "static", "slow pan" or "handheld" are often the easiest fix.

Step 5: Revise in plain words

Instead of rewriting the whole prompt, say what to change: "make the camera slower", "same shot at sunset", "make it 10 seconds". The agent keeps the rest of the shot, renders a new version and puts it next to the previous one, so you can compare takes.

Step 6: Download and edit

Every clip downloads as an MP4 with sound. For anything longer than a single clip, such as an ad, a short story or a music video, render each shot separately in the same chat and join them in a video editor. Add titles, logos and on-screen text in the editor too: lettering generated inside a video is often misspelled.

Common mistakes

• Too many actions in one shot. "She walks in, sits down, opens a letter and cries" is four shots. Render them one at a time.
• No camera direction. Without it, models pick their own movement, which may not fit the edit.
• Changing the description between shots. Copy the same character and style wording into every prompt to keep a series consistent.
• Expecting readable text. Plan to add text in post.

FAQ

How long does it take to make an AI video? Writing the prompt takes a minute. Render time depends on the model, length and how busy the provider is; you can leave the page while it renders.

Can AI make a long video? Not in one render. Clips are a few seconds to 30 seconds long, so longer videos are made shot by shot and edited together.

Do AI videos have sound? In EveryGen AI, yes: both models generate ambience, effects or music together with the picture.

Do I need to write prompts in English? English prompts are the most reliable for most models. In EveryGen AI you can describe the shot in your own language and the agent writes the model prompt for you.

Ready to try it? Start a video in EveryGen AI and describe your first shot.