ProVideo Coalition.com: the EDITBLOG on PVC by Scott Simmons

A storyboard presentation is generated by launching a scene design tool that includes actor and camera placement tools. Using the actor and camera placement tools, a first actor icon and a first camera icon are added on a scene layout, the first actor icon representing a first actor that will appear in a scene and the first camera icon representing a first camera that will film the scene. The user is enabled to control a location and orientation of the first actor icon using the actor placement tool and a location and orientation of the first camera icon relative to the first actor icon using the camera placement tool. Based on the location and orientation of the first actor icon and the first camera icon, a first projection of the scene featuring the first actor as seen from the first camera is generated.

The first thing I wondered after reading about this patent would be if this could be a stand alone piece of software or would it be integrated into Final Cut Pro?

Or maybe a new piece of software that could be added to the Final Cut Studio suite of applications? The Information Week article also questions if this could be added to “Final Cut/Final Cut Express” but I can’t imagine it would be built into Final Cut Pro since storyboarding really isn’t an editor’s editing tool but more of a director’s planning tool. My bet would be that it might be added to the FCS suite. Seems like Apple could get more marketing mileage out of it as a standalone piece of software separate from Final Cut Pro. But if you look at Final Cut Pro’s two big competitors, both have a unique feature that is the “killer feature” to some users. Avid Media Composer has Script Sync that automatically lines a script for script based editing and Adobe Premiere Pro has added voice transcription. Final Cut Pro really doesn’t have that one unique feature that could be a lifesaver for those that need it as well as a marketing department’s dream. Adding integrated storyboarding would make a better trade show demo than anything else. Personally I hope it is not integrated with whatever the new version of Final Cut Pro will be. Apple needs to work under the hood on the core of Final Cut Pro before they the add icing on the cake that something like storyboard integration would be. Heck, if they want storyboard software for the FCS suite that bad they could just buy any number of third party applications out there and just add that. You can read a detailed description and more claims about this patent or just wait for Apple to bring it to the masses. That is if they ever do

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Scott-

I agree that a storyboard program does not belong in the Final Cut suite. The only rationalization I could see for including it in a post-production bundle is for some motion designers/FX people who do pre-viz. But even then, they’re probably not using Final Cut Studio.

However, I wouldn’t hold your breath on improvements to FCP’s core before adding the so-called “icing.” There are so many bugs and odd behaviors that have lasted over numerous full-point upgrades that I’ve lost hope for them ever being fixed. Yet they still added Motion, SoundTrack and LiveType.

I think FCP’s roots in a simple DV NLE really starting to show.

Posted by Paul Conigliaro on 01/30 at 10:49 AM

No doubt about fixing the core of FCP before adding another layer/app. But, if that’s done, why not add a previz app into the suite? Especially one that would kick out a production board/shot list/storyboard as well as an FCP timeline? Yeah, you read that right…it should kick out an FCP timeline of your storyboards so you can work on the pacing *before* you shoot.

Of course, they could get as detailed as they want with the depth by which it would go (lighting, lens assignment, etc). Just an overall storyboard app by a company who, generally, makes software for the 80% (purchasing Color and slapping an Apple logo on it aside) would be a great addition to the suite.

Posted by J. Curtis on 02/03 at 07:23 AM

I think the idea of FCP integration is an intriguing one since it would take the non-linear editor out of the realm of editing/post-production tool and kind of into a pre-production tool. Totally true that when Apple wants to they can really change the way we think about applications. Key is there ... when they WANT to.

Posted by Scott Simmons on 02/03 at 08:00 AM

Where better for an editor to be than starting the project with the previz and following it all the way through final edit? If anything an additional bit of software, built on some of the FCP know-how, should give editors a leg up on getting the job early in the process.

Yeah, you’re right about the WANT to part. I don’t think I’ve even opened up LiveType or Color since they were introduced.

Posted by J. Curtis on 02/03 at 08:05 AM

Just like LiveType and Color, though, an integrated storyboard app (let’s call it StoryBoard, because that’s probably what it would be called…) would have the same limited appeal/use. And by limited I mean specific purpose, not limited functionality.

Blatherskyte- I never thought of having a story board app knock out a timeline. That would actually make it useful to me.

I just worry about FCS becoming bloated with too many apps. We already have 8 primary apps-all aimed at post. If they start adding apps like StoryBoard, will script-writing software be next? production scheduling/billing? They would have to make this software really good and a game-changer to be considered to be included in FCS.

Just my 2¢.

Posted by Paul Conigliaro on 02/03 at 08:15 AM

Bloatware, whether in code or in additions, is surely problematic for software companies - even Apple.

I was thinking about how this new software might alter the overall landscape. It adds a piece that doesn’t seem to fit anywhere. But, what if the apps were repackaged into phases of production? Let me hypothesize for a bit…

Let’s say you had a Pre-Production bundle with Final Cut Express, Storyboard, and a new screenwriting app, we’ll call it “Write”.

For the production bundle you’d have FCP, Color, LiveType, Soundtrack Pro, Motion and Compressor.

and for Post Production you’d have DVD Studio Pro, Logic and Shake.

Of course, that leaves Final Cut Server somewhere out there in the weeds…but it might be there anyway because it just needs to be integrated somehow.

That would monitize things out a bit more for Apple, I think. And, add a new paradigm to the type of products a user might purchase.

Posted by J. Curtis on 02/03 at 08:27 AM

I think J. Curtis is on to something here. It would make a lot more sense to me if Apple started to create a Pre-Production bundle separate from the FCS.

Expanding on the StoryBoard and Write ideas, it could include everything from scheduling to shotlists, budgets, various legal document templates (release forms,etc.) and more.

If they found a way to integrate this with the existing FCS it could be a very powerful addition and something that I would use for sure.

Posted by thefinalcutpro on 02/04 at 04:03 PM

Apple is all about getting the budding filmmaker into the hardware via software. Most amateurs (and some pros) would like to have the Storyboard and Write software -that’s the entry to the club which is why I paired it with FC Express.

Since we’re pontificating… ideally, the Write app would send your scenes, once locked, into the storyboard app by full down to 1/8th page counts. In iMovie-style you’d drag shots longer or shorter depending on those scenes while adding/subtracting shots as necessary. Storyboard would kick out a timeline to FCE or FCP using the catalog (or imported images - think: Garageband). There you would also be able to export, pre-formatted of course, storyboards with the dialog and scene descriptions for printing or PDF use.

I’ll have to disagree with the previous post when it’s starts getting into scheduling, budgeting. I think it’s a tech support nightmare. That would be Apple losing their way and not appealing to a larger majority of people.

I think that stage is where 3rd party developers (Mariner or Gorilla, lets say) could import the info from Storyboard and Write into schedules, budget, call sheets, etc.

Posted by J. Curtis on 02/04 at 04:27 PM

I think this patent is virtually ungrantable—there have been a number of programs that use 2D layout for 3D projection, including our our FrameForge 3D Studio, which is a full blown 3D previz program that goes far beyond what they’re describing.

And the really strange thing about this to me is that Apple has been carrying our program for nearly three years on their online store.

Posted by FrameForgeGuy on 02/23 at 06:12 AM

FrameForgeGuy,

I suspect you’re right about the patent. After all, publishing a patent before granting is where companies, such as yours, can speak up about prior art/use cases.

As to the notion that Apple wouldn’t compete just because the product is carried in their own stores…just take a look at the headphone category. Which products are always first on the page?

Posted by J. Curtis on 02/23 at 07:11 AM

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Is Apple Working on Storyboarding Software?