One formula, one template, and three example prompts you can copy and adapt. Keep actions concrete, use one camera movement per shot, and change one thing at a time when you revise.
The formula
The 8-Part Formula
A production-ready Seedance 2.5 prompt should read like a compact director's brief, not a stack of cinematic adjectives. Put the non-negotiable facts first, then describe motion and timing, and finish with audio and constraints. A reliable order is: format → subject → action → environment → camera → look → timing → audio and constraints.
Prompt element
What to specify
Example instruction
1. Format
Duration, aspect ratio, shot structure
30 seconds, 16:9, four connected shots
2. Subject
Identity, wardrobe, product, or hero object
The same woman from @Image1 wearing the red jacket
3. Action
Visible movement with a clear start and finish
She opens the case, lifts the watch, and fastens it
4. Environment
Location, time, weather, practical details
Blue-hour rooftop with wet concrete and city reflections
5. Camera
Shot size, lens feel, movement, focus behavior
Medium close-up, slow clockwise orbit, shallow depth of field
6. Look
Lighting, palette, texture, realism level
Soft rim light, cool shadows, premium commercial realism
Dialogue, ambience, SFX, plus what must not change
Soft city ambience; keep logo and face consistent; no extra text or jump cuts
Keep actions concrete, and use one camera movement per shot.
Avoid conflicting instructions in the same prompt.
A simple shot only needs a few sentences.
For longer sequences, divide the action into timed sections.
Keep restrictions short and specific.
When revising, change one thing at a time.
Fill it in
Copy This Seedance 2.5 Prompt Template
Replace each bracket, then delete any part you don't need.
[Duration, aspect ratio, shot structure]. Use [@reference] as the consistent [character/product/location]. In [environment and time], the subject [precise action]. Camera: [shot size + movement + lens/focus]. Visual direction: [lighting + palette + texture + realism]. Timing: [beat 1] → [beat 2] → [beat 3] → [resolution]. Audio: [dialogue/ambience/SFX/music]. Preserve [identity, wardrobe, logo, object geometry]. Avoid [unwanted cuts, camera behavior, artifacts, extra objects, text].
Write observable instructions. "She turns toward the window and pauses" gives the model something to stage; "make it emotional and beautiful" does not. If an instruction is essential, state it once near the beginning and reinforce it in the relevant timed beat instead of repeating it everywhere.
Examples
Example Prompts to Copy and Adapt
Use these as structures, then replace the subject, references, setting, and brand details. Keeping the hierarchy intact is more important than preserving every adjective.
01 · Cinematic scene
Cinematic 30-Second Scene Prompt
30 seconds · 16:9 · four connected cinematic shots
30 seconds, 16:9, four connected cinematic shots. Keep the detective from @Image1 identical in face, charcoal coat, and hairstyle throughout. Night exterior on a rain-soaked train platform. 00–06s: wide establishing shot as the last train departs and reflections stretch across the platform. 06–14s: slow handheld medium shot following her toward an abandoned suitcase. 14–24s: controlled push-in as she opens it and warm light illuminates her face; rack focus from the brass latch to her eyes. 24–30s: close-up as she hears footsteps behind her and looks off-screen; cut to black on the sound cue. Cool cyan environment, warm practical suitcase light, grounded 35mm realism, natural motion blur. Audio: rain, distant rail noise, suitcase latch, one sharp footstep. No face drift, wardrobe changes, extra people, floating objects, subtitles, or abrupt camera spins.
02 · Product video
Product Video Prompt
20 seconds · 1:1 · premium product commercial
20 seconds, 1:1 premium product commercial. Use @Image1 as the exact smartwatch reference; preserve its logo, bezel, button placement, proportions, and screen design. 00–05s: macro shot of rain beads landing on the watch face against black stone. 05–12s: slow clockwise orbit as the display activates and blue interface light reflects on the metal edge. 12–17s: athlete fastens the watch before a dawn run; match cut from the circular display to the rising sun. 17–20s: locked hero pack shot with the logo facing camera and clean negative space on the right. High-contrast studio lighting, realistic metal and glass, smooth controlled motion. Audio: subtle water impact, soft electronic activation, restrained bass rise. No warped logo, extra buttons, changing strap color, unreadable text, or camera shake.
03 · Performance ad
Performance Ad Prompt
15 seconds · 9:16 vertical · three fast but coherent beats
15 seconds, 9:16 vertical direct-response ad, three fast but coherent beats. Keep the creator from @Image1 and the bottle from @Image2 consistent. 00–03s: handheld close-up, creator looks into camera and says, "My desk used to look like this by noon," while pointing to three empty cups. 03–10s: two match-cut demonstrations—pouring the drink over ice, then working calmly at the desk—with the bottle label always facing camera. 10–15s: clean pack shot beside the creator, gentle push-in, spoken CTA: "One bottle. No afternoon crash." Bright window light, authentic UGC texture, readable composition, beat-matched natural cuts. Preserve face, bottle shape, label colors, and hand anatomy. No extra fingers, label mutation, captions, background people, or floating props.
Choose a duration your generation interface actually supports, and match its settings to your prompt. Where an example uses @Image1 or @Image2, attach your own reference images and use whatever labels your interface assigns.
Adapting
Quick Way to Adapt These
Start with the closest example. Swap the subject and action first, then change the location and visual style. Read it back once as if you were filming it: can you picture what happens during every second? If not, add a timing beat until you can.
Formula and structure adapted from Dreamina's "Seedance 2.5 Prompt Guide" (dreamina.capcut.com), reviewed September 2026.
