Cinematic Lighting Prompt Framework for AI Filmmakers

A simple framework for prompting cinematic lighting: SOURCE → DIRECTION → HEIGHT → QUALITY → SHADOW → FILL → BACKGROUND Weak prompt: "Cinematic portrait, dramatic lighting." Better prompt: "Medium close-up of a man seated in a dark office. Large soft key from camera-left, slightly above eye level, gradual shadow falloff across the opposite cheek, minimal frontal fill, natural catchlight in the eyes, realistic skin texture, warm desk lamp in the background, background darker than the subject." Rule: Do not write the lighting as an isolated keyword list. Put it inside the full scene prompt: Shot + subject + action + environment + lighting + camera behavior.