Great expectations

I think the previs was extremely useful for developing the narrative. All sorts of narrative problems and gaps came to light. So the pre-vis supplies an overall plan. It supplements the written treatment. it's our script. It sets the stage for performance and listening.

We start shooting on set. But a lot of the first encounters with the set is to find out what wants to be shot because the pre-vis shots don't work. The Ben standing and looking at the spinner just doesn't work because of framing. Others come to mind. Then each scene begins to form and tell us what it wants to be. We then start to name each scene. In a sense, typical previsualization is like naming the scene first and dictating how it has to function. Within our structure, the pre-vis dictates only generally. We listen and then name the scene--the ritualistic scene, the watching the spinner like a TV scene, etc. This is totally different from the shot list which was broken up into days.

Maybe this is what an experienced crew does only much much faster. It takes minutes, whereas for us, it takes weeks.

So setting expectations is important. Rather than assuming we can just go out and shoot something and make it work, you set the expectation that for a few days or weeks you'll be searching. Then the shot will disclose itself. Then you move on.