Previs Pro vs. Back-to-One

Previs Pro revolutionizes the traditional storyboarding experience by eliminating the need for conventional drawing tools, offering both annual subscriptions and one-time purchase options that make it an economical choice for professionals in the field. This application, which can be easily downloaded from the App Store, is tailored to simplify the storyboarding journey for filmmakers and writers, regardless of their expertise. You can initiate projects for different formats, such as 35mm, video, or iPhone, in just a matter of seconds. Whether you are conceptualizing a single scene or an entire cinematic piece, storyboarding can be accomplished at an impressive pace. The app facilitates the seamless import of your Final Draft script, capturing all scenes and characters, while also allowing you to quickly add and adjust props, characters, walls, and lighting with simple taps. You have the option to control the camera in three dimensions, enabling you to explore various shot angles, heights, and distances to achieve the ideal visual framing. Moreover, any prop or character can be tagged for reuse throughout your project, significantly boosting productivity. With the integration of Apple A/R (augmented reality), you can storyboard in real-time, even on set, which paves the way for the spontaneous sharing of last-minute shot concepts with your cast and crew during production. By utilizing Previs Pro, you can truly embrace the evolving landscape of storyboarding and enhance your filmmaking endeavors while ensuring a more collaborative atmosphere.

Back-to-One is an all-encompassing application tailored for directors and cinematographers in the film and television sector, specifically designed for use on iPads and Macs. This innovative tool enables users to strategically position actors, cameras, lighting, and walls within a top-down interface, which then generates a comprehensive shot list, an animated blocking visualization, and a viewfinder preview that accurately reflects real sensor sizes and focal lengths across six different formats, including anamorphic. The application features a bidirectional synchronization between the canvas and the shot list, ensuring that any adjustments made are immediately updated in real-time. Instead of organizing the shot list by scene, it categorizes shots by camera setup, facilitating a more intuitive workflow that mirrors the actual shooting sequence. Each shot comes with a time estimate, along with cumulative totals for every setup and an overall tally for the day. While on set, users can mark shots as completed in real-time, and the app also offers dim and red-light modes to improve visibility during low-light conditions. Furthermore, users can import their screenplays in FDX or PDF formats, automatically creating a project that encompasses all scenes and characters. The application also supports exporting set PDFs customized for each camera position, along with call sheets, lighting diagrams, and shot lists in various formats such as PDF, Excel, or CSV, thereby providing a well-rounded solution for both pre-production planning and on-set organization. This functionality empowers directors and cinematographers to concentrate on their creative vision while effortlessly managing the logistical elements of their projects. Ultimately, Back-to-One enhances the collaboration between creative and technical teams, streamlining the filmmaking process.