Action Design in Virtual Production

In virtual production, the nuances of the filmmaking term Action Design take on special meaning.

Here, we break down the definition to give you a starting point.

View the full Virtual Production Glossary here »

Basic Definition:

What is Action Design in virtual production?

A form of visualization which uses 3D assets and physical simulation to plan live-action stunts. Also called safetyvis and stuntvis.

Action design, also called stuntvis or safetyvis, is a video reference as part of the project’s planning for stunts, provided by the stunt coordinator or action choreographer. It’s a (usually 3D) blueprint for action set pieces or fight sequences.

Christ Clements, a stuntvis artist says it has multiple purposes: "It's used to sell the director and producers on the vision, to work out certain beats before a shoot (...) and to act as a storyboard that can be referenced by multiple departments".

When stunt teams don’t have access to final shooting locations, they might film the action or fight sequences in rehearsal spaces with placeholder elements, and then edit the footage together.

Action design includes choreography, stunt testing, set design, camera placement and movement, lighting setup, VFX breakdown, editing, and prop and weapon conceptualization.