Workflow in the Broadcast/Film Environment
One of the most important elements in the success of a project is the planning stage, which actually has many phases. The ones most commonly covered are the script, design, and storyboard phases, but it doesn't end there.
To support conceptual planning you must have a solid execution plan. How many artists and technical directors will be involved? Will they all be located in the same building or work remotely? How will the work be delegated? And how can the tools available in 3ds max 4 be used to facilitate all this?
You have to answer these and many other questions in a way that gets the project done on time and on budget. As you'll see, a good workflow, or pipeline, can be just as challenging to create as the artwork it facilitates.
The Project and Elements
The first step in creating a successful workflow is to examine the project and establish a list of the necessary elements. Typically this decision-making process is a collaborative effort including a director, producer(s), and visual effects supervisor(s). In cases involving a smaller production staff, the role of the visual effects supervisor is filled by the project lead, the technical director, or the lead artist—and in some cases, all three.
Sometimes the results of these meetings require a script rewriting, a change in the storyboards, or a reworking of preproduction designs. When every aspect of the project has been analyzed and agreed on, a shot-by-shot list should be compiled detailing the element requirements. At this time, the individual(s) fulfilling the role of visual effects supervisor must decide what talent and tools are needed to do the job.