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Filming your first scenario can be exciting! This guide will walk you through the steps to pre-production planning, on-set best practices, and post-production tips.
The first step in filming a scenario begins before the cameras start rolling. Start by exporting your scenario from Warp Studio. The export gives you a script that serves as a detailed shot list, outlining every scene’s requirements. Ensure your script includes precise scene descriptions. These descriptions should provide a detailed narrative of what occurs in each scene and can include dialogue from the actors. Additionally, adding camera locations to each scene helps with ordering your export.
Setting up camera locations — Camera locations are crucial for planning your shoot. Assign a specific camera location for each scene in your scenario, which you can also see as chapters or topics. To do this, select a scene and go to the filming page in the sidebar. Here, you can choose a camera location or create a new one. To determine in what order you want to film the scenes, go to the media page in the top menu. This helps decide whether to film scenes chronologically or sequentially, which maximizes production efficiency.
Once your pre-production planning is complete, the real action begins.
Setting up your tripod — Position your tripod so that the camera stands at the eye height of your main character. This setup ensures that the trainees’ perspective remains consistent. Use a standard eye level as a reference point if your scenario doesn't involve actors.
Setting up your camera — Use the highest possible resolution on your camera to capture clear and engaging footage. Position your characters optimally, typically 1-2 meters away from the camera. This distance is ideal for maintaining visual clarity and engagement without overwhelming the viewer. But you can play with the distance to add to the dynamics of your scene. For example, have an aggressive actor get closer to the camera to achieve more discomfort in the training. Have your character always stand in front of one lens and not in a stitch line (where two lenses meet each other). This ensures the best video quality.
Capturing the scenes — Film each scene multiple times to ensure you have options for selecting the best take during post-production. Encourage actors to look directly into the camera lens; this makes interactions feel personal and realistic to the trainees. At the end of each scene, keep the camera rolling for an extra 20 seconds. This additional footage is essential for creating video loops in Warp Studio. A video loop is a part of the video that can be repeated so the video doesn’t pause when the trainees are making a decision. This keeps the tension and suspense of your training.
Post-production is where your filmed content transforms into a VR scenario.
Stitching your footage — For the best results, stitch your footage on a computer. Most 360˚ cameras come with stitching software, which allows you to combine video files from different lenses into a single 360˚ video. When exporting your videos from the stitching software, make sure you export them as 360˚ videos.
Finalizing your video — Upload your videos to the media page in your scenario. Use the Video Editor to position the interactive elements into your scenes. This powerful yet user-friendly tool lets you position elements precisely and set up video loops effectively. For detailed instructions on using the Video Editor, refer to Writing your first scenario.
Following these steps will allow you to film and produce a VR scenario. Remember, each production phase, from setting up your camera to final edits, contributes to the overall quality and impact of your VR training. Enjoy the process of bringing your scenario to life!
