Sora Video Generation Skill
Creates or manages short video clips for the current project (product demos, marketing spots, cinematic shots, UI mocks). Defaults to sora-2 and a structured prompt augmentation workflow, and prefers the bundled CLI for deterministic runs. Note: $sora is a skill tag in prompts, not a shell command.
When to use Generate a new video clip from a prompt Remix an existing video by ID Poll status, list jobs, or download assets (video/thumbnail/spritesheet) Batch runs (many prompts or variants) Decision tree (create vs remix vs status/download vs batch) If the user has a video id and wants a change → remix If the user has a video id and wants status or assets → status/poll/download If the user needs many prompts/assets → create-batch If the user asks for two versions with a small change (same shot, different subject/detail) → create the base, then remix for the variation Otherwise → create (or create-and-poll if they need a ready asset in one step) Workflow Decide intent: create vs remix vs status/download vs batch. Collect inputs: prompt, model, size, seconds, and any input reference image. If batch: write a temporary JSONL under tmp/ (one job per line), run once, then delete the JSONL. Prefer CLI augmentation flags (--use-case, --scene, --camera, etc.) instead of pre-writing a structured prompt. If you already produced a structured prompt file, pass --no-augment to avoid double-wrapping. Run the bundled CLI (scripts/sora.py) with sensible defaults (see references/cli.md). For long prompts, prefer --prompt-file to avoid shell-escaping issues; pair with --no-augment if the prompt is already structured. For async jobs, poll until complete (or use create-and-poll). Download assets (video/thumbnail/spritesheet) and save locally. Remove intermediate files created during invocation (for example prompt.txt, remix_job.json, temp JSONL). If the sandbox blocks rm, skip cleanup or truncate the files without surfacing an error. Iterate with a single targeted change per prompt. Authentication OPENAI_API_KEY must be set for live API calls.
If the key is missing, give the user these steps:
Create an API key in the OpenAI platform UI: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys Set OPENAI_API_KEY as an environment variable in their system. Offer to guide them through setting the environment variable for their OS/shell if needed. Never ask the user to paste the full key in chat. Ask them to set it locally and confirm when ready. Defaults & rules Default model: sora-2 (use sora-2-pro for higher fidelity). Default size: 1280x720. Default seconds: 4 (allowed: "4", "8", "12" as strings). Always set size and seconds via API params; prose will not change them. Use the OpenAI Python SDK (openai package); do not use raw HTTP. Require OPENAI_API_KEY before any live API call. If uv cache permissions fail, set UV_CACHE_DIR=/tmp/uv-cache. Input reference images must be jpg/png/webp and should match target size. Download URLs expire after about 1 hour; copy assets to your own storage. Prefer the bundled CLI and never modify scripts/sora.py unless the user asks. Sora can generate audio; if a user requests voiceover/audio, specify it explicitly in the Audio: and Dialogue: lines and keep it short. API limitations Models are limited to sora-2 and sora-2-pro. API access to Sora models requires an organization-verified account. Duration is limited to 4/8/12 seconds and must be set via the seconds parameter. The API expects seconds as a string enum ("4", "8", "12"). Output sizes are limited by model (see references/video-api.md for the supported sizes). Video creation is async; you must poll for completion before downloading. Rate limits apply by usage tier (do not list specific limits). Content restrictions are enforced by the API (see Guardrails below). Guardrails (must enforce) Only content suitable for audiences under 18. No copyrighted characters or copyrighted music. No real people (including public figures). Input images with human faces are rejected. Prompt augmentation
Reformat prompts into a structured, production-oriented spec. Only make implicit details explicit; do not invent new creative requirements.
Template (include only relevant lines):
Use case:
Augmentation rules:
Keep it short; add only details the user already implied or provided elsewhere. For remixes, explicitly list invariants ("same shot, change only X"). If any critical detail is missing and blocks success, ask a question; otherwise proceed. If you pass a structured prompt file to the CLI, add --no-augment to avoid the tool re-wrapping it. Examples Generation example (single shot) Use case: product teaser Primary request: a close-up of a matte black camera on a pedestal Action: slow 30-degree orbit over 4 seconds Camera: 85mm, shallow depth of field, gentle handheld drift Lighting/mood: soft key light, subtle rim, premium studio feel Constraints: no logos, no text
Remix example (invariants) Primary request: same shot and framing, switch palette to teal/sand/rust with warmer backlight Constraints: keep the subject and camera move unchanged
Prompting best practices (short list) One main action + one camera move per shot. Use counts or beats for timing ("two steps, pause, turn"). Keep text short and the camera locked-off for UI or on-screen text. Add a brief avoid line when artifacts appear (flicker, jitter, fast motion). Shorter prompts are more creative; longer prompts are more controlled. Put dialogue in a dedicated block; keep lines short for 4-8s clips. State invariants explicitly for remixes (same shot, same camera move). Iterate with single-change follow-ups to preserve continuity. Guidance by asset type
Use these modules when the request is for a specific artifact. They provide targeted templates and defaults.
Cinematic shots: references/cinematic-shots.md Social ads: references/social-ads.md CLI + environment notes CLI commands + examples: references/cli.md API parameter quick reference: references/video-api.md Prompting guidance: references/prompting.md Sample prompts: references/sample-prompts.md Troubleshooting: references/troubleshooting.md Network/sandbox tips: references/codex-network.md Reference map references/cli.md: how to run create/poll/remix/download/batch via scripts/sora.py. references/video-api.md: API-level knobs (models, sizes, duration, variants, status). references/prompting.md: prompt structure and iteration guidance. references/sample-prompts.md: copy/paste prompt recipes (examples only; no extra theory). references/cinematic-shots.md: templates for filmic shots. references/social-ads.md: templates for short social ad beats. references/troubleshooting.md: common errors and fixes. references/codex-network.md: network/approval troubleshooting.