What is the best way to balance a director's vision with pre-visualization?

1 Understand the purpose of previs

Previs is not meant to be a final product, but a tool to explore ideas, test scenarios, and solve problems. It can help you visualize complex scenes, such as action sequences, visual effects, or camera movements, and identify potential issues or opportunities. Previs can also help you communicate your vision to your crew, collaborators, and investors, and get feedback and approval. However, previs is not a substitute for your own creativity, intuition, or spontaneity. It should serve your vision, not dictate it.

2 Choose the right level of detail

Previs can range from simple sketches to photorealistic renderings, depending on your needs, budget, and time. The level of detail you choose for your previs should match the level of detail you need for your production. For example, if you are working on a low-budget indie film, you may not need to spend a lot of time and money on creating high-fidelity previs that will not match the final look of your film. On the other hand, if you are working on a big-budget blockbuster, you may need to create more detailed previs that will help you coordinate the technical aspects of your film, such as lighting, animation, or sound.

3 Collaborate with your previs team

Previs is a collaborative process that involves working with a team of previs artists, animators, editors, and supervisors. They can help you translate your vision into a visual language, and offer suggestions, solutions, and feedback. You should respect their expertise and input, and listen to their ideas and concerns. However, you should also make sure that they understand your vision and style, and that they follow your instructions and guidelines. You should communicate clearly and regularly with your previs team, and review their work frequently and critically.

4 Be flexible and open-minded

Previs is not a rigid or fixed blueprint, but a dynamic and evolving prototype. It can change and improve as you develop your film, and as you discover new possibilities or challenges. You should be flexible and open-minded, and willing to adapt your vision to the realities of your production. You should also be open to feedback and criticism, and ready to revise or refine your previs based on the input of your crew, collaborators, or clients. You should not be afraid to experiment, improvise, or deviate from your previs if you find a better way to tell your story or express your vision.

5 Use previs as a reference, not a rule

Previs is a valuable reference that can help you plan, prepare, and execute your film. It can provide you with a clear idea of what you want to achieve, and how you want to achieve it. However, previs is not a rule that you have to follow strictly or blindly. It is not a guarantee that your film will look or work exactly as you envisioned it. You should always be aware of the limitations and differences between previs and reality, and be prepared to adjust your film accordingly. You should also be open to the unexpected and the spontaneous, and embrace the opportunities and surprises that may arise during your production.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?