The control system is really intuitive (especially if you’ve ever played any top-down-style computer games), and before too long, with a little bit of practice, you can build any look you want. There’s a really intuitive system for adding cameras, lights, props, furniture, and actors. It’s all in one menu, and it’s very responsive. Workman starts the game off with what I’d consider the perfect lighting kit - you’ve got lekos Aputure 120Ds quasars and big, soft diffusion frames. I’m sure we’ll see plenty more fixtures soon, but this is enough to get started. I’d say the most impressive part of the game is how easy it is to use the control system.

This game is as fun as Sims or RollerCoaster Tycoon, but for filmmakers. The building system for this product is truly genius. It’s like playing Minecraft or Fortnite, but you can build real environments, extremely quickly. I can’t wait to see how much more robust this system may become. It’s as easy as clicking icons to create walls and doors and windows (whatever you need). It becomes a secondhand language extremely quickly. This is a virtual version that I created of our office here, on the first day I started using the software.

Before long, I suspect I’ll be able to go on a location scout, snap a few pics, and build a virtual version of whatever scene I want to shoot there. Once you have your virtual camera set up and framed the way you’d like, you can capture the frame just by hitting the ENTER key. This would be really helpful for creating storyboards and compiling them in a program like Photoshop or InDesign. There is also an in-game storyboard feature that stores all of your frames and images. It will save the focal length, and you can name the shots or add any comments you might want. I’m wondering if, in the future, there will be some way to export - or save - an image of this portion of the interface, to save the extra step of going into a different application to put the storyboards together. Image: My attempt to re-create an iconic frame from No Country For Old Men.Ĭine Tracer is already a home run, as far as I’m concerned, but I can definitely see potential for further improvements. Interested in the tracks we used to make this video? I can’t wait to see where Workman takes the software in the future - I’ll be following along, every step of the way. “ Silly Old Film” by Peter McIsaac Music.

Looking for more video tutorials? Check these out.Cinematographer Matt Workman has released Cine Tracer, an interesting work-in-progress ‘cinematography simulator’ based on Unreal Engine. The software – half game, half professional tool – enables users to plan shots or capture storyboard frames using virtual sets featuring digital recreations of real-world lights, cameras and props.

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