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How to Set Up a Shot

Goal: Define a specific shot so that when the AI renders it, you get the image you had in your head — the right angle, the right framing, the right action.

Every rendered clip in ACT3 AI starts as a shot definition. The more clearly you define the shot, the more accurately the AI renders it.

Steps​

  1. Navigate to the scene. In the left navigation, go to the scene where this shot belongs.

  2. Add a new shot. In the scene's shot list, click + Add Shot. A new shot panel opens.

  3. Set the shot type. In the Camera tab, choose from 22 standard shot types — Wide Shot, Medium Shot, Close-Up, Over the Shoulder, POV, Bird's Eye View, Dutch Angle, and more. Pick the one that serves the story moment.

  4. Set the framing subject. Specify who or what is being framed — a character name, "the door," "the crowd." This tells the AI where to focus the camera.

  5. Write the action description. In the action field, describe what happens in the shot. Be specific: "Marcus turns to face the window, his reflection visible in the glass." Vague descriptions produce vague results.

  6. Set camera movement. Go to the Motion tab. Choose the camera move — Static, Pan, Tilt, Dolly, Track, Crane, Handheld — or leave it static if nothing moves.

  7. Check the lighting. The shot inherits the scene's lighting setup. If this shot needs different lighting, override it in the Lighting tab.

  8. Review the assembled AI prompt. The Prompt tab shows you the full text the AI will use to generate this shot. You can read it, edit specific parts, or leave it as generated.

  9. Generate the shot. Click Generate and choose a quality level — Draft (fast, lower quality) or Standard/High (slower, better). The shot renders and appears in the timeline.

Next steps​