Court close-ups of a clenched-jaw man and a woman holding back tears

I'm 100% convinced that more details = better performances from your AI actors.

I'm talking about giving detailed instructions on how they should breathe, blink, swallow, chew, step, smile, etc. AND explaining the underlying emotion behind it.

Yes, it might seem a little neurotic, but I ALWAYS end up with the exact emotion I want this way. It might take a few tries to find the right wording, but the winning prompt is always a highly detailed one.

Here's an example from a previous project.

This shot takes place during a court proceeding. And I'm sure that you'd be able to tell who's the defendant vs. the plaintiff just based on the emotions alone.

For the man's closeup, here's the part of the prompt that did the heavy lifting:

He stares straight ahead, stone-faced. His jaw is set tight. He is trying his best to project calm but his body betrays him. He hyperfixates on something out in the distance, his eyes do not move and he does not blink. He moistens his lips, swallows once, then the tension in his jaw resets. His nostrils flare slightly with a controlled exhale. His entire demeanor is that of someone hearing something he disagrees with but cannot respond to.

And for the woman:

She is barely holding it together. Her nostrils flare slightly as she takes a slow, controlled breath in through her nose. Her throat moves as she swallows once. Her eyes glisten but she blinks once, slowly, and deliberately like someone forcing the tears back. After she blinks her gaze drops — her eyes lower, her chin dips, her whole head tilts downward until she is looking at her own lap. She takes another breath — this one shakier than the first, her chest rising and falling visibly. She keeps her head down, eyes cast toward her hands. She is a woman who cannot watch anymore.

Make note of how I used anchor gestures (“like someone forcing the tears back,” “someone hearing something he disagrees with but cannot respond to”) and bodily actions (“slow, controlled breath,” “moistens his lips, swallows once,” “the tension in his jaw resets”).

Also notice how these aren't big, dramatic emotions but more subtle ones where you'd feel as though you can read what's on the person's mind.

And for me, that's what makes a performance feel truly convincing.

Aaaaand I should also mention that this is an old project from way back in April, made with Kling 3, before I started using my current prompt structure, which includes even more details and context.

So yes. If you think you're detailed enough but your outputs don't feel convincing...

....you know what to try next!