For producers and creative teams, the planning phase of virtual video production can make or break a project. Tight budgets, ambitious timelines, and unpredictable logistics often leave little room for creative exploration. That’s where pre-visualization—or pre-vis—changes everything.
Pre-visualization gives teams the power to plan with clarity and precision. By mapping out complex scenes in 3D, producers and set designers can visualize camera angles, lighting, movement, and environments in real time. This helps identify challenges early and ensures every creative decision supports the project’s story, timeline, and budget.
Unlike traditional production planning, which relies on static storyboards or guesswork during setup, pre-vis offers a shared visual language for directors, DPs, and VFX artists to collaborate seamlessly. The result is fewer surprises, smoother shoots, and productions that stay firmly on schedule.
Pre-visualization is the foundation of creative control for virtual productions. It transforms abstract ideas into tangible visuals that guide every stage of production, from virtual scouting to final compositing. At Forge Virtual Studios, it’s a cornerstone of how we help teams plan smarter, create bolder, and bring their vision to life without compromise.
An essential step in every virtual production workflow, pre-vis is the process of creating rough 3D representations of scenes before filming begins. It allows filmmakers to experiment, plan, and problem-solve long before stepping onto a set.
At its core, pre-vis involves building simplified 3D models that represent characters, props, and environments. Filmmakers use these virtual layouts to plan camera angles, lighting, and movement, exploring creative possibilities and catching potential issues before production starts.
Pre-visualization acts as a bridge between digital environments and live-action performance. Directors and cinematographers can test how virtual and physical elements interact, simulate camera movement, and make real-time adjustments during filming. It’s a collaborative process that ensures creative intent is aligned with technical execution.
Pre-vis has evolved significantly from its origins in traditional storyboarding. Where once filmmakers relied on static, hand-drawn frames to visualize key moments, today’s virtual production technology offers dynamic, interactive environments that convey motion, depth, and visual effects integration. These advancements give teams the ability to experiment freely and refine their vision with greater clarity and confidence.
In short, pre-visualization transforms abstract ideas into actionable visual plans—empowering filmmakers to bring imagination to life through smarter, more connected virtual production workflows.
A well-executed pre-vis process lays the foundation for an efficient and cohesive virtual production workflow. By strategically moving from concept to visualization stages, teams can align creative intent with technical precision long before production begins. Each step—from rough 3D modeling to virtual scouting and camera mapping—helps ensure that every frame is intentional, achievable, and visually striking.
A detailed 3D storyboard is the blueprint for every virtual production set, turning creative vision into a tangible plan that guides the entire crew. Using pre-visualization software, filmmakers can build simplified 3D models of scenes—complete with virtual cameras, lighting setups, and character movement paths. This approach gives directors and DPs the ability to experiment with framing, lens selection, and lighting direction in a digital space, allowing for precise visual decisions.
By mapping out each shot in three dimensions, teams can see how light interacts with surfaces, how characters move through environments, and how camera motion affects the story’s rhythm. These insights make it easier to identify potential continuity issues or spatial conflicts before they cost time on set.
Virtual scouting allows filmmakers to explore and plan locations before setting foot on set. By using immersive digital environments within virtual production studios, teams can test out multiple scene options without the constraints of travel or scheduling on-location shoots.
This process saves valuable time and budget by reducing the need for extensive on-site visits, minimizing logistical surprises, and allowing directors to make informed creative choices early in pre-production. With virtual scouting, the entire team can work together in real time, adjusting elements as needed.
Filmmakers can virtually explore environments that might otherwise be difficult to access, opening up endless storytelling possibilities. The result is a production process that’s faster, more cost-effective, and far more flexible.
Technical visualization (TechVis) ensures that every creative concept is backed by a clear, executable plan. This step maps out the technical logistics of each scene—equipment placement, camera paths, lighting rigs, and LED virtual production stage configurations—in advance.
By modeling these technical elements in 3D, production teams can anticipate and resolve issues early, from line-of-sight problems to lens limitations. This can save hours during the virtual production stage setup and also gives every department a precise understanding of how each component interacts within the environment.
TechVis also streamlines communication across departments. When everyone can see a visual layout of where gear, lighting, and screens will live, coordination becomes seamless. In short, TechVis transforms ambitious ideas into flawless on-set execution, helping teams fully realize the creative and technical potential of the virtual production stage.
The rapid evolution of virtual production technology has transformed pre-visualization from a niche technique into a powerful creative engine that drives entire film productions. Today’s tools make it possible to simulate, iterate, and refine complex scenes in real time.
Among these innovations, real-time rendering platforms like Unreal Engine have become the cornerstone of modern virtual production services, offering both creative flexibility and production efficiency.
With Unreal Engine, teams can visualize their projects with cinematic accuracy before cameras roll. Real-time rendering allows filmmakers to preview lighting, texture, and animation instantly. Its dynamic environment editing capabilities enable directors and DPs to modify elements such as weather, time of day, or camera position on the fly. This is perfect for productions working under tight timelines or evolving creative direction.
One of Unreal’s biggest advantages lies in its seamless integration with existing production pipelines. Assets created in pre-vis can be carried directly into the final shoot on an LED volume or virtual set, reducing duplication of work and preserving visual continuity from start to finish. This compatibility ensures decisions made early in the process remain consistent throughout filming and post.
Beyond efficiency, Unreal Engine enhances collaboration. Its shared virtual environments allow art, VFX, and production teams to work together in real time—testing scenes, refining details, and ensuring technical feasibility. The result is a more cohesive, agile, and confident production process where creativity leads and technology supports.
As virtual production technology continues to evolve, these tools are redefining what’s possible for filmmakers. By combining artistry with precision, they empower studios like Forge to deliver world-class virtual production services that make visionary storytelling both faster and more accessible.
While pre-visualization has revolutionized how teams plan and execute virtual productions, it’s not without its hurdles. Understanding the common obstacles—and how to overcome them—ensures that pre-vis remains a creative accelerator, not a bottleneck.
Budget and resource limitations are often the first concern. Pre-vis can require specialized software, powerful hardware, and skilled operators. However, investing early in pre-vis can actually lead to overall cost savings by minimizing reshoots, optimizing lighting setups, and identifying technical constraints before arriving on set. Studios like Forge that offer comprehensive virtual production services streamline access to these tools, making advanced visualization attainable even for smaller teams.
Another challenge lies in collaboration across disciplines. Pre-vis involves artists, DPs, VFX supervisors, and production designers all working together within a shared 3D environment. Without clear communication, the process can become fragmented. The solution is to use integrated platforms and real-time review systems that keep all stakeholders aligned as creative and technical decisions evolve.
Finally, many productions struggle to balance speed with creative quality. Real-time rendering tools like Unreal Engine solve this tension by allowing teams to iterate quickly without sacrificing visual fidelity. Directors can adjust camera angles, lighting, or motion cues instantly—keeping the creative flow intact while maintaining production efficiency.
The key to overcoming these challenges is thoughtful integration of pre-vis into the broader virtual production workflow. When used strategically, it enhances the artistry of filmmaking.
In practice, pre-visualization is so much more than just a planning tool—it’s a creative catalyst that streamlines every phase of virtual video production. From commercials and branded content to feature films and live broadcasts, pre-vis gives production teams the flexibility to experiment, adapt, and execute with precision. When integrated into a virtual production workflow, it becomes the backbone of collaboration between directors, cinematographers, and VFX teams.
For example, during pre-production, pre-vis helps agencies and filmmakers pitch concepts more effectively. Instead of relying on static storyboards, teams can present animated, camera-accurate previews that bring the client’s vision to life. Once approved, those same 3D assets transition seamlessly into the virtual set, ensuring consistency from creative concept to final output. On large-scale shoots, pre-vis also supports real-time iteration—allowing lighting, lens, and environment adjustments without costly downtime or rework.
To maximize its impact, here are a few practical pro tips:
When done the right way, pre-visualization turns abstract ideas into actionable visual plans that keep productions agile, efficient, and creatively fearless. It’s the difference between walking onto a set with uncertainty and stepping in with complete confidence, knowing every detail has already been seen, tested, and perfected within your virtual production workflow.
As the production landscape evolves, pre-visualization has become a creative and operational necessity for high-performing virtual productions. It helps teams plan smarter, collaborate better, and tell stories with greater clarity and emotional impact.
Traditional storyboarding will always have its place, but modern virtual production technology elevates that foundation into something far more dynamic. By visualizing every element before a single frame is shot, pre-vis empowers filmmakers to make bold creative choices with confidence.
At Forge Virtual Studios, pre-visualization is woven into our process as part of our commitment to world-class virtual production services. We believe in giving creators the freedom to explore their vision while minimizing risk, reducing costs, and ensuring every decision contributes to the final story.
The result is more efficient production and, more importantly, inspired storytelling. For teams ready to push creative boundaries and bring ambitious ideas to life, pre-visualization isn’t just a tool. It’s the starting point of every great production.
Unlock the creative possibilities of virtual production. Schedule a consultation with Forge today.