Cinematography
ACT3 AI gives you full cinematography control through written instructions that direct AI rendering engines. From camera angles and camera movement to lenses, depth of field, and visual style, you define the cinematic language of your project shot by shot.
The 22 Standard Shot Types
ACT3 AI includes 22 standard shot types in the Cinematography panel. Each maps to a camera curve template that drives the AI generation:
| Shot Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Extreme Wide | Establishes location; subject tiny in frame |
| Wide | Full subject visible; environment prominent |
| Medium Wide | Subject from thighs up |
| Medium | Subject from waist up |
| Medium Close-Up | Subject from chest up |
| Close-Up | Face or object fills frame |
| Extreme Close-Up | Detail — eyes, hands, small props |
| Over-the-Shoulder | Camera behind one character, facing another |
| POV | Camera sees what the character sees |
| Two-Shot | Two characters together in frame |
| Insert | Isolated detail cut |
| Cutaway | Brief contextual visual |
| Bird's-Eye | Directly overhead |
| Worm's-Eye | Extreme low angle |
| Dutch Angle | Camera tilted on roll axis — creates tension or unease |
| Aerial | Sweeping overhead, drone-style |
| Tracking | Camera moves parallel to subject |
| Crane | Camera rises or descends smoothly |
| Dolly | Camera physically moves toward or away from subject |
| Steadicam | Smooth, alive movement following a character |
| Handheld | Slight natural shake — urgency or documentary feel |
| Rack Focus | Focus shifts between near and far subjects during the shot |
POV Shot
Select POV as the shot type in the Cinematography panel and assign the character whose perspective you want. In the shot prompt, describe what they see and how they are moving. The camera is positioned at eye level representing that character's viewpoint.
Dutch Angle
A Dutch angle tilts the camera on its roll axis so the horizon is diagonal rather than level. Use it to create unease, psychological tension, or disorientation in thriller or horror scenes. Select Dutch Angle in the Cinematography panel and adjust the roll degree.
Rack Focus
Select Rack Focus as the shot type and set the near and far focus subjects in the Cinematography panel. Specify in the shot prompt when the focus shift happens — for example: "focus pulls from foreground glass to character in background as she begins speaking."
Dolly vs Zoom
A dolly physically moves the camera toward or away from the subject, changing the perspective and depth relationship. A zoom changes the focal length optically, keeping the camera stationary but making the subject appear closer or farther. They produce visually distinct results. The Hitchcock dolly-zoom combines both simultaneously — dollying out while zooming in — for a vertigo effect.
Camera Angles
The camera angle determines the emotional weight and perspective of a shot:
| Angle | Effect | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Eye Level | Neutral, balanced | Dialogue, neutral narrative |
| High Angle | Subject appears smaller, weaker | Vulnerability, surveillance |
| Low Angle | Subject appears powerful, dominant | Villains, heroes, authority |
| Over-the-Shoulder | Spatial intimacy, dialogue focus | Conversation scenes |
| Dutch Tilt | Unease, tension, instability | Psychological thrillers, horror |
| Bird's Eye View | Isolation, geometry, scale | Overhead reveals, establishing |
| Worm's Eye | Extreme intensity, surrealism | Unique perspective shots |
| POV | First-person immersion | Character perspective |
Camera Movement
Movement guides audience attention and creates emotional rhythm:
| Movement | Description | Emotional Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Static | Camera holds completely still | Stability, tension in stillness |
| Pan | Rotates horizontally from fixed point | Reveals space, follows action |
| Tilt | Rotates vertically from fixed point | Follows height or movement |
| Dolly In | Camera physically moves closer | Intimacy, building tension |
| Dolly Out | Camera moves away | Isolation, revelation |
| Tracking | Camera moves parallel to subject | Follows character through space |
| Crane / Jib | Camera rises or descends | Epic reveals, transition to overview |
| Handheld | Slight natural shake | Documentary feel, chaos, urgency |
| Steadicam | Smooth but alive movement | Action, following a character |
| Drone / Aerial | Sweeping overhead movement | Scale, establishing, cinematic openers |
| Zoom | Focal length change | Emphasis, unease when combined with dolly |
Lenses and Focus
Lens choice changes how a scene feels:
- Wide angle (24mm and below) — Expands space, emphasizes environment, slight edge distortion
- Normal (35–50mm) — Close to human vision, naturalistic and versatile
- Portrait / Short telephoto (85mm) — Flattering compression, shallow depth of field
- Telephoto (135mm+) — Strong compression, isolates subjects, brings distant elements together
Depth of field settings:
- Shallow focus — Subject is sharp, background blurred (bokeh) — draws attention to subject
- Deep focus — Everything in frame is sharp — used in documentary and drama
- Rack focus — Focus shifts from one subject to another during a shot — reveals relationships
Lighting Instructions
Lighting is specified in your shot prompt or through the lighting presets panel.
Lighting types:
- Key Light — Main source that defines subject shape and shadow direction
- Fill Light — Softens shadows, reduces contrast
- Back Light / Rim — Separates subject from background, creates edge definition
- Practical Lights — Lamps, neon signs, candles visible in frame
- Environmental / Ambient — Sky, moonlight, bounce from walls
Mood descriptors to use in prompts:
- Golden hour — warm, directional, magical
- Blue hour — cool, quiet, transitional
- Overcast — soft, even, no hard shadows
- Night / tungsten — warm yellows, deep shadows
- Neon / Cyberpunk — colored practicals, urban night
- Film Noir — high contrast, deep shadows, venetian blind light patterns
- Studio — clean, controlled, commercial
Cinematic Style Presets
Apply a global visual style to your project from the Style Presets panel:
- Film and Cinema — Cinematic color science, grain, subtle vignette
- Noir — High contrast, desaturated or monochrome palette
- Documentary — Natural color, slight handheld feel, available light
- Sci-Fi Epic — Cool blues, lens flares, expansive wide shots
- Warm Drama — Warm palette, shallow focus, naturalistic lighting
- Marketing High-Impact — High saturation, fast edits, bold color
Presets apply across all shots in the project by default, with per-shot overrides available.
Writing Camera Instructions in Shot Prompts
Combine angle + movement + lens + lighting into a single concise prompt:
- "Slow dolly in on protagonist, low angle, noir lighting, 85mm lens, shallow focus."
- "Wide establishing aerial drone shot of futuristic city, golden hour, cinematic."
- "Handheld close-up of astronaut breathing heavily inside helmet, shallow depth of field, tense."
- "Tracking shot down neon alley, Steadicam smoothness, cyan and magenta color grade."
Keep camera instructions under 20 words. Add subject and mood details separately.
Top-Down View for Camera Blocking
Use the Top-Down View to plan camera positions and blocking before generating video with AI Video Generation:
- Open the editor and select Top-Down View from the toolbar
- Place camera tokens on the 2D layout map
- Set orientation arrows to define shot direction and focal length
- Draw movement paths for dolly and tracking shots
- Sync adjustments to the Timeline before generating
Planning in Top-Down View saves credits by reducing trial renders.
Troubleshooting
Camera moves are being ignored — Use precise standard terms (dolly, pan, tilt) instead of vague phrases like "move the camera around."
Lighting looks flat — Add mood descriptors in your prompt or apply a LUT preset in the Style Presets panel.
Angles feel unnatural — Use one angle per shot rather than combining multiple competing angles in a single prompt.
Too much camera shake — Specify "light handheld" or switch to Steadicam in your prompt.