Previsualization is a system of mapping out an artistic vision and script before the cameras roll – for decades, this process has been used to set up shots, share ideas, and generally get organized before the actual shoot. In the days before digital cameras, most shots were set up and practiced using foam shapes, low-tech handheld cameras, and paper or fabric “characters”. Then, locations would be mocked up using still photos or realistic drawings. Simulating action sequences could be tricky – often, these would be mapped out on Bristol Board storyboards, or acted out with small-scale models or puppets. Seeing a crew member’s arm or body in camera range (as he or she manipulated a crude model!) was par for the course back then!

Whether you’re planning a film, presentation, or animated short, you need to consider every scene – each one will have it own arc and its own “feel”. By mapping out your scene from start to finish, you can study the arc of the action, and streamline the effect of your script and action. This process is known as scene creation, and it begins with a phase known as previs (previsualization).

If you’re interested in figuring out the entire video creation process, from start to finish, there are lots of things you need to learn. From the initial previsualization phase, to the final concept, to the technical challenges of creating a perfect, finished DVD…there are many elements involved…each of them play an important role in the success of your project.

The most successful directors in the business have all learned the secret of effective pre-production…motion picture previsualization is the keystone of setting up a great film. From the first frame to the final fade, previz can organize and refine your artistic vision…and it’s so easy to do. For decades, filmmakers have relied on different methods of “previz” to achieve their goals. Some of the most memorable films out there have been planned using unique tools and concepts that you can try, too! However, the methods of past decades are growing quite obsolete – technology is changing the face of previz…

Today, students need to work harder than ever to stand out and to achieve the grade point averages they need. In order to make presentations more appealing, many students opt for storyboards that map our their initial ideas during the pre visualization phase. By organizing their thoughts with a frame-by-frame model of their coming presentation, they can refine and improve their work…before showing it to teachers, college professors, and fellow students.