Computer and Device Interfaces

Computer and phone screens are common in modern films, showcasing everything from typing emails to high-tech software. These interfaces need to look believable, especially in genres like sci-fi or crime thrillers, where the technology is often a key plot device. Designers work during pre-production to create detailed user interfaces (UIs) that reflect the technological world of the film.

Pre-production steps:

• Designing custom UI/UX interfaces that fit the film’s tone and setting (e.g., sleek, futuristic interfaces for sci-fi films).
• Creating animated sequences that show interactions, such as typing, hacking, or message notifications.
• Ensuring functionality for actors to interact believably with the content (e.g., pressing buttons or scrolling through data).

Surveillance and Security Footage

Surveillance videos displayed on monitors are often used to show action from a different perspective or to advance crime or investigation plots. To maintain authenticity, filmmakers capture and pre-edit these sequences during pre-production, often using a different style of filming to mimic real-world security camera footage.

Pre-production steps:

• Shooting surveillance footage with specific angles (e.g., overhead, wide shots) and lower frame rates to simulate real CCTV.
• Applying filters or visual effects to replicate the look of grainy or pixelated security video.
• Coordinating with the main shoot to ensure the footage fits seamlessly with the action being filmed.

Diagnostic and Tactical Displays

In many action or military-based films, characters use tactical monitors to view battlefield maps, diagnostics of spacecraft, or readings from high-tech devices. These are crucial for creating tension and advancing the plot, so they are carefully designed to look realistic and functional.

Pre-production steps:

• Designing detailed 3D models or animations to represent complex data (e.g., maps, satellite images, or radar).
• Preparing looping or dynamic sequences that reflect changing conditions in the scene, such as an approaching threat or mission status.
• Synchronizing the visuals with dialogue or events happening in real-time to add urgency.

Video Games and Arcades

Video games and arcade machines can serve as essential backdrops or plot devices in films, often reflecting characters’ personalities or the film’s thematic elements. Preparing these visuals during pre-production helps maintain consistency and realism.

Pre-production steps:

• Designing game graphics, interfaces, and mechanics that fit the film’s universe, whether it’s a fictional game or based on a real one.
• Creating playable sequences that actors can interact with, allowing for genuine reactions and gameplay moments.
• Filming any necessary arcade interactions, ensuring that the actors’ timing matches the gameplay visuals.

Interactive Interfaces and Touchscreens

Touchscreen displays, common in futuristic films, require intricate choreography between the actor and the on-screen video. During pre-production, content is pre-created so actors can convincingly “use” these interfaces on set, and playback operators trigger the right visuals at the right time.

Pre-production steps:

• Designing interactive elements that can be triggered live during the shoot.
• Collaborating with the director and actor to choreograph interactions with the screen, ensuring timing and gestures are accurate.
• Using projection mapping or rear-projection techniques to make it appear as if the touchscreen is functioning in real time.

In Conclusion

At Agenti Cinema, we believe that creating videos during pre-production can save both time and money. By preparing screen content in advance, filmmakers can avoid costly edits later on and ensure everything is perfectly timed and aligned with the story. This proactive approach allows for more creativity and flexibility on set, ultimately leading to a smoother production process. Plus, when everything is planned out from the beginning, it helps keep the budget on track while still delivering high-quality visuals that enhance the storytelling experience.

Let us help you make your vision a reality without breaking the bank for post processing!