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Introduction

The VFX industry evolves rapidly, and the聽previs artist聽has become essential. By building digital 鈥渞ehearsals鈥� of films and episodes well before cameras roll, previs saves time and cost while helping directors refine ambitious ideas.

What Is Previs & What Does a Previs Artist Do?

Previsualization聽(previs) produces 3D animatics that preview shots, staging, and camera language. Unlike flat storyboards, previs conveys dimensionality鈥攕pace, lenses, and motion. Previs artists sit between pre-production and main production, transforming 2D boards into living 3D sequences that plan the entire shoot.

Stages: Pitchvis, Previs, Techvis, Stuntvis, Postvis

  • Pitchvis:聽Early concepts for producer buy-in.
  • Previs:聽Detailed scene development prior to filming.
  • Techvis:聽Technical breakdowns for complex setups.
  • Stuntvis:聽Stunt sequence planning and safety visualization.
  • Postvis:聽Temp composites to support editorial before final VFX.

Core advantage:聽rehearse expensive, risky shoots digitally and de-risk production.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work

  • Scene blocking & composition:聽place characters, sets, and cameras; apply cinematic rules (rule of thirds, screen direction).
  • Camera work:聽lenses, angles, and moves to shape emotion and clarity.
  • Rough character animation:聽timing and action beats (not final animation).
  • Rapid iterations:聽fast changes in response to director notes.
  • Editing & light compositing:聽assemble sequences with temp effects & sound.
  • Asset testing:聽verify rigs/geometry before handoff downstream.

Great previs clearly communicates the director鈥檚 intent to cinematography, VFX, stunts, and design.

Who Previs Artists Work With

  • Director:聽primary creative partner; explores ideas safely.
  • VFX Supervisor:聽ensures plans align with post realities.
  • Layout TD:聽solves scale, lighting, and optimization issues.
  • Production management:聽schedules & deadlines in pre-production.
  • DPs & Production Designers:聽use previs as on-set reference.

Skills Studios Require

  • Cinematography:聽composition, continuity, visual storytelling.
  • Animation fundamentals:聽timing & performance for rough action.
  • 3D proficiency:聽Maya/3ds Max/MotionBuilder; growing real-time fluency.
  • Editorial sense:聽cut shots into readable sequences.
  • Mocap familiarity:聽quick, believable motion foundations.
  • Live-action translation:聽previs cameras that can be executed on set.
  • Communication:聽turn creative notes into practical updates quickly.

Tools & Software (Why Real-Time)

Traditional:聽Maya (animation/layout), 3ds Max (environments), MotionBuilder (mocap), Nuke (comp).

Real-time shift:聽studios (e.g., The Third Floor, Halon) increasingly adopt聽Unreal Engine聽for instant iterations, VR scene scouting, and high-quality lighting without long renders.聽Blender聽grows for indie previs due to power and price (free).

Career Path, Training, & Portfolio

Education & Adjacent Entries

Degrees in animation, film, or CS help but aren鈥檛 required. Many transition from聽environment/layout聽roles. Virtual production courses are rising.

Portfolio & Showreel

  • Length:聽60鈥�90 seconds; lead with strongest work.
  • Range:聽action and drama; interesting camera language.
  • Content:聽character + environment work; readable edits.

Evaluators look for:聽storytelling clarity, technical execution, creative solutions, and industry-standard practices. Post on聽ArtStation; use聽YouTube聽for process breakdowns.

Independent Start (Hands-On Steps)

  • Install聽Unreal Engine; experiment with free assets.
  • Join game jams (e.g.,聽Epic MegaJam) for deadlines & feedback.
  • Sell or share assets on the Marketplace to build visibility.
  • Engage with Epic Developer Community & VP forums.

Job Market & Where to Find Jobs

  • Studio sites: ILM, W膿t膩 FX, The Third Floor.
  • ArtStation Jobs聽for creative roles (filter by region/level).
  • Industry boards: CreativeHeads, ProductionHUB.
  • LinkedIn: networking and referrals matter.

Employment Types

  • Studio:聽stability & marquee projects; less task flexibility.
  • Freelance:聽freedom + responsibility; strong self-management.
  • Remote:聽normalized post-pandemic; cross-border collaboration.

Salaries & Growth

  • Average (US):聽~$81,000鈥�$150,000.
  • Junior:聽~ $60,000;聽Senior:聽$180,000+.
  • Premiums for real-time/virtual production specialization.
  • Higher pay on blockbusters and high-budget series.

Growth paths include Previs Supervisor, VFX Supervisor, or Previs Director.

  • Storyboard Artist:聽closest counterpart; many transition from boards to previs.
  • Layout Artist (animation):聽similar scene composition responsibilities.
  • Concept Artist:聽generates designs that previs translates into motion.

Practical 30鈥�60 Day Steps

0鈥�2 Weeks: Foundations

  • Study cinematography & composition; analyze previs from major films.
  • Recreate a simple boarded scene in 3D using primitives.

2鈥�4 Weeks: First Projects

  • Create 2鈥�3 short previs pieces in Unreal or Blender.
  • Integrate free mocap data to test timing & performance.

4鈥�8 Weeks: Reel & Promotion

  • Cut a 60鈥�90s reel with strong pacing.
  • Publish to ArtStation & LinkedIn; seek feedback from working previs artists.

Industry Future

Real-time tech enables photoreal previs; some shots graduate into finals.聽Virtual production聽blurs lines between previs and shooting (e.g., LED volumes).聽AI聽assists with routine tasks (mocap cleanup, camera path suggestions). Early adopters gain a competitive edge.

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