Pre-visualization (also known as pre-vis, pre vis, pre viz, pre-viz, previs, or animatics) is a technique in which low-cost digital technology aids the filmmaking process. It involves using computer graphics (usually 3D) to create rough versions of the shots in a movie sequence. Usually, this is only done for the more complex shots (visual effects or stunts), as the benefits are fewer for simple scenes such as dialogues. The end result might be edited and might have temporary music and dialogue. Some can look like simple grey shapes representing the characters or elements in a scene, while other pre-vis can be sophisticated enough to look like a modern video game.

History

Before desktop computers were widely available, pre-visualization was rare and crude, yet still effective. For example, Dennis Muren of Industrial Light and Magic used toy action figures and a lipstick camera to film a miniature version of the Return of the Jedi speeder bike chase. This allowed the film's producers to see a rough version of the sequence before the costly full-scale production started.

Very few people had heard of 3D computer graphics until the release of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park in 1993. It included revolutionary visual effects work by Industrial Light and Magic (winning them an Oscar), one of the few companies in the world at the time to use digital technology to create imagery. As a result, computer graphics lent themselves to the design process, when visual effects supervisor (and Photoshop creator) John Knoll asked artist David Dozoretz to do the first ever pre-visualization for an entire sequence (rather than just the odd shot here and there) in Paramount Pictures' Mission: Impossible.

Producer Rick McCallum showed this sequence to George Lucas, who hired Dozoretz in 1995 for work on the new Star Wars prequels. This represented an early but significant change as it was the first time that pre-visualization artists reported to the film's director rather than visual effects supervisor. Daniel Gregoire then continued the work supervising the pre-viz efforts on Star Wars Episode II and III, followed by work with Steven Spielberg, for War of the Worlds and other feature and commercial projects.

Colin Green of Pixel Liberation Front and Ron Frankel of Proof have also made significant contributions to the field of pre-visualization during its beginnings in the early and mid-1990s.

Since then, pre-visualization has become an essential tool for large scale film productions, and have been essential for Matrix trilogy, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, X-Men, and others.

While visual effects companies can offer pre-visualization services, today most studios hire separate companies. Most notable are Halon Entertainment, Pixel Liberation Front, Nvizage, Proof, The Third Floor Inc., Persistence of Vision Digital Entertainment, Storyboards Online http://www.storyboardsonline.com, and Animatic Media http://www.animaticmedia.com

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