The different methods used in filmmaking (moodboard, concept design, storyboard, animatics) – if they are applied appropriately – can all play a significant role in preproduction, but it is hard to get an overview of them separately, it is difficult to fit them into a solid process of preproduction. It might be desirable that the developed visuals, videos, animations and other documentations make up a database, which can be accessed by the participants in preproduction at any time during the work process. But who are these participants and which aspects should be considered? In my opinion a database of preproduction has to consist of three main parts. It has to fulfil the necessary requirements of dramaturgy, design development and the aspects of subsequent execution. The individual elements are variously important from the point of view of dramaturgy, design and production. Whereas the script is most important from the aspect of the plot, concept design plays a more significant role in the execution process of the production. The situation is even more complicated if we look at storyboards. The traditional storyboards – the picture sequences – consist both of information about the content and production, although the information about production design is only indicatory. The animatics reveals much more about the dramaturgical structure and the presumptive production, but it lacks in creating the atmosphere and mirroring the design if we compare it to the traditional storyboards. As we can see the individual elements of this triple unity are important for different craftsmen and artists, but it is also desirable that the co-workers see into each others area from time to time during preproduction, thus avoiding misunderstandings and contents which can not be fitted into the context. The described aspects serve as an affirmation for developing a preproduction database.

Where can we place this current scheme considering the aforesaid prefigurations? Which of the aforesaid aspects does it contain and to what extent are they represented?

Integration of the script
Possibility to insert and adjust the previously developed script of given format

Integration of the storyboard
Possibility to import and arrange completed visual sequences

Additions to the storyboard
Possibility to turn the storyboard into film, to add soundtracks, take notes and making comments – even shot by shot

Integration of animatics
Possibility to complement the storyboard of film format with motion picture, to edit it and to choose the aspect ratio

Developing alternative versions
Possibility to insert and exchange alternative visual compositions

Camera-movement analysis of moving or still image
Possibility to insert, edit and comment on habitrail film (documentation of camera-movements) parallel to the animated storyboard

Systematisation of concept designs
Surface to document elements of set and concept designs by scenes or shots

Architectural drawings
Surface to insert and document the architectural drawings related to the set designs by scenes or shots

Effect of alternative camera-movements on the set
Importing comparable visibility records

Production related issues
Documentation of fundamental information on shooting

Cost estimation
Possibility to estimate the costs of set design elements (set, actors, costumes, make-up, effects, crew, etc.) dependent (or independent) on specific camera-movement

The presentation consists of the visible documentation of the software plan, thus not allowing for editability. The functions, which need informatics and programming, are indicatory, they present the operation, but are not alterable. Accordingly the presentation contains buttons and functions that play a significant role in usability, but are operatively inactive.

timeline

The fundamental systematisation guide of the project is the timeline, which allows us to select the actual scene or the relevant shots. The cameras related to the particular shot also appear on the timeline, if we apply alternative camera-movements to the specific sequence. This surface gives us the possibility to edit the timeline (inactive) – indirectly the whole project – and to zoom in on particular sequences (inactive). The editing interface (inactive) allows us to cut and import images, videos and sound.

main windows

Two windows are situated beneath the timeline. The one on the left displays the visual sequence of the current film portion or the portion containing the animatics, the window on the right shows the still or moving camera-movement analysis belonging to the particular scene. The specific videos and images do not necessarily have to be filled, and they can also be replaced with written information. It is important to offer different aspect ratios, which plays a major role in constructing the left field and setting up a document. In this instance I considered three aspect ratios to display: 16:9; 1,85:1; 2,35:1.

The gathering field of written and visual information related to the active shot or scene is the information field that is situated on the lower third of the screen. If we select a different scene or shot, then the information field – similarly to the preview windows – is updated automatically, thus loading relevant data. These data consist of the uploaded concept designs, architectural drawings, relevant script sections, comments on production broken down to elements (set, actors, costumes, make-up, effects, crew, etc.) and the window for cost estimation. In case of multiple camera-movement alternatives the cost estimation window widens to a compare-screen, where we can fill in the anticipatory calculations related to the current composition.