1) Group Project: Previs Cinematic Scene (Theme: “Prey”)
This week, my teammate and I completed a 30–45 second previs assignment using animRig_chemoBot. Our story takes place in a narrow alley at night: a drunk man appears to be the prey, watched from above by a tall, slender creature that moves in and attacks. The turning point is that the “prey” suddenly transforms into a larger monster and hunts the slender creature instead, creating a dramatic power reversal.
This project helped me understand that previs is not about making the animation complex—it’s about using shots, pacing, and spatial relationships so the audience instantly understands who is in control. I learned to use focal length choices (compressing vs. expanding space) and high/low camera angles (establishing dominance and vulnerability) to build tension and support the “pressure → reversal” emotional arc. I also used alley occlusion and tight framing to make the environment actively support the storytelling, rather than functioning as a passive background.
2) Story Structure
In class, I studied story structure and realised that even a short film needs a clear cause-and-effect chain and strong rhythm control. We planned our timing using a three-act structure: 10 seconds for setup, 20 seconds for escalation, and 10 seconds for resolution (the reversal and wrap-up). This ensured the conflict was not random, but logically built toward the turning point.
More importantly, I learned that structure directly shapes shot design:
- Act 1: communicate location, character state, and where the danger comes from quickly.
- Act 2: increase pressure through progression—closer, faster, tighter.
- Act 3: deliver a clear reversal shot to confirm the power shift, then end cleanly without dragging.
3) Self-Study: Constraints / Parenting / Locators
I also studied the differences and practical uses of Parenting, Constraints, and Locators:
- Parenting is a permanent hierarchy—stable, but not ideal for frequent handoffs.
- Constraints are switchable relationships—useful for “control handovers” through weight changes.
- Locators act as invisible anchors—cleaner prop setups and easier adjustments later.