Filmmaking Basics/3D Storyboard/QuickStart

Messages for students

Your assignment - part 1

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



Pop quiz - Create two basic shots

Over-the-shoulder shots

I want you to create an over-the-shoulder shot using


1. A wide angle over-the-shoulder shot
and
2. A telephoto over-the-shoulder shot.


The over-the-shoulder shot


The most important shot
The most important shot in dramatic filmmaking is the over-the-shoulder shot.
It is also the most difficult shot. That is why you must practice creating an over-the-shoulder shot in the free FrameForge 3D Studio demo version.



Telephoto
An over-the-shoulder shot using a telephoto lens

Wide angle
An over-the-shoulder shot using a wide angle lens
Limiting the depth of field of the over-the-shoulder shot


Adding depth of field effect
On page 4, you will learn how to limit the depth of field. These shots show this effect.
This effect is very subtle. By focusing a fat lens (a lens with very wide diameter glass) at the distant horse, the near horse goes out of focus. That blurs the near horse and directs the audience's attention to the far horse.



Telephoto
Same shot with limited depth of field
The effect is very subtle but useful

Wide angle
Same shot with limited depth of field
The effect is very subtle but useful


Not a "two shot"


Do not create a two shot
This is not an over-the-shoulder shot. There is nothing wrong with this. But for this assignment, we need to create an over-the-shoulder shot.



Two Shot
This is a two shot.

What is this?
I think this is still a two shot. So don't create a two shot.



Creating a wide angle over-the-shoulder shot
Over-the-horse's-shoulder shot
You can create an over-the-shoulder shot with any of the figures which come with FrameForge 3D Studio.
Here you see me using the horse:
  1. I open up FrameForge 3D Studio.
  2. I dragged two copies of a horse to the movie set.
  3. I select and then rotate each of the horses to the correct direction.
  4. I set the camera to wide angle using the zoom control.
  5. I grab the camera and move it to get a good looking over-the-shoulder shot.
  6. I take a picture of the scene by clicking on "Store Shot".
Try it!


Angle of view = 74 degrees or more


Your assignment - part 2


Creating a telephoto over-the-shoulder shot
Another over-the-horse's-shoulder shot
  1. I start with the same scene above.
  2. I drag the two horses apart. (That is the secret of filming an over-the-shoulder shot with a telephoto lens.)
  3. I change the lens to telephoto using the zoom control.
  4. I drag the camera until I get a good looking shot.
  5. I take a picture of the scene by clicking on "Store Shot".
Try it!


Angle of view = 15 degrees or less


The final result


The final results


The Shot Manager

Then I go to the Shot Manager to see my completed shots.

At the top of the page is all the pictures I have created (which in this case is just the wide angle and the telephoto versions of an over-the-shoulder shot.

The wide angle shot



The finished shot

The wide angle lens makes the two horses seem cold and distant. Even though the horses are very close together when I photograph them, they look very far apart.

If you do not understand about lenses, go to the next lesson about camera lenses.

The telephoto shot



The finished shot

The telephoto lens makes the two horses seem warm and close. Even though the horses are very far apart when I photograph them, they look very close.

If you do not understand about lenses, go to the next lesson.


Begin storyboarding

The next page

Begin now creating the storyboards for "Seduced by the Dark Side!". Send me the first two frames so I know that you are doing it correctly.
This next page just gives some basic info. Go to basic info about this assignment.

Contact your instructor

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


Completed assignment - Over-the-shoulder shot created with FrameForge Studio for the Lessons on 3D Storyboard
Kasturika has finished the assignment - 10 June 2007 - 6 points.


Click to see larger image.
Elisia Johnson submitted her assignment 2007-10-01 - 4 points
Elisia Johnson submitted this for her assignment. - 10 June 2007 - 6 points.

Click to see larger image.


The Instructor's Correction image.
Matt submitted this assignment 2007-10-30 - 4 points
Here are the original shots.

Telephoto

Wide Angle shot
Here are the corrections.

Telephoto

Wide Angle
Red Prince submitted this assignment 2007-10-31 - 4 points
Here are his shots.

Wide Angle

Telephoto shot
Manuelciosici submitted this assignment 2007-12-08 - 4 points
Here are his shots.

Telephoto shot

Wide angle




Here is the instructor's correction for the wide angle shot.



Note: The instructor did NOT move the horses.
Only the was camera moved for this shot.
The camera rotated, dollied, and tilted to get this shot.

Corrected wide angle


pruthvirajg submitted this assignment 2007-12-14 - 4 points
Here are his shots.

Telephoto shot

Wide angle




Instructor's corrections
Note: First, I put the horses in a straight line.
Then I moved the camera for this shot.
The camera was rotated, dollied, and tilted to get these shot.

Corrected telephoto shot

I raised camera and then tilted it down.
I moved the camera closer.

Corrected wide angle
I changed the zoom to 75 degrees which is a wide angle lens. For this assignment, I need you to create a very wide look that is why I ask for a 74 degree view. For this shot, I added depth of field. I also tilted the camera slightly.


Alideniz submitted this assignment 2008-01-03 - 4 points


Instructor's corrections
Note:Alideniz used FrameForge 3D Studio v1.
I used version 2.
I think that the heads should look the same height.

Corrected telephoto shot

For the wide angle, I moved the actors closer together. For the telephoto, I moved the actors apart. This way, the actors appear the same size but with a totally different look.


Completed assignment - Creating an over-the-shoulder shot

June 15, 2008 -- JoshLobel has created a wide angle over-the-shoulder shot and a telephoto over-the-shoulder shot.

Here are the original shots.

Telephoto

Wide Angle shot
Here are possible corrections.

Telephoto

Wide Angle shot