Sketchup - Experiments in Storyboarding

	Farnsworth wrote:
	Guys, maybe you're not aware of this, but the latest version of Antics is FREE. Only the premium content packs cost money, but there's more than enough content available with the free one to do most jobs.

Righto, might give it a whirl to see what its like. Thanks.

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"Don't do anything that you don't really want to do. Keep yourself in a place of feeling good. Reach for the thought that feels better -- and watch what happens." - Abraham-Hicks

http:\\www.metalplatefilms.metalplateproductions.com

Antics looks like it has the potential to be a really good previz tool, but like all of them I guess it would depend on the amount of work you want to put into it to get a good end result.

Obviously none of these options will be as quick as pencil and paper, but for those of us with zero drawing ability are often about the only choice we have. Generally speaking though, I usually just opt for an overhead diagram that illustrates the actor and camera positions throughout the scene.

Not to blow a strong wind into the intial post or the resulting ones, but seriously; storyboarding is a pencil, a marker pen and a sheet of paper.

Using software to generate storyboarding is a little bit of a step too far in my opinion.

It takes less than a minute to put together a sketch of a shot, never mind how artistic you are or are not. A storyboard has to convey the shot's composition and some minor details, anything beyond that is simply up to the person behind the pencil's choice. Each one doesn't need to be an original Picasso.

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Regards,
Matthew Alexander Patton (Cinematographer / Director / Photographer / Writer)
www.pavelware.com / matt@pavelware.com

I have a personal problem with pencil sketch storyboards. I have a deep artistic background and am quite capable at drawing. the problem is that I cant sit down and do a quick sketch. I CANT. I've tried. I get too involved and edit and reedit and redraw and add more and then try to make it perfect and I never like it and I throw it away. I know the simple answer to this is "dont do that. just draw quick sketches and let it go." I cant. I have tried numerous times.

Problem is I know that I would do the same thing with and computerized form of storyboarding.

I do understand where you are coming from. I have a background in art myself, and I'm a graphic designer 'by day' as they say; the trick is not to get too caught up in the 'too much' aspect of it.

The last film I worked on I wasn't actually supposed to be doing storyboards, the director said she would and never did, so when it came to the shoot I just started sketching out shots in a rough 2:35:1 frame. They were wild, energetic sketches, full of very little detail but packed with emphasis due to that same 'wildness'.

Most people don't need a piece of art, they need a generic marker sketch (with a bit of flair added to get the point across).

For those shots where you feel it would be good to create a new Rembrandt for,...just go with the flow. There are no boundaries on how grand or simple a storyboard should be.

_________________
Regards,
Matthew Alexander Patton (Cinematographer / Director / Photographer / Writer)
www.pavelware.com / matt@pavelware.com

	Quote:
	...the trick is not to get too caught up in the 'too much' aspect of it.

OH! I didnt think of that. Rolling Eyes

Really. It's not that I think they SHOULD be masterpieces, I just cannot quick sketch anything I am happy about leaving like that.

To me, the idea of a camera that I can set to the exact lens I want, grab premade characters and pose them where they are in the scene, place them in their location and then set the camera where I need it for my shot, that just cant be beat.

Unless you are the type that can do quick sketches and be happy with them. I'm not, unfortunately. Crying or Very sad

, I saw that.

I think it's just one of those things. It can, for instance, be incredibly hard to walk away from a film and stop tampering with it.

_________________
Regards,
Matthew Alexander Patton (Cinematographer / Director / Photographer / Writer)
www.pavelware.com / matt@pavelware.com

One thing I have found with Sketchup I can create one scene which can be used for several camera shots. For example the picture heading this thread is just one point of view. By using different camera viewpoints within that scene I can quickly create a storyboard sequence by taking a screenshot. I agree pencil and paper can be very quick, but for me Sketchup allows me to do repitious shots, and be able to vary camera angles at the same time. I can also mark the camera shot angles etc and change fov if necessary.

_________________
"Don't do anything that you don't really want to do. Keep yourself in a place of feeling good. Reach for the thought that feels better -- and watch what happens." - Abraham-Hicks

http:\\www.metalplatefilms.metalplateproductions.com

3d previz is especially nice when you are using known locations, since you can use real world dimensions; wheras with a sketch you might then discover that your perfect angle places your camera three feet inside a solid wall ^_^

I downloaded antics.

It does not, however, appear to do anything.

There are a number of folders of "content" but nothing in them. Am I doing something wrong?

That sounds strange. Antics should install to your Program Files directory, by default:

c:\Program Files\Antics\Antics v3.0

In there should be an AnticsEditor.exe, open that up to fire up the program.

Rather than go too off topic here, if you're still having trouble with it, please post up on the Antics forum, and we'll get to the bottom of it there.
http://www.antics3d.com/forum.php?action=topics&cat_id=13

@Pinkhair - yes definitely! It's great to use the Google Warehouse or Google Maps to get a model that's true to real life and drop it into your previz.

Gary

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Walking in an Antics wonderland...

I have to say, Gary, your site is very frustrating. Months ago I went to download Antics and got frustrated and left, today I went to download Antics and left.

Is there any free content aside from the free basic pack? Searching for things is just painful. Having to signup and use the shopping cart for free content is a pain.

I'd like to try it out, I'm just not a fan of hoops. Or jumping. I've got other things to do.

Hi Gage, thanks for the feedback. Yes, I agree, it could be a lot easier to get hold of the free version of Antics. It's something we're very aware of, in fact we will soon have a new one click download page.

It's a legacy thing - when we decided to offer a free version we were still tied in to the same content delivery system which was tailored towards delivering a $1000 product.

The simple download page will go live very soon. I've seen it and there's a minimum of hoop jumping I can assure you!

We keep a list of the free content on the Antics forum here:
http://www.antics3d.com/forum.php?action=thread&topic_id=755

You will have to add items to the shopping cart and then "buy" them for free, which I appreciate is a hassle.

We are on the case though, we have an entire new web site in development, built from the ground up with new forums and new content delivery. The one click download page will be a big help while we work on the new site.

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Walking in an Antics wonderland...

Thanks for the reply. I look forward to the new site.

Pencil sketches and I have personally never been friends. Confused

For me, stick figures end up looking like pieces of spaghetti that have been broken and thrown haphazardly onto the page; for some reason I can never make easily discernible figures that capture the angle I want. That is the reason why I prefer digital software to create my storyboards. I haven't used Antics 3D before, but I've found that StoryBoard Artist (http://www.storyboardartist.com) makes amazing 3D storyboards; additionally, StoryBoard Quick(http://www.storyboardquick.com) is very intuitive 2D software.