The Formula
Subject + Subject movement + Scene, then optionally Camera language + Lighting + Atmosphere (Kling's published text-to-video formula).
- Subject
- The main focus of the video, with a few concrete appearance details (clothing, hair, one distinguishing feature).
- Subject movement
- What the subject does, stated plainly: stillness or motion, ideally ending in a visible end state.
- Scene
- The environment the subject is in: place, time of day, weather.
- Camera language
- Optional. One camera move named in film terms, such as a slow dolly in or a handheld follow.
- Lighting
- Optional. Where the light comes from and its quality, such as warm interior light against a cold night outside.
- Atmosphere
- Optional. The mood and tone of the footage, kept to a short phrase.
The Rules
Lead with the subject
Open with who or what the clip is about and two or three concrete details. Kling's formula puts the subject first and everything else hangs off it.
Describe movement plainly
Kling's guide asks for straightforward descriptions of movement. Say what the subject does over the clip and where it ends up, not how it feels.
Use short declarative sentences
One idea per sentence keeps each part of the formula readable. Around 40 to 90 words is a good target for a single shot.
Name one camera move in film terms
Pick one move, such as a slow dolly in or a handheld follow from behind. Words like "dynamic" or "cinematic" on their own give the model nothing to execute.
Spend words on what changes
When you start from an image, the frame already shows what everything looks like. Describe the motion, the camera and the end state instead of re-describing the picture.
Leave dialogue out
Kling 3.0 does not speak lines, so quoted speech only costs prompt space and can push the clip toward a talking face with no voice. Describe the mouth and expression instead if the moment needs it.
Write for 5 or 10 seconds
Kling clips come in 5 and 10 second lengths only, and a 6 second shot is billed as 10 seconds. Size the action to the length you pick.
A Template You Can Copy
[Subject with two or three concrete details] in [scene, time of day]. [Subject movement over the clip, ending in a visible end state]. Camera performs a [one named move, such as slow dolly in] [toward or around what]. [Lighting]. Mood: [atmosphere in a few words].
A Real Example
The shot: Night, rain-streaked diner window. A woman in a red coat sits alone in the last booth, turning a ring on the table. Slow push in from the window. Mara says: "You kept it." (6 seconds, 16:9)
Woman in a red coat, dark hair, sits alone in the last booth of a diner at night, rain streaking down the window beside her. She slowly turns a ring between her fingers on the table, eyes lowered, lips pressed into a quiet, guarded line. Camera performs a slow dolly in from outside the window, moving through the rain-streaked glass toward her face and hands. Warm interior light glows against the cold blue night outside. Mood: tender, melancholic stillness.
It follows Kling's order: subject with concrete details, her movement with the ring, the scene, then one named camera move, lighting and a short mood line. The spoken line is dropped because Kling 3.0 does not speak, and her lips and lowered eyes carry the moment instead.
Dialogue
Kling 3.0 does not speak dialogue, so leave spoken lines and quotation marks out of the prompt. If the moment depends on a line, describe the speaker's mouth, expression and posture, then add the voice in your edit or use a model that speaks.
Camera Moves
| Move | How to write it for Kling 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Slow push in | Camera performs a slow dolly in toward her face and hands. |
| Forward move | The camera slowly advances forward along the platform. |
| Follow | Handheld follow from behind as he walks down the corridor. |
| Orbit | A circling camera shot captures the dancer as she turns. |
| Zoom | The camera zooms in on the lit window at the top of the tower. |
| Aerial | Aerial shot, waves pounding against the rocks below. |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Writing "cinematic, dynamic camera" and stopping there. | Name one move in film terms and say where it goes, such as "slow dolly in toward her hands". |
| Putting quoted dialogue in the prompt. | Remove the line. Describe the speaker's expression, then add speech in post or pick a model that speaks. |
| Re-describing everything the start image already shows. | Keep a few identifying details and use the rest of the prompt for motion, camera and end state. |
| Stacking several camera moves in one clip. | Use one move per clip. If you need two, generate two shots. |
| Planning a 6 or 7 second action. | Kling clips are 5 or 10 seconds, and a 6 second shot is billed as 10. Write the action to fit one of those lengths. |
Length, Resolution and Price
Kling 3.0 Pro makes 5 or 10 second clips up to 1080p at $0.112 per second, and Kling 3.0 Standard tops out at 720p at $0.084 per second; both prices are with sound off, and neither speaks dialogue. Kling 2.5 Turbo Pro renders without sound at 1080p for $0.07 per second, also in 5 and 10 second clips. All three take 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 (prices checked 2026-10-22). Every model side by side is on the model spec sheet.