The primary goal of previsualization is to help filmmakers, directors, and other key crew members plan and visualize the intended outcome of a film or scene before committing extensive resources to actual production.
Animatics are a step beyond storyboards. They involve adding basic movement and timing to the storyboard panels, creating a rough animation. This can give a more dynamic sense of how the scenes will play out and help in pacing and rhythm decisions.
In more complex productions, especially those involving heavy visual effects or intricate camera movements, I create a 3d animatic in a software package like Maya or Unreal. This allows me to create a virtual environment and characters, placing virtual cameras to simulate shots and sequences with more accuracy.
During previsualization, I consider the movement of actors, camera positions, and other elements within a scene. This process, known as blocking, helps in planning the choreography of the scene, ensuring that actions and interactions between characters and objects are well-coordinated.
Very often this process is done in collaboration with the editorial and other departments: dance or stunt choreographies need to be taken into account. The animatic sometimes includes footage, from pyro tests for example. Check out some examples in my “From script to screen” video
