AI Prompt Techniques for Creative Teams and Filmmakers

1. Start with:

"Let's think about this differently."

This pushes AI to stop giving obvious answers and start offering alternatives.

Examples:

• "Let's think about this differently. How would we shoot a product video that feels emotional, not technical?"

• "Let's think about this differently. How do we make a small budget feel premium?"

This prompt gets you options you can actually use.

2. Ask:

"What am I not seeing here?"

This is one of my personal favorites. Creative work is full of unseen constraints. Schedules. Sound contamination. Client expectations. Crew fatigue. Gear availability. Permissions. Weather.

Example:

"We are shooting in a small apartment. What am I not seeing here?"

You might get notes on:

• Tripod and crew movement space

• Heat from lights in a confined area

• Sound echo

• Power requirements and extension cable runs

This question saves time, money, and stress.

3. Say:

"Break this down for me."

Useful when something feels overwhelming, complex, or abstract. Useful when explaining things to clients or new team members.

Example:

"Break down how to explain LUTs and color grading to a client who has never touched a camera."

Now you get simple, clear language you can reuse.

4. Ask:

"What would you do in my shoes?"

This shifts the output from information to judgment. Judgment is the valuable part of creative work.

Example:

"We have a £15,000 budget for a brand film. What would you do in my shoes to get the best result?"

Expect responses that prioritize:

• Shooting fewer scenes with more care

• Good audio over extra props

• Strong talent over complicated set design

This is the kind of advice you normally get from someone who has already made a few expensive mistakes.

5. Use:

"Here’s what I’m really asking."

This cuts through polite or vague phrasing and gets to the root of the problem.

Example:

"How do we get more agency referrals?
Here’s what I’m really asking: how do we become the team people talk about when someone needs reliable delivery?"

This prompt gets answers that actually match your real intention.

6. End with:

"What else should I know?"

This is where the important small details show up. The things experience usually teaches the hard way.

Example:

"We are planning a night shoot in winter. What else should I know?"

You may get:

• Battery drain warnings

• Condensation considerations

• Crew warmth planning

• Transport timing issues at night

These reminders prevent problems before they start.

Why These Work

They shift AI from search engine mode into collaborator mode.

You stop getting lists and start getting perspective.

AI becomes useful not because it replaces your creativity, but because it strengthens your thinking. It helps you see around corners. It helps you plan smarter. It helps you communicate more clearly with your team and clients.

Try Combining Them

Here is how I usually do it:

"Let's think about this differently. We are planning a two-location documentary shoot with a small crew. What am I not seeing here? Break it down for me. What else should I know?"

This turns a question into a strategy.

Final Thought

Creative work is a long series of decisions. These prompts help you make those decisions with more confidence and less stress. They don’t replace talent, taste, or experience. They support them.