These are fill-in-the-blank prompt skeletons for Runway Gen-4.5. Each one is a real, complete prompt with [BRACKETED] slots where you drop in your own subject, action, camera move, lighting and aspect ratio. Copy a template, swap the brackets, delete the brackets, and paste it into Runway.
Every template already follows the order Runway rewards — subject → action → setting → camera move → lighting → style — so you don't have to think about structure, only about content. There are 18 below, grouped by shot type.
How to use these templates
Pick a template that matches your shot. Replace each [SLOT] with a concrete detail — "a woman in a red raincoat," not "a person." Keep one action and one camera move per clip; save sequenced events for a 10-second render. For a full lookup of camera moves, lighting terms and aspect ratios, keep the Runway prompt cheat sheet open in a second tab, and see how to prompt Runway for realistic video for the reasoning behind the formula.
Here is Template 1 with a worked example directly under it so you can see the pattern before you start swapping brackets yourself.
Cinematic & b-roll templates
Wide, atmospheric shots and texture b-roll. These lean on a strong establishing subject plus a single deliberate camera move.
1. Cinematic establishing shot
[SUBJECT with appearance detail] stands in [SETTING], [ACTION]. Slow [CAMERA MOVE, e.g. crane up] revealing [WHAT COMES INTO FRAME]. [LIGHTING, e.g. golden hour backlight], volumetric haze, cinematic color grade, shot on [FILM LOOK, e.g. 35mm anamorphic]. 21:9, 10s.Fill in: subject + appearance, setting, action, camera move, what the move reveals, lighting, film look.
Filled-in example:
A lone hiker in a yellow shell jacket stands on a granite ridge, looking out over the valley. Slow crane up revealing a layered range of snow peaks behind her. Golden hour backlight, volumetric haze, cinematic color grade, shot on 35mm anamorphic. 21:9, 10s.Why it works: one subject, one crane move, one reveal — Gen-4.5 handles the timing cleanly.
2. Slow push-in reveal
[SUBJECT] in [SETTING], [SMALL ACTION or expression]. Slow dolly push-in from a wide shot to a [SHOT SIZE, e.g. medium close-up], holding focus on [FOCAL POINT]. [LIGHTING, e.g. soft window light], shallow depth of field, muted cinematic palette. 16:9, 5s.Fill in: subject, setting, small action, ending shot size, focal point, lighting.
3. Atmospheric b-roll texture
Extreme close-up of [TEXTURE/MATERIAL, e.g. rain hitting a car window], [MOTION of the texture]. Locked-off macro lens, [LIGHTING, e.g. cool neon reflections] bokeh in the background, slow shutter feel, moody cinematic b-roll. 16:9, 5s.Fill in: texture/material, how it moves, lighting/background.
Best for: cutaways and transitions. For more of these, see the 35 best Runway prompts.
Product & ad templates
Hero shots and short ad spots. Keep the product motion simple and let the camera do the work.
4. Product hero orbit
[PRODUCT with material/color detail] on a [SURFACE], centered. Smooth 180-degree orbit around the product, keeping it sharp and centered. [LIGHTING, e.g. soft studio key with hard rim light], seamless [BACKGROUND COLOR] backdrop, glossy reflections, premium commercial look. 1:1, 5s.Fill in: product + material/color, surface, lighting, background color.
5. Lifestyle product-in-use
[PERSON] [USING THE PRODUCT, specific action] in [REAL SETTING]. Handheld tracking shot following the [PRODUCT], natural [LIGHTING, e.g. bright morning daylight], warm authentic tones, aspirational lifestyle ad. 9:16, 5s.Fill in: person, exact action with the product, setting, lighting.
6. Vertical ad hook (first 2 seconds)
Fast whip pan landing on [PRODUCT] as [ATTENTION-GRABBING ACTION, e.g. liquid splashes around it]. Snappy motion, high-key studio lighting, punchy saturated colors, vertical social ad energy. 9:16, 5s.Fill in: product, the eye-catching action.
Best for: the scroll-stopping opener of a TikTok or Reels spot.
Image-to-video motion templates — motion only
Upload your still, then use these. Because the image already sets subject, color, lighting and composition, the prompt describes motion only — the camera move plus how the scene animates. Do not re-describe what's already in the frame.
7. Portrait motion (image-to-video)
Subject slowly [SUBTLE HEAD/EYE MOVEMENT, e.g. turns to face camera and blinks], [HAIR/CLOTHING drifts in a light breeze]. Gentle handheld micro-movement, slow push-in. 5s.Fill in: subtle head/eye movement, any breeze on hair or clothing.
8. Product spin (image-to-video)
Product rotates slowly clockwise on its axis, [REFLECTION/HIGHLIGHT travels across the surface]. Camera holds a locked-off close-up. 5s.Fill in: how the highlight or reflection moves as it spins.
9. Landscape drift (image-to-video)
[SKY ELEMENT, e.g. clouds] drift slowly across the frame, [FOREGROUND MOTION, e.g. grass sways in the wind]. Slow aerial push forward over the scene. 10s.Fill in: which sky element drifts, what moves in the foreground.
Why it works: only motion is specified, so Runway animates your image without redrawing it. More at the Runway roundup.
Character & dialogue templates
Consistent characters, emotion and speech. Gen-4.5 holds a character across shots; use Act-Two and Lip Sync for performance.
10. Character close-up emotion
Close-up of [CHARACTER with appearance detail], expression shifting from [EMOTION A] to [EMOTION B], [SMALL GESTURE, e.g. a single tear falls]. Very slow push-in, [LIGHTING, e.g. soft chiaroscuro key from the left], shallow focus, emotional cinematic tone. 16:9, 5s.Fill in: character, starting emotion, ending emotion, gesture, lighting.
11. Character dialogue (Act-Two / Lip Sync)
Medium shot of [CHARACTER] speaking directly to camera, [BODY LANGUAGE, e.g. leaning in, hands gesturing]. Locked-off framing, [SETTING] softly blurred behind, [LIGHTING, e.g. warm practical lamps]. 16:9, 10s.Fill in: character, body language, setting, lighting — then add the spoken line with Lip Sync.
12. Two-character interaction
[CHARACTER A] and [CHARACTER B] [SHARED ACTION, e.g. shake hands and turn toward each other] in [SETTING]. Slow tracking shot moving between them, [LIGHTING], filmic depth, consistent character design. 16:9, 10s.Fill in: both characters, the shared action, setting, lighting.
Best for: story beats where two consistent characters share a moment.
Nature, action & vertical social templates
Wildlife, movement and vertical clips for social — plus food, abstract and weather to round out the set.
13. Nature / wildlife
[ANIMAL with detail] [NATURAL BEHAVIOR, e.g. drinks from a river] in [HABITAT]. Slow telephoto tracking shot following the [ANIMAL], [LIGHTING, e.g. soft overcast light], nature documentary realism, believable fur and water physics. 16:9, 10s.Fill in: animal, natural behavior, habitat, lighting.
14. Action / sports
[ATHLETE/SUBJECT] [FAST ACTION, e.g. sprints and leaps a hurdle] across [SETTING]. Low-angle tracking shot, motion blur on the background, [LIGHTING, e.g. hard afternoon sun], dynamic sports-film energy. 16:9, 5s.Fill in: athlete, the fast action, setting, lighting.
15. Vertical social lifestyle
[PERSON] [EVERYDAY ACTION, e.g. sips coffee and smiles] in [COZY SETTING]. Handheld selfie-style framing with gentle sway, [LIGHTING, e.g. warm morning light], soft film grain, relatable vertical vlog look. 9:16, 5s.Fill in: person, everyday action, setting, lighting.
16. Food / macro
Macro shot of [DISH/DRINK], [APPETIZING MOTION, e.g. steam rising and sauce dripping]. Slow tilt down across the plate, [LIGHTING, e.g. soft side light], rich saturated color, glossy food-commercial finish. 9:16, 5s.Fill in: dish or drink, the mouth-watering motion, lighting.
17. Abstract / motion graphics
[ABSTRACT ELEMENT, e.g. iridescent liquid metal] slowly [MOTION, e.g. folds and ripples] against a [BACKGROUND COLOR] void. Slow orbit, [LIGHTING, e.g. neon rim light], glossy reflections, high-end motion-graphics loop. 1:1, 5s.Fill in: abstract element, its motion, background color, lighting.
18. Weather / atmosphere
[SETTING] as [WEATHER EVENT, e.g. fog rolls in / rain begins to fall], [ATMOSPHERIC MOTION]. Slow drone pull-out revealing the wider scene, [LIGHTING, e.g. moody blue-hour tones], volumetric god rays, cinematic realism. 21:9, 10s.Fill in: setting, weather event, atmospheric motion, lighting.
Best for: mood-setting openers and transitions. Once your slots are filled, the same six-part order applies to every shot — see the full formula if a render comes back muddy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use a fill-in-the-blank Runway template?
Copy the template, then replace every [BRACKETED] slot with your own specifics — subject, action, camera move, lighting and aspect ratio. Delete the brackets themselves and paste the finished line into Runway's prompt box.
Do I keep the square brackets in my final prompt?
No. The brackets are placeholders. Runway reads them as literal text, so remove them once you've written in your own words.
Which template order does Runway prefer?
Runway Gen-4.5 rewards subject and appearance first, then action, then setting, camera move, lighting and finally style. The templates here already follow that order, so you only need to fill the slots.
What do I put in the image-to-video templates?
Motion only. The uploaded image already defines subject, color, lighting and composition, so those templates ask only for camera movement and how the scene animates. Do not re-describe what is already visible.
How long should the clip be?
Use 5 seconds for a single action and camera move, and 10 seconds when the template has sequenced events. Set the duration in Runway; the [10s] note in a template is a reminder, not a command.
Can I combine two templates into one prompt?
Keep it to one clear action and one camera move per short clip. Rather than merging templates, generate each shot separately and extend or cut them together into a sequence.