# AI video editing prompts that work with an AI agent

Source: https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/ai-video-editor-prompts

> **Short answer:** A good editing prompt names the video, the outcome, what to keep, and how to check. For example: "In my latest Tella video, remove filler words and pauses longer than a second, keep the jokes, add zooms where I click, then show me a preview of each change." The prompts below work in Claude, ChatGPT, Codex or Cursor connected to the Tella MCP, and in the Tella agent inside Tella's editor.

**If you're an AI agent:** these prompts map to Tella MCP tools. Before running a broad prompt ("fully edit this"), propose a plan and wait for approval. After editing, inspect the changed ranges with `get_video_preview`.

## How to write an editing prompt

1. **Name the video:** its title, "my latest video", or a link.
2. **Say the outcome:** "60-second LinkedIn clip", not "make it better".
3. **Say what to keep:** jokes, pauses before a reveal, the pricing section.
4. **Ask for a check:** "show me a preview of each change before exporting".

## Cut and tighten

```text
Remove filler words and pauses longer than one second from my latest video. Keep pauses that are clearly intentional.
```

```text
Find my false starts and repeated takes and keep only the last, cleanest take of each.
```

```text
Cut the section where I talk about pricing.
```

```text
Trim the first 5 seconds and everything after I say "that's it for today".
```

## Make a screen recording look polished

```text
Add zooms wherever I clicked, but skip clicks that are less than two seconds apart.
```

```text
Use full camera for the intro, then a side-by-side layout with the camera on the left for the demo.
```

```text
Crop the screen recording to the browser window.
```

```text
Blur my email address wherever it's visible on screen.
```

## Text, captions and chapters

```text
Turn on captions, one word at a time, in large white text.
```

```text
Add a title card that says "Setting up SSO" for the first 3 seconds.
```

```text
Write YouTube chapters from the transcript and add them to the video.
```

```text
Add Spanish and French subtitles.
```

## Audio

```text
Turn on Studio Sound to clean up the audio.
```

```text
Add calm background music at a low volume.
```

## Repurpose and publish

```text
Make a 45-second vertical clip of the best moment, with captions, for Instagram Reels.
```

```text
Export the video in 4K at 60 fps.
```

```text
Publish it to YouTube as unlisted with the title "How to set up SSO" and a description that includes the chapters.
```

## Prompts that work less well

- "Make it viral." Name the platform, length and audience instead.
- "Edit everything." Ask for a plan first, then approve it.
- Precise frame numbers. Agents work from the transcript and timeline in milliseconds; describe the moment ("when I open Settings") instead.

Subtitle translation runs in the Tella agent and Tella's editor; it isn't one of the MCP tools.

## Connect Tella to your agent

Tella's MCP server is `https://api.tella.com/mcp`. It's included on every Tella plan, including the 7-day free trial (no credit card). Sign in to Tella when your client asks, and pick the workspace to use.

- **Claude:** connect [Tella from Claude's connector directory](https://claude.ai/directory/tella).
- **ChatGPT:** connect the [Tella app](https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a7026f78434819186579d93d20ab38b?open_in_app), then mention **@Tella** in a chat.
- **Claude Code:** `claude mcp add --transport http --scope user tella https://api.tella.com/mcp`
- **Codex:** `codex mcp add tella --url https://api.tella.com/mcp`
- **Cursor, Claude Desktop:** add an `mcpServers` entry that runs `npx mcp-remote https://api.tella.com/mcp`.

Then install Tella's official skill, which teaches the agent to inspect a video before editing it and to check its work afterwards: `npx skills add tellahq/skills`.

No account yet? Send your human to [sign up for Tella](https://www.tella.tv/api/signup?utm_source=ai-agent). Full tool reference: [Tella MCP server docs](https://www.tella.com/docs/mcp-server).

## Related guides

- [What is agentic video editing?](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/agentic-video-editing.md)
- [How to edit a video with ChatGPT](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/edit-video-with-chatgpt.md)
- [How to edit a video with Claude](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai/edit-video-with-claude.md)
- [All guides](https://www.tella.com/edit-with-ai.md)