How to Efficiently Use Sora, OpenAI’s Revolutionary New Video Tool
To bring ideas to life through text and visual prompts.
OpenAI has launched Sora, a groundbreaking video generation tool designed to bring ideas to life through text and visual prompts.
This marks the fifth day of OpenAI’s highly anticipated “shipmas” event, a showcase of new releases and cutting-edge technologies.
I was fortunate to gain early access to Sora.com before it went on pause.
Experiencing the tool firsthand has been an exciting journey, exploring its features and creative possibilities.
Currently, signups are paused due to heavy demand, but it’s worth keeping an eye on for when it reopens.
Here’s everything you need to know about Sora and how to start using it today.
What is Sora?
Sora is OpenAI’s latest innovation, allowing users to create stunning videos from simple text inputs, animate static images, and even remix existing clips with fresh styles.
First teased in early 2024, the public launch of Sora offers creators access to a range of tools that simplify video production while maintaining creative flexibility.
Some videos I created — you really want to see it
Prompt given for the lion: A majestic indian lion drinks from a crystal-clear stream in a snowy forest. Snow gently falls as its figure stands out against the white landscape. The mist of its breath and the sound of water break the winter silence, creating a mystical and cinematic scene.
For the panda and lion, I used the prompt (and the ‘blend’ feature): A snowy, well-maintained road in a picturesque suburban neighborhood, surrounded by charming houses on both sides and trees dusted with fresh snow. The road runs straight through the center of this winter wonderland. The view is captured at ground level, creating an immersive perspective. In the middle of the snowy road, a playful panda, wearing stylish goggles, is roller-skating backward in a fun zigzag pattern, swerving with confidence and adding a lively, whimsical vibe. The scene is filled with serene, wintry charm, soft shadows, and the joyful energy of the panda’s quirky movement.
Key Features at a Glance of Sora AI
- Text-to-Video Creation
Turn words into motion. Input a prompt, and Sora generates a video tailored to your description. - Storyboard Editor
Assemble multiple AI-generated clips into a cohesive timeline, mimicking traditional editing tools like Final Cut or Premiere Pro. - Creative Styles
Choose from preset styles — think film noir or quirky stop-motion — to instantly transform your video’s look. - Remix Mode
Modify the style, tone, or elements of existing videos for a completely new vibe. - Gallery Feed
Explore a curated feed of Sora-generated videos. See the prompts behind each creation, tweak them, or find inspiration for your next masterpiece.
Who Can Use Sora?
Sora is available to OpenAI’s paid subscribers through the ChatGPT Plus and Pro plans.
- ChatGPT Plus ($20/month):
- Videos up to 5 seconds long.
- 720p resolution.
- Generate up to 50 videos/month.
- ChatGPT Pro ($200/month):
- Videos up to 20 seconds long.
- 1080p resolution.
- Generate up to 500 videos/month.
- Access to “relaxed” video generation during off-peak hours.
Free users can browse the gallery feed but won’t have access to creation tools.
How to Access Sora
Head to Sora.com and log in using your OpenAI subscription credentials.
From there, explore its features, generate videos, and start experimenting.
Keep in mind, the tool’s popularity has led to high traffic, so availability might be limited during peak times.
Why Sora Matters
AI video generation is growing fast, and Sora is helping OpenAI lead the way.
Its easy-to-use features and creative flexibility make it a great tool for creators, marketers, and storytellers.
I’ve recently started using Sora myself, and it’s already become part of my daily workflow.
It’s helping me create LinkedIn video reels that look sharp and professional, quick GIFs for thumbnails, and intros for presentations.
It’s a versatile tool with so many practical uses. Here are a few ways you can use Sora too:
- Make Presentation Intros
Use Sora to create 2–3 second clips that add a polished opening to your presentations. It gives your slides an instant professional vibe. - Create Engaging GIFs
Whether it’s for a pitch or a social post, Sora helps you design eye-catching GIFs that communicate your message quickly. - Boost Blog Content
Add a video intro to your blog posts. It grabs attention and makes your content stand out right from the start. - Enhance Social Media
Create short, engaging videos for Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter. With Sora, it’s easy to tailor content that matches your audience. - Showcase Products or Services
Design stylish teaser clips to highlight a new feature or promote an offering. - Event Promos or Recaps
Make quick videos to invite people to events or share highlights afterward. - Personal Branding
Add a unique touch to your emails, LinkedIn profile, or personal website with custom video signatures or outros. Connect with me on LinkedIn to know more about how tools like Sora can help you elevate and skyrocket your personal branding
The ‘Blend’ feature is amazing. It merges two videos smoothly, creating a seamless result.
Sora offers a suite of features designed to enhance video creation:
- Remix: This feature allows users to modify existing videos by applying new styles or altering specific elements, providing a fresh perspective on original content.
- Video Quality and Duration Options: Sora enables the generation of videos in various resolutions and lengths, accommodating diverse project requirements. Users can select from different quality settings and specify the desired duration to align with their creative objectives.
- Video Duration: You can choose between a 5-second or a 10-second video.
- Variations: Select either 1 variation or 2 variations. I recommend going with 1 variation to save credits.
- Aspect Ratios: Generate videos in landscape, square, or portrait formats — perfect for different platforms and purposes.
- Credit Calculation: Use the question mark icon to calculate how many credits your settings will consume.
Then I used this prompt:
A split-screen video begins, seamlessly showcasing two vibrant celebrations side by side.
Left Half: Christmas in New York
The bustling streets of New York are blanketed with fresh snow, sparkling under the glow of countless festive lights. The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands tall, adorned with shimmering ornaments. Families in cozy coats sip hot cocoa as children playfully throw snowballs. Ice skaters glide gracefully across the rink, while carolers sing melodious tunes in the background. The atmosphere is filled with joy, laughter, and the warm spirit of the holiday season.
Right Half: Diwali in India
The vibrant streets of an Indian town are alive with color and light. Homes are decorated with intricate rangolis and glowing diyas, casting a golden glow. Families gather around to light sparklers, their faces beaming with joy. A procession of fireworks lights up the night sky, illuminating temples adorned with strings of marigolds. The air is filled with laughter, the crackle of firecrackers, and the aroma of delicious sweets being shared among loved ones.
Final Scene
The two halves subtly blend, showing the universal themes of love, joy, and togetherness. Both celebrations culminate in warm smiles and a sense of unity, despite being worlds apart
One another great feature is this below: all you have to do is give an image and a prompt to take that image into motion, literally.
There are specific criteria for uploading images to prevent fraud, spam, and misuse of the tool.
And the last but definitely not the least.
The Storyboard feature in Sora is incredibly powerful and flexible.
It allows you to individually create prompts for separate scenes, building a cohesive story piece by piece.
You can adjust the timing, create gaps, and even combine multiple stories into a single video.
This gives you complete control over the narrative flow and structure.
Whether you’re crafting a promotional video, a short animation, or a creative montage, the storyboard helps you design and visualize each scene with precision and creativity.
At $20 a month, Sora is a fantastic tool.
Even with limits, like video duration and resolution, you can do a lot with 1,000 credits if you plan wisely.
Once you start exploring its potential, it’s clear how much value it brings — whether you’re creating for work, personal projects, or fun.
Connect with me on LinkedIn. or my website here
See Ya.
