Filmmaking Basics/3D Storyboard

Messages for students

Introduction

This school is:
Narrative film production - Wikiversity Film School
This course is:
The basics of narrative filmmaking
This lesson is:
Lesson: 3D Storyboarding
Pages of this Lesson:
Storyboarding using 3D software
Introduction to FrameForge 3D Studio free demo version
Getting started with FrameForge 3D Studio
Page 1 - Getting started storyboarding "Seduced by the Dark Side!"
Page 2 - A simple example
Page 3 - Building a movie set inside FrameForge
Page 4 - Creating depth of field inside FrameForge free demo version
Before and After: corrections by instructor
The corrections for Sir Mok
All the completed storyboards by students
The amazing storyboard from Gare Cline



Optional


The most important lesson of this course.



What is the difference?

What is the impact?
FrameForge 3D Studio
FREE
Demo version

Now you are at the heart of this course. Now this course becomes very challenging, educational and fun!
In this lesson, you use FrameForge 3D Studio FREE demo version to learn exactly how you will film this motion picture. With this program, you look through the motion picture camera's viewfinder to see a 3D version of your movie set complete with stand-in actors.
When you create the 3D storyboards, you make all the critical decisions for your motion picture. Pre-visualization is the key to pre-production planning.
Compare these two pictures
Look at these two pictures. The subject is the same. The position of the actors is the same.
Subtle differences in camera height and angle of view makes a very big difference to the meaning of the scene.
In this lesson, you must examine everything very carefully to get the best possible images.
Take your time! Work very carefully.




Planning each shot of the motion picture

We need both beautiful and accurate storyboards

FrameForge 3D Studio FREEdemo version
In this lesson, you replace your thumbnail storyboards with very beautiful storyboards using free 3D software. The program you will use is FrameForge 3D Studio's free demo version for either the Macintosh PC or the Windows PC.
When you are finished, you will have the frames that you need for your animatic (which is a movie made from storyboards.) Therefore, you must be very careful to get the best possible images. These are the final frames you will use. Make them great!
If you wish, you can watch the FrameForge introduction movie to learn more about FrameForge 3D Studio.




Why create an animatic?
Even though you have completed the thumbnail storyboards, you still do not know the timing, pace, and rhythm of the story.
To get this information, you need to create a movie from the storyboards which is called an animatic. That will give you the timing, pace and rhythm of the story.
The animatic will also give you a good idea if the movie will be a success or not.
The thumbnail storyboards are not good enough to make an animatic. You need better looking storyboards which are more detailed and accurate. We can make these storyboards using free 3D software such as FrameForge 3D Studio or free DAZ Studio, etc.
Note: In this course, we do not use programs such as Storyboard Artist which is only a 2D program. Programs such as Storyboard Quick and Storyboard Artist are great for thumbnail storyboards but are not accurate enough for your animatic.
Before




Convert a thumbnail to a 3D image

Here is a frame from a thumbnail storyboard which must be turned into a more accurate and more beautiful storyboard.
A thumbnail storyboard



After



The final storyboard

Here is a frame from a 3D storyboard.
This was done in FrameForge 3D Studio using the free demo version.





One student's comment

"Working on FrameForge is not easy!! I have to get myself used to it. But one thing is for sure. This is one helluva software. Amazing! I really am enjoying this experience."

Regards, Sushant


A 3D storyboard



The young person thinks for a moment.
YOUNG PERSON: Humm!




For more info about lenses, skip to the next lesson.



Before you begin to use FrameForge 3D Studio, skip to the next lesson and learn all about lenses.



Wide angle
A special lesson about camera lenses


Before you start, look at the lesson about camera lenses.
FrameForge 3D Studio simulates a motion picture camera. Therefore, you need to learn about the impact of camera lenses.
Unless you are highly skilled photographer, you should first go to Lesson:Camera Lenses and complete those assignments.
Then come back to this lesson. (Or work on both lesson together.)

Telephoto
Download FrameForge 3D Studio FREE demo version and begin

The next page

The next page shows you how to get started with FrameForge 3D Studio free demo version.
And you can download the movie set file at from the FrameForge community forum.


Contact your instructor

Your instructor for this filmmaking class is Robert Elliott. You can email me by clicking here.