Video Editing AI Prompts
2 ready-to-use prompts — pick a tool, copy, and go
Prompt Templates by Tool
Why ChatGPT?
ChatGPT can't edit video directly, but it excels as a creative directing partner — describing the exact cuts, transitions, pacing, and music cues you need in language your editor (human or AI tool like CapCut/Adobe Premiere) can act on immediately.
Learn more about ChatGPT → Prompt Template
You are a professional video editor and director. I'm going to describe my raw footage and the final video I want to create, and you'll give me a complete editing plan I can follow or hand to an editor.
Raw footage description: {{footage_description}}
Video purpose: {{video_purpose}}
Target platform: {{platform}}
Target duration: {{target_duration}}
Desired mood/pacing: {{mood_pacing}}
Music direction: {{music_direction}}
Create an editing plan with:
1. **Structure** — Recommended sequence with timestamps/clip markers (e.g. 'Clip 1: 0:00-0:08, open on...')
2. **Cut decisions** — Which footage to keep, which to cut, and why
3. **Transitions** — Specific transition type for each major cut (cut, dissolve, J-cut, L-cut, match cut, etc.) with explanation of why it serves the mood
4. **Pacing notes** — Where to speed up, slow down, or hold on a frame
5. **Color grade direction** — Describe the LUT or color treatment in adjective form (e.g. 'desaturated with lifted blacks and teal shadows')
6. **Music placement** — When music starts, when it swells, when to cut to beat
If you need more footage information to make better decisions, ask me before creating the plan.
Do NOT give generic editing advice. Every recommendation should be specific to my footage. Make it yours Fill in 6 fields to get a tailored prompt Customize ↓
Example (filled in)
Footage: 8 clips total. Clip 1: barista hands close-up pouring latte art (12s). Clip 2: exterior coffee shop door opening (6s). Clip 3: customer first sip reaction, genuine smile (8s). Clip 4: coffee beans overhead flat lay (5s). Clip 5: interior ambience, warm light, full shop (10s). Clip 6: espresso machine steam (7s). Clip 7: two friends laughing at a table (9s). Clip 8: shop name sign exterior (4s).
Purpose: Instagram Reel for coffee shop opening day
Platform: Instagram Reels
Target duration: 30 seconds
Mood: warm, inviting, premium but approachable
Music: lo-fi hip hop with a slight beat drop around second 15
Sample AI Output
Structure:
0:00-0:03 — Clip 6 (espresso steam) trimmed to 3s. Open with texture and anticipation, no context yet.
0:03-0:07 — Clip 1 (latte art pour) trimmed to 4s. The payoff to the steam.
0:07-0:10 — Clip 4 (beans flat lay) trimmed to 3s. Beat hold before the energy shift.
0:10-0:16 — Clip 5 (interior ambience) at 6s. Slow pan through, let the space breathe before the drop.
0:16-0:22 — Beat drop: cut to Clip 2 (door opening) + Clip 3 (customer smile) back to back, 3s each. Fast energy.
0:22-0:27 — Clip 7 (friends laughing) 5s. Emotional resolution — this is why the place exists.
0:27-0:30 — Clip 8 (sign) 3s. Hold on sign for name recognition. Freeze frame or slow push in.
Transitions: Steam→pour: hard cut (rhythm). Pour→beans: slow dissolve (calm). Beans→interior: L-cut (audio from interior plays under beans). Interior→door: hard cut on beat drop. Door→smile: match cut on 'open' energy.
Color grade: warm grade — lifted shadows to amber, slight highlight pull, gentle green desaturation. Reference: VSCOcam A4 preset direction.
Tips for Better Results
Give ChatGPT the exact clip lengths and describe what's visually happening in each — the more specific your footage description, the more precise the edit plan. Export this plan as a simple text file to share with a human editor or use as a CapCut storyboard guide.
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