Camera Movement

Overview

Camera Movement in ACT 3 AI refers to how the virtual camera travels through a scene during a shot. By defining movement, you can control pacing, emotion, and perspective, just like in traditional cinematography. These instructions are entered as part of camera instructions in the Editor workspace or shot prompts.

Why It Matters

• Establishes mood (e.g., slow dolly = dramatic tension, shaky cam = chaos).
• Guides audience focus to key elements.
• Creates cinematic flow between scenes and shots.
• Matches genre conventions (handheld for horror, Steadicam for action, aerials for epics).

Supported Camera Movements

• Pan – Rotate left/right from a fixed point.
• Tilt – Move camera angle up/down while staying in place.
• Dolly – Move camera closer/further (in/out) along rails.
• Truck (Tracking) – Move camera sideways (left/right).
• Crane / Jib – Lift camera up/down smoothly.
• Handheld – Shaky movement simulating handheld rigs.
• Steadicam – Smooth movement following a subject.
• Zoom – Change focal length (not physical movement, but often combined).
• Rack Focus with Movement – Shift focus while moving toward/away from subject.
• Drone / Aerial – Simulate overhead or sweeping drone shots.

How to Use in ACT 3 AI

1. Open your Editor or Storyboard.
2. Select a shot and enter movement into the prompt (e.g., “dolly in on hero’s face as music swells”).
3. Choose rendering engine (Google Veo 3, Runway Integration, WAN AI Integration).
4. Preview the movement in Timeline or generate a draft preview.
5. Adjust prompt wording until you achieve the desired look.

Example Prompts

• “Tracking shot following the character down a neon-lit alley, Steadicam smoothness.”
• “Slow dolly in toward the table as the detective reveals the evidence.”
• “Handheld close-up of astronaut breathing heavily, shaky and tense.”
• “Drone aerial sweeping across desert landscape at sunset.”

Integration with Workflow

• Script Editor – Add movement notes in parentheticals.
• Top-Down View – Place cameras and draw paths to simulate dolly/tracking shots.
• Storyboards & Panels – Visualize movement frame by frame.
• Build Video – Finalize sequence flow with multiple moving shots.

Best Practices

• Keep movement instructions short and cinematic (10–15 words).
• Match movement to emotion — fast pans for urgency, slow dollies for intimacy.
• Break complex movements into multiple shots rather than one overloaded prompt.
• Use timeline scrub to refine pacing between movements.

Troubleshooting

• Movement feels unnatural → Try simpler instructions or break into two shots.
• AI ignores camera direction → Use standard cinematography terms (pan, tilt, dolly).
• Too much shake in handheld → Specify “light handheld” vs “intense shaky cam.”

See Also

• Camera Instructions
• Shot Prompting
• Shots · Scenes · Story Beats
• Storyboard & Panels
• Top-Down View
• Google Veo 3 Integration
• Runway Integration
• WAN AI Integration

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