Where you can use Sora 2 today
The official Sora 2 rollout is invite-only, so the fastest route is to pair OpenAI's access path with an instant alternative. Choose the flow that matches your current stage.
OpenAI platform
Requires an invite code plus an active ChatGPT Plus plan. Access Sora 2 inside the official workspace once approved.
Nanobana instant access
Skip the waitlist. Use Nanobana.net to create and edit Sora 2 videos immediately with battle-tested prompt templates.
Need the invite strategies?
We maintain a living guide that tracks legitimate invite-code drops across Discord, X, Reddit, and partnered communities.
Sora 2 prompt writing techniques
Treat every prompt like directions to a film crew that has never seen your storyboard. Specific visual language plus intentional structure produces reliable footage.
Prompt mindset
Your instructions are a creative wish list, not a contract. Give Sora 2 the critical beats and visuals, then leave room for cinematic interpretation.
✖ Beautiful night street
✔ Wet asphalt with zebra crossings, neon signage rippling across puddles, warm shopfront glow spilling into the frame
Eight core elements to cover
Time
- Duration window (5s, 10s, 15s)
- Time of day & season
- Pacing: slow, energetic, contemplative
Scene
- Location type & environment
- Weather and spatial scale
- Signature background textures
Objects
- Primary props with materials
- Supporting elements and placement
- Texture, wear, reflections
Characters
- Age, silhouette, styling
- Wardrobe palette & accessories
- Emotion and body language
Action
- Primary motion beats
- Timing in steps or counts
- Interactions with environment
Camera
- Shot size & angle
- Movement: tracking, dolly, orbit
- Depth of field callout
Lighting & palette
- Key/fill/rim setup
- Color anchors (3–5 hues)
- Atmospheric conditions
Effects & tone
- Particles, lens effects
- Mood & genre references
- Continuity notes
Break motion into beats: "Actor takes four deliberate steps toward the bay window, pauses, then closes the curtain in the final second." Numbers anchor timing for the model.
Camera & framing checklist
- Shot size — close-up, MCU, wides
- Movement — static, tracking, handheld, orbit
- Angle — eye level, low, high, bird's eye
- Depth — shallow focus for dreamy looks, deep focus for geography
Lighting example
Soft north-facing window light as the key, warm practical lamp as fill, cool hallway rim light to carve the silhouette. Palette: amber, cream, walnut brown, slate blue.
Reference image playbook
- Lock character styling with a headshot or costume reference
- Pin environments (set design, props) to keep continuity
- Bring concept art for target mood or rendering style
- Combine image stacks to merge multiple influences
Dialogue pacing
Keep dialogue concise. For 4-second clips aim for one exchange; 8 seconds supports up to four short lines. Label each speaker for clarity.
Dialogue: - Detective: "You're lying — silence gives you away." - Suspect: "Or maybe I'm just tired of talking." - Detective: "Either way, you'll talk before sunrise."
Atmosphere & effects
- Lighting accents: lens flares, volumetric beams, caustics
- Particles: drifting dust, rain bands, ember trails
- Color grading: film stock references, contrast notes
- Special treatments: slow motion, timelapse, motion blur
Structured prompt template
Drop this block into your favorite chat model or directly inside Sora 2. Fill in the placeholders, then iterate by swapping sections instead of rewriting everything from scratch.
[TITLE]
{Short cinematic title}
[STYLE & TONE]
{Overall aesthetic, e.g., 1970s romantic drama on 35mm film}
[SCENE]
Time: {Time of day, season, duration}
Location: {Where the action plays out}
Environment: {Weather, lighting, ambience}
[SUBJECTS]
Character: {Age, appearance, wardrobe}
Objects: {Key props with details}
[CAMERA]
Shot Type: {Close-up, wide, medium}
Angle: {Eye-level, low, high}
Movement: {Static, tracking, dolly, orbit}
Depth: {Shallow or deep focus}
[ACTION]
- {Beat 1: precise motion with counts}
- {Beat 2}
- {Beat 3}
[LIGHTING & COLOR]
Light Sources: {Key/fill/rim setup}
Color Palette: {3–5 defined colors}
[DIALOGUE]
- Character A: "{Line}"
- Character B: "{Line}"
[MOOD & EFFECTS]
Atmosphere: {Vibe or emotion}
Effects: {Particles, lens, grading notes}Pro tips, example & cheat sheet
Do this
- Lead with the visuals that matter most
- Write with production language (lenses, wardrobe, mood)
- Balance detail with creative breathing room
- Iterate in layers instead of rebuilding entire prompts
- Log winning prompts to build a reusable library
Avoid
- Over-specify every pixel — Sora still needs room
- Rely on vague adjectives like "nice" or "cool"
- Mix clashing aesthetics inside the same brief
- Request resolution, frame rate, or codec
- Contradict continuity between shots
Optimised structured prompt
SCENE: Tokyo street at night, neon signage reflecting on rain-soaked asphalt TIME: 10 PM, 10-second shot, measured pacing CHARACTER: Stylish woman in her late twenties - Black leather jacket over a flowing crimson dress - Glossy black ankle boots, black clutch bag - Sunglasses and red lipstick - Confident, unhurried energy CAMERA: Medium tracking shot from a slight three-quarter angle - Eye-level perspective - Smooth lateral tracking locked to her walking speed - Shallow depth of field with neon bokeh ACTION: - Takes four relaxed steps, heels clicking on wet pavement - Glances toward a boutique window for a two-count - Resumes walking as taxis blur past in the background LIGHTING & COLOR: - Warm magenta and amber neon washing the scene - Soft blue practicals adding contrast in the distance - Palette anchor: black, crimson, amber, electric blue, magenta ATMOSPHERE: Cinematic, fashion-forward Tokyo nightlife EFFECTS: Subtle steam threads rising from street grates
Element
- Time
- Scene
- Objects
- Characters
- Action
- Camera
- Lighting
- Effects
Questions
- When and how long does this unfold?
- Where are we and what stands out?
- What physical details anchor the world?
- Who shows up and how do they present?
- What happens beat by beat?
- How are we filming it?
- How is the scene lit and colored?
- Any extra treatments or mood cues?
Next steps
- Start with a small scene and test two variations
- Log results to understand which elements move the needle
- Pair structured prompts with image references for continuity
- Automate prompt assembly with your favourite LLM
Launch your next Sora 2 concept now
Use the invite playbook to unlock official access or jump straight into Nanobana's Sora 2 workspace for instant production-level tooling.