# Fixing Sora's Biggest Issues: Consistency, Motion, and Realism

**TL;DR:** Most Sora problems stem from vague prompts, physics violations, or temporal inconsistency. Character consistency requires detailed physical descriptions with distinctive features. Motion issues resolve through explicit camera direction and realistic physics constraints. Quality problems improve with proper lighting specifications and cinematography references.

## Understanding Sora's Common Problems

Sora generates impressive video, but certain issues appear consistently across user experiences. Understanding why these problems occur helps you engineer prompts that avoid them entirely. Most issues trace back to insufficient detail, unrealistic physics requests, or temporal complexity beyond the model's current capabilities.

The difference between frustrating results and usable video often comes down to recognizing Sora's limitations and working within them rather than against them. This guide addresses the six most common problem categories and provides actionable solutions.

## Problem 1: Character Consistency Failures

### The Issue

Characters change appearance mid-clip or look completely different across multiple generations. Facial features morph, clothing switches, and distinctive characteristics disappear.

### Why It Happens

Sora treats each frame somewhat independently. Without strong anchoring details, the model's interpretation can drift. Generic descriptions like "a woman" or "young man" provide insufficient constraint, allowing variation across the generation.

### Solutions

**Solution 1: Extreme Detail in Physical Description**

Don't write: "A woman walking"

Write: "Woman with distinctive features: straight black hair cut in bob ending at jawline, round wire-frame glasses, small scar above left eyebrow, wearing navy blue peacoat with brass buttons, dark jeans, white sneakers"

The scar, specific haircut, and unique glasses provide visual anchors that persist across frames.

**Solution 2: Reference Distinctive Features Multiple Times**

Repeat key features throughout your prompt to reinforce them.

"Woman with red curly hair and freckles walking through park, her distinctive red curls bouncing with each step, freckled face visible in side profile"

**Solution 3: Use Clothing as Consistency Anchor**

Distinctive clothing helps maintain character identity more reliably than facial features.

"Person wearing bright yellow raincoat with reflective strips, hood up, black rain boots with white soles, distinctive outfit making them easily trackable"

**Solution 4: Limit Character Count**

Multiple characters in frame increases inconsistency risk. Start with single subjects, add complexity gradually.

**Solution 5: Shorter Clips for Character Work**

Keep character-focused clips under 7 seconds. Longer durations increase drift probability.

**Solution 6: Static or Simple Camera Moves**

Complex camera movements while tracking character faces increases consistency challenges. Use simpler camera work for character close-ups.

### Example: Poor vs Good Character Consistency Prompts

**Poor Prompt:**

"Young woman walking in city, casual clothes, looking around"

**Good Prompt:**

"Woman age 28 with shoulder-length auburn hair in low ponytail, wearing tan trench coat over black turtleneck, distinctive silver watch on left wrist, walking through downtown area, camera tracking from behind at medium distance maintaining consistent view of coat and ponytail"

## Problem 2: Unnatural or Jittery Motion

### The Issue

Subjects move in physically impossible ways, speeds change randomly, or motion appears stuttering rather than smooth.

### Why It Happens

Prompts that don't specify motion clearly leave Sora guessing. Requesting physics-violating actions confuses the model. Insufficient frame rate understanding or temporal clarity causes inconsistent motion.

### Solutions

**Solution 1: Specify Motion Speed Explicitly**

Don't write: "Person running"

Write: "Person running at jogging pace, steady rhythm, breathing visible, consistent speed throughout"

**Solution 2: Describe Motion Quality**

Use terms like smooth, fluid, continuous, gradual, sudden, accelerating, decelerating.

"Camera dolly push slowly and smoothly forward, constant speed, no jerking or sudden movements"

**Solution 3: Respect Physics**

Avoid requesting impossible motion. Objects must accelerate and decelerate gradually. What goes up must come down. Heavy objects move differently than light ones.

**Poor:** "Car instantly stops from 60mph"

**Good:** "Car braking hard, tires skidding, coming to stop over 3 seconds, realistic deceleration"

**Solution 4: Match Camera Movement to Subject Movement**

When camera follows moving subject, specify tracking relationship.

"Camera tracking alongside cyclist, maintaining consistent distance, matching cycling speed, smooth parallel movement"

**Solution 5: Use Slow Motion Strategically**

Slow-motion can mask minor motion inconsistencies while adding drama.

"Athlete jumping in slow-motion, every movement visible, graceful arc through air, smooth temporal progression"

**Solution 6: Simplify Motion Complexity**

One clear motion beats multiple simultaneous movements.

**Poor:** "Person walking while juggling while spinning"

**Good:** "Person juggling three balls, standing in place, consistent throwing pattern, balls following predictable arcs"

### Example: Poor vs Good Motion Prompts

**Poor Prompt:**

"Fast action sequence with lots of movement"

**Good Prompt:**

"Runner accelerating from standing start, first three steps visible, building speed progressively, camera tracking from side maintaining medium shot, realistic acceleration physics, outdoor track setting"

## Problem 3: Lighting Inconsistencies

### The Issue

Light sources appear and disappear, shadows change direction mid-clip, or overall illumination fluctuates randomly.

### Why It Happens

Without explicit lighting direction, Sora makes frame-by-frame decisions that may not maintain consistency. Time-of-day ambiguity creates confusion about appropriate light quality.

### Solutions

**Solution 1: Specify Single Dominant Light Source**

Don't write: "Well-lit scene"

Write: "Single window on left side as primary light source, soft natural daylight, consistent direction throughout, gentle shadows falling to right"

**Solution 2: Describe Light Quality Precisely**

Use terms: hard/soft, direct/diffused, warm/cool, bright/dim, natural/artificial

"Soft diffused overcast daylight, no harsh shadows, even illumination, cool color temperature"

**Solution 3: Lock Time of Day**

Ambiguous timing allows lighting drift. Be specific.

"Late afternoon, exactly 4pm, golden hour beginning, warm directional sunlight from low angle"

**Solution 4: Describe Shadow Behavior**

Shadows help Sora understand light source position and maintain consistency.

"Overhead midday sun creating short shadows directly below subjects, harsh contrast, shadows remaining consistent as subjects move"

**Solution 5: Avoid Multiple Light Sources Initially**

Complex lighting increases inconsistency risk. Master single-source lighting first.

**Solution 6: Use Overcast for Consistency**

Overcast conditions provide naturally consistent, diffused lighting that's easier for Sora to maintain.

"Overcast sky providing even diffused lighting, no direct sun, soft shadows, consistent illumination throughout scene"

### Example: Poor vs Good Lighting Prompts

**Poor Prompt:**

"Outdoor scene with good lighting"

**Good Prompt:**

"Outdoor scene at golden hour, 6:30pm, sun low on horizon to camera's right, warm orange light creating long shadows stretching left, consistent directional lighting throughout, natural sunset glow"

## Problem 4: Temporal Drift and Scene Coherence

### The Issue

Scene elements change unexpectedly, backgrounds shift, or the overall setting feels inconsistent as clip progresses.

### Why It Happens

Long durations tax Sora's ability to maintain coherent worlds. Vague setting descriptions allow environmental drift. Complex scenes with many elements become harder to track consistently.

### Solutions

**Solution 1: Detailed Environment Description**

Lock down setting specifics to prevent drift.

"Coffee shop interior, exposed brick wall behind subject, wooden tables visible, large window showing street view, pendant lights overhead, this specific setting maintained throughout"

**Solution 2: Static or Simple Backgrounds**

Complex moving backgrounds increase drift risk.

**High Risk:** "Busy city street, many people and cars"

**Lower Risk:** "Empty city street, parked cars along curb, buildings in background, minimal movement"

**Solution 3: Shorter Durations**

Keep clips under 10 seconds initially. Extend duration gradually as you master consistency.

**Solution 4: Single Camera Movement**

One clear camera move (dolly in, pan right, etc.) rather than multiple simultaneous movements.

**Solution 5: Reference Consistent Elements**

Mention key background elements multiple times to reinforce them.

"Person sitting at desk, laptop open in front of them, same laptop and desk visible throughout, window behind showing consistent city view"

**Solution 6: Avoid Time Transitions**

Don't request time passage ("day turning to night") in single clip. Generate separately and edit together.

### Example: Poor vs Good Temporal Consistency Prompts

**Poor Prompt:**

"Person walking through changing environment"

**Good Prompt:**

"Person walking down specific residential street, consistent row of brownstone buildings on both sides, same parked cars, autumn trees lining street, this exact street maintained throughout 8-second shot, steady tracking from behind"

## Problem 5: Quality and Resolution Issues

### The Issue

Output appears blurry, artifacted, or lower quality than expected. Fine details look muddy or unclear.

### Why It Happens

Insufficient technical specifications in prompts. Requesting details beyond Sora's capability. Compression artifacts from complex motion or high-frequency details.

### Solutions

**Solution 1: Include Technical Quality Terms**

Add to prompts: "8K quality," "sharp focus," "high detail," "crisp imagery"

**Solution 2: Specify Depth of Field**

Control what's sharp vs blurred.

"Shallow depth of field, subject in sharp focus, background softly blurred, professional cinema camera aesthetic"

**Solution 3: Avoid Extreme Close-Ups of Complex Details**

Intricate textures, fine text, or complex patterns may not render clearly. Use medium detail levels.

**Poor:** "Extreme close-up of intricate lace pattern"

**Better:** "Close-up of lace fabric, texture visible, elegant pattern"

**Solution 4: Reference Professional Equipment**

"Shot on professional cinema camera, film-quality production, theatrical release standard"

**Solution 5: Proper Lighting for Clarity**

Good lighting fundamentally improves apparent quality.

"Bright even lighting revealing details clearly, no underexposed areas, properly exposed for maximum clarity"

**Solution 6: Cinematography References**

Mentioning cinematographers known for technical excellence signals quality expectations.

"Shot in the style of Roger Deakins, exceptional technical quality, precise exposure, beautiful image clarity"

### Example: Poor vs Good Quality Prompts

**Poor Prompt:**

"Close-up video of object"

**Good Prompt:**

"Close-up of luxury watch, sharp focus on watch face, shallow depth of field blurring background, dramatic lighting revealing metallic details, shot on professional cinema camera, 8K quality, product photography standard, pristine clarity"

## Problem 6: Physics Violations and Unrealistic Behavior

### The Issue

Objects float instead of falling, water behaves oddly, or movements violate basic physics creating uncanny results.

### Why It Happens

Requesting impossible actions confuses the model. Insufficient physics description allows unrealistic interpretation. Fantasy/sci-fi prompts need explicit grounding.

### Solutions

**Solution 1: Explicitly State Physics**

Don't assume Sora knows. State obvious physical rules.

"Ball thrown upward, following realistic parabolic arc, gravity pulling it back down, natural physics throughout"

**Solution 2: Describe Material Behavior**

Different materials move differently. Be specific.

"Water splashing, liquid behaving naturally, droplets following ballistic trajectories, fluid physics, realistic water movement"

**Solution 3: Ground Fantasy Elements**

Even impossible scenes need internal physics consistency.

"Dragon flying, wings beating to generate lift, body following aerodynamic principles despite fantasy subject, realistic flight physics applied to imaginary creature"

**Solution 4: Avoid Antigravity Unless Explicit**

Objects fall unless supported. State support clearly.

"Book floating in air, held up by invisible force, hovering steadily, magical levitation defying gravity explicitly"

**Solution 5: Realistic Collision and Contact**

Objects interact physically when touching.

"Basketball hitting ground, bouncing with realistic elastic collision, ball deforming slightly at impact, natural ball physics"

**Solution 6: Weight and Inertia**

Heavy objects move differently than light ones.

"Large boulder rolling slowly, massive weight visible in movement, momentum building gradually, realistic physics for heavy object"

### Example: Poor vs Good Physics Prompts

**Poor Prompt:**

"Amazing action with things flying around"

**Good Prompt:**

"Autumn leaves falling from tree, tumbling and spinning, wind causing drift, following realistic trajectories under gravity, some leaves caught in updrafts, natural physics throughout, crisp fall day"

## Advanced Troubleshooting Strategies

### Strategy 1: Isolation Testing

When multiple problems occur, isolate variables.

Test sequence:

1. Simplest possible prompt for core concept

2. Add camera movement only

3. Add lighting details only

4. Add motion complexity only

5. Add style references only

Identify which addition causes problems.

### Strategy 2: Reference Frame Technique

Describe scene as if describing a paused frame, then add motion.

"Frame shows: woman standing at cafe counter, barista behind counter, espresso machine visible, morning light through window. Motion: woman reaches for coffee cup, lifts it slowly, brings to lips, natural movement at real-time speed."

### Strategy 3: Negative Constraints

Sometimes stating what NOT to show helps.

"Consistent character appearance maintained, no clothing changes, no facial feature drift, no sudden appearance changes, maintaining identical look throughout"

### Strategy 4: Progressive Complexity**

Start simple, add complexity in iterations.

Version 1: "Person walking, medium shot"

Version 2: "Person walking, medium shot, camera tracking"

Version 3: "Person walking, medium shot, camera tracking, golden hour light"

Version 4: Complete detailed prompt

### Strategy 5: Cinematography Override

When quality suffers, add strong cinematography references.

"Shot by Emmanuel Lubezki, natural light mastery, The Revenant cinematography quality, exceptional technical execution"

### Strategy 6: Simplification When Stuck

If prompt isn't working, remove elements until it does. Identify problematic element.

## Prompt Adjustment Workflow

Systematic approach to fixing problematic prompts:

### Step 1: Identify Primary Issue

What's the main problem? Consistency? Motion? Lighting? Quality?

### Step 2: Isolate Cause

Which prompt element likely causes the issue? Subject description? Camera work? Motion description?

### Step 3: Apply Targeted Solution

Use specific solution from this guide matching your problem type.

### Step 4: Test Iteration

Generate with adjusted prompt. Compare to original.

### Step 5: Refine Further

If improved but not solved, apply additional solutions. If worse, revert and try different approach.

### Step 6: Document What Works

Keep successful prompt patterns for future use.

## Common Problem Combinations

Some issues appear together frequently. Recognize patterns.

### Pattern 1: Consistency + Motion Problems

Often both stem from insufficient subject detail combined with complex camera work.

Fix: Add detailed physical description AND simplify camera movement.

### Pattern 2: Lighting + Quality Issues

Poor lighting descriptions create both inconsistent lighting and apparent quality reduction.

Fix: Detailed lighting specification with technical quality terms.

### Pattern 3: Physics + Motion Problems

Unrealistic motion requests create compounding issues.

Fix: Ground all motion in realistic physics, describe explicitly.

### Pattern 4: Temporal + Scene Coherence

Long clips with complex environments drift.

Fix: Reduce duration AND simplify environment.

## Prevention Better Than Cure

Build good habits to avoid problems before they occur.

### Habit 1: Detailed Planning

Write complete prompt before generating. Don't rely on vague descriptions.

### Habit 2: Physics Check

Review every prompt for physics plausibility before generating.

### Habit 3: Consistency Anchors

Always include distinctive features for character work.

### Habit 4: Explicit Camera Direction

Never leave camera work to chance. Always specify.

### Habit 5: Lighting First

Think through lighting before other elements. It affects everything.

### Habit 6: Simplicity Bias

Start simple. Add complexity only after basics work.

### Habit 7: Reference Testing

Test new style references on simple prompts before complex ones.

### Habit 8: Duration Management

Keep clips short until you've mastered consistency.

## Real-World Problem Examples and Fixes

### Example 1: Morphing Face

**Problem:** Person's face changes shape mid-clip

**Original Prompt:** "Woman talking to camera"

**Fixed Prompt:** "Woman age 32 with oval face, straight black hair in middle part reaching shoulders, brown eyes, small nose, wearing burgundy sweater, talking to camera, head and shoulders framing, face remaining consistent throughout, static camera, even lighting"

**What Fixed It:** Detailed facial feature description, static camera removing complexity, explicit consistency requirement.

### Example 2: Jumpy Camera Movement

**Problem:** Camera movement feels stuttering and unnatural

**Original Prompt:** "Video of city street, camera moving"

**Fixed Prompt:** "Slow smooth dolly push forward down city street, constant speed throughout, no acceleration or deceleration, fluid steady movement, Steadicam-quality stabilization, professional camera operation"

**What Fixed It:** Specific movement type, speed description, quality references, motion consistency requirement.

### Example 3: Flickering Shadows

**Problem:** Shadows appear and disappear randomly

**Original Prompt:** "Person standing outside"

**Fixed Prompt:** "Person standing on sidewalk at 2pm, bright midday sun directly overhead, short shadow cast straight down from person's feet, shadow remaining consistent, harsh summer sunlight, clear sky, outdoor even lighting"

**What Fixed It:** Specific time, explicit shadow description, consistent light source position.

### Example 4: Background Changes

**Problem:** Background elements shift or change during clip

**Original Prompt:** "Person walking through park"

**Fixed Prompt:** "Person walking on specific concrete path through park, same path visible throughout, grass on both sides, three oak trees in background remaining in consistent positions, static background elements, camera tracking from behind person maintaining same background view"

**What Fixed It:** Specific environment description, element positioning, camera work maintaining consistent framing.

### Example 5: Blurry Results

**Problem:** Output lacks expected sharpness and detail

**Original Prompt:** "Close-up of product"

**Fixed Prompt:** "Close-up of stainless steel watch, sharp focus on watch face, shallow depth of field, background bokeh, bright even lighting revealing metallic details clearly, shot on professional cinema camera, 8K quality, macro lens aesthetic, pristine clarity and sharpness"

**What Fixed It:** Technical quality terms, lighting for clarity, professional equipment reference, explicit sharpness requirement.

## When to Start Over vs Iterate

Sometimes abandoning a problematic prompt beats endless iteration.

### Start Over If:

- Five iterations haven't improved results

- Core concept seems beyond Sora's current capability

- Prompt has become bloated and complex

- You can't identify specific problem source

- Simpler version also fails

### Keep Iterating If:

- Problem clearly identified

- Targeted solution available

- Improvements visible each iteration

- Core concept works in simpler form

- One element causing all issues

## Platform-Specific Considerations

Different use cases have different tolerance for imperfection.

### Social Media (TikTok, Instagram)

Higher tolerance for minor issues. Focus on:

- Strong opening frame

- Clear main action

- Compelling overall vibe

- Minor consistency issues often acceptable

### Professional/Commercial

Zero tolerance for obvious flaws. Require:

- Perfect consistency

- Smooth motion

- Professional quality

- May need multiple generations to achieve

### Experimental/Art

Imperfection sometimes desirable. Consider:

- Glitches as aesthetic

- Dreamlike inconsistency

- Abstract interpretation

- Less rigid requirements

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Why does my character's face keep changing?**

Insufficient physical description. Add specific facial features, distinctive characteristics, and reinforce key details multiple times in prompt.

**How do I fix jittery camera movement?**

Explicitly describe camera movement as "smooth," "fluid," and "constant speed." Reference Steadicam or professional camera operation.

**My lighting keeps changing. Help?**

Specify single light source with direction, time of day, and shadow description. Lock down these elements explicitly.

**Why do backgrounds shift during the clip?**

Vague environment description. Provide specific setting details and mention they remain consistent throughout.

**How can I improve overall video quality?**

Add technical terms: "8K quality," "sharp focus," professional camera references, and cinematographer names known for technical excellence.

**What if nothing works?**

Simplify radically. Strip prompt to bare essentials. Once that works, add elements back one at a time.

**How long should clips be for best consistency?**

Start with 5-7 seconds. Extend duration only after mastering shorter clips.

**Can I fix videos in post-production?**

Yes. Video editing software can mask minor issues through cuts, effects, and color correction. But better to generate correctly initially.

**Why do objects sometimes float or behave weirdly?**

Physics not explicitly stated. Describe realistic physics behavior for all objects and movements.

**Should I mention specific frame rates?**

Generally unnecessary. Focus on motion smoothness descriptions rather than technical frame rate specs.

## Conclusion

Most Sora problems have prompt-based solutions. Character consistency requires detailed physical descriptions with distinctive features. Motion issues resolve through explicit direction and physics grounding. Lighting consistency needs specific source descriptions and time-of-day locking. Quality improves with technical terms and professional references.

The pattern across all problems: vagueness creates issues, specificity solves them. Generic prompts leave too much to interpretation. Detailed prompts constrain Sora toward consistent, high-quality results.

Build systematic troubleshooting habits. When problems occur, isolate the cause, apply targeted solutions, and test iterations methodically. Prevention through detailed initial prompts beats fixing bad results after generation.

Master these troubleshooting techniques and you'll spend less time regenerating and more time using the results you want on first attempt.

**Continue learning Sora:**

- **[Best Sora Prompts](/best-sora-prompts/)** - 100+ tested prompts across all categories

- **[Complete Guide to Writing Prompts for Sora](/sora-prompt-guide/)** - Master prompt engineering fundamentals