Prompt to Screen: Instig Labs Backs Creative AI Storytelling
Instig Labs has put real momentum behind creative tech with its Prompt to Screen AI competition, a flagship effort within the Generative AI Network (GAIN). The competition sits inside the Creative AI Storytelling Lab, built to give students and early career professionals practical skills and a portfolio that speaks for itself.
If you create for a living, this matters. The brief is simple: turn prompts into screen-ready stories. The result is a fast way to showcase range, intent, and your ability to ship.
What "Prompt to Screen" means for your workflow
Think end-to-end. You move from prompt ideation to script, visuals, sound, and final edit. The goal isn't flashy tools. It's a clear story arc, consistent aesthetic, and a finished piece that communicates in seconds.
How to prepare for a prompt-to-screen brief
- Start with a one-line premise: Who is it for, what happens, and why it matters. Specific beats clever.
- Outline the story: 5-8 shots or a 60-90 second script. Add beats: hook, tension, payoff.
- Write production-ready prompts: Lock style, mood, camera, lighting, and action. Use consistent descriptors and, if your tools allow, seeds or reference images to keep characters and scenes coherent.
- Plan your asset stack: Images or frames, motion or video generation, voice, SFX, and music. Keep each asset serving the message, not the other way around.
- Edit for pace: 3-5 second hook, visible act breaks, and captions for silent viewing. Cut anything that stalls momentum.
- Document the process: Keep your prompt versions, settings, and a short rationale. Judges and clients value clarity in how you work.
- Mind rights and credits: Use assets you have permission to use and credit sources where required. Review licensing basics via Creative Commons and general guidance from WIPO.
What judges and clients look for
- Clarity: The concept lands fast and sticks.
- Consistency: Visual style, characters, and tone don't drift.
- Prompt craft: Specific language that produces repeatable results.
- Story rhythm: Setup, tension, resolution. Clean pacing.
- Originality: A point of view, not a collage of trends.
- Professional polish: Sound, captions, and export quality are sorted.
Who this competition serves
The Creative AI Storytelling Lab is focused on students and early career creatives. If you need a proof-ready portfolio piece and a structured brief to push your process, this is built for that.
Suggested 7-day sprint plan
- Day 1: Premise, audience, and outcome.
- Day 2: Script or shot list. Moodboard.
- Day 3: Visual tests. Lock style and character references.
- Day 4: Generate core visuals and motion.
- Day 5: Voice, music, and sound design.
- Day 6: Edit, captions, color, and versioning.
- Day 7: QA, process doc, and export.
Build skills that compound
Want structured practice in prompts, video workflows, and tool selection? Explore focused tracks and tool libraries here:
Running a creative business on the side
The original brief also nods to essentials that keep your work moving: business registration, mobile payments, and growth skills. If you're solo or building a small studio, get the basics in place so you can focus on the craft.
- Business registration services: Set up the right structure early to handle contracts and taxes.
- Mobile payment apps: Make it easy for clients to pay and automate invoices.
- Business growth courses: Learn offer design, pricing, and client acquisition so your portfolio translates into income. For learning paths, check new AI courses.
Bottom line
Prompt to Screen is a clear signal: ideas that ship beat ideas that sit. Use this competition as a forcing function to build a repeatable workflow, sharpen your taste, and leave with a piece that gets you hired.
Your membership also unlocks:
