A Collaborative Previsualization Tool for Filmmaking in Virtual Reality

Abstract: Previsualization is a process within pre-production of filmmaking where filmmakers can visually plan specific scenes with camera works, lighting, character movements, etc. We developed and assess a prototype for previsualization in virtual reality for collaborative purposes where multiple filmmakers can be present in a virtual environment to share a creative work experience, remotely. The costs of computer graphics-based effects are substantial within film production, using previsualization, these scenes can be planned in detail to reduce the amount of work put on effects in the later production phase. By performing a within-group study on 20 filmmakers, our findings show that the use of virtual reality for distributed, collaborative previsualization processes is useful for real-life pre-production purposes. These results provide insights on how to best design collaborative, virtual reality-applications used for remote work, and highlights the pitfalls of certain design choices.