ILSProductions

Behind the Scenes: Reshoots

Added 2021-05-25 01:06:28 +0000 UTC

If you've been with us for a while, you've probably seen me mention reshoots and rewrites a couple times. These terms are lifted from TV/movie development and are meant to signify going back to to redo sequences you may have already shot (or filmed) due to a number and variety of factors. For Now & Then, this could be anything from needing to change something in the script to not liking the way a scene looks now that we've seen it in a test build.

Some examples as to why there are reshoots:

It could just be as simple as needing to add a single shot so that the flow or pace of a conversation feels better.
An animation didn't come out right or had clipping.
I moved the scene in the story and needed to drop in some transitions for its new place. Case in point: Chapter 15's bathroom scenes with Naomi were much earlier in the episode but got pushed back to spread the sequences out.
Inconsistent lighting between shots.
Wardrobe - I've actually re-shot scenes because I used the wrong costume for Jack in consecutive scenes.

As an example, I've posted some before and after shots below. This is from Chapter 16 (so if you haven't played that far, be warned). In the opening sequence after the school starts to catch fire, there are a number of variant pathways on how you come across Sydney. These shots are from the version where she's still in the library and he finds her unconscious. This is very much an example of a scene redone purely because I didn't like how it looked and how some of the shots were framed. Also, the script changed at the end and I needed an extra shot or two.

As you can tell, the lighting is more dramatic and I added in more fire and smoke effects. Plus, the original renders are just too well-lit and really don't sell that the building is on fire. The redone shots at least feel more on point. Another change was a shift in the camera angle to better frame Sydney's face for the exchange between her and Jack.