Previs: planning a film before shooting it
Previs, short for previsualisation, is a rough version of a scene or sequence made before production, to plan shots, timing and camera moves. As of 2026-09-25.
invideo's previs masterclass compares five AI-driven ways to do it, by speed, cost and accuracy. Runway's visual effects course runs from quick previs to production-ready shots.
AI tools have made previs cheaper, which is why it appears in tool makers' academies.
In an AI film, the previs and the final shot can come from the same tool, so the line between the two is less sharp than on a live-action set.
A course that covers previs is teaching planning as well as generation.
For a short film, previs can be as simple as a sequence of still frames with rough timing, made before any video is generated.
It also helps a team agree on a scene before paying for the expensive generations.
| Provider | Fact | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| invideo Academy | Film | A masterclass comparing five ways to do previs, among lessons on ads and marketing |
| Runway Academy | Film | A visual effects course runs from previs to finished shots; others cover ads, games and animation |
Inclusion rule. Readings from the register used on this page. Order. The order the text takes them in.
1From the providers' pages
This masterclass explores five different AI-driven workflows for previsualization (previs)
invideo Academy
From high fidelity quick-turnaround previs to production-ready shots, Runway can help your team shrink their timelines and stretch their budgets.
Runway Academy
- How to use AI for Previz and StoryboardingA masterclass comparing five ways to do previs, among lessons on ads and marketing
- AI for Visual EffectsA visual effects course runs from previs to finished shots; others cover ads, games and animation
Providers on this page: invideo Academy · Runway Academy