Basic Directing for Beginners | Dara Amarie
top of page

Adding Backgrounds & Changing Scenes

  • Click on the "Art Catelog" tab at the top of the screen. You will see all available Episode backgrounds.

  • To add a background to your story, all you need to do is copy and paste the background name into your script.

  • Every time you add a background name to the script, it creates a new scene.

  • Any characters or overlays you want in the scene must be added after the background name.

​

​

Switching & Showing Different Zones

pv2_back_INT__JUVIE_WELLES_BEDROOM___DAY

Each background consists of 1 - 3 zones. (Some backgrounds have 4-6)

When you add a background to your script, it defaults to the first zone.

If you want to start your scene off in a different zone, you will need to use the "cut" command.

​

@cut to zone #

​

Change "#" to the zone number. This command will immediately go to that zone.

​

If you want the "camera" to move to another zone, you will need to use the "pan" command.

​

@pan to zone #

​

Change "#" to the zone number. This command will make the "camera" move to that zone.

​

If you want the pan to be slower or faster, add timing to the command.

​

@pan to zone # in T

​

Here are some example codes:

​

@cut to zone 2

@pan to zone 3 in 4

@pan to zone 1 in 0.5

​

​

Adding & Placing Characters
You can place your characters in the scene by using the "stands" command.

There are screen positions that characters can stand at.

​

  • screen center

  • screen left

  • screen right

  • upscreen left

  • upscreen right

  • back left

  • back right

  • back far left

  • back far right

pv2_back_INT__DELTA_HOUSE___DAY.jpg

The "stands" command is:

​

@CHARACTER stands position

​

Here is an example code:

​

@DARA stands screen center

​

​

​

Characters Entering & Exiting the Scene

Characters can enter or exit the scene from either the left or right side of the screen, which is the direction.

​

The command to enter the scene is:

​

@CHARACTER enters from direction to position

​

Here is an example code:

​

@DARA enters from right to upscreen left

​

The command to exit the scene is:

​

@CHARACTER exits direction

​

Here is an example code:

​

@DARA exits left

​

​

​

Change Direction of Characters

To have your character face left or right, use this command:

​

@CHARACTER faces direction

​

Here is an example code:

​

@DARA faces right

​

​

​

Make Characters Talk

To add dialogue and make characters say something, this is how it should look in your script:

​

CHARACTER

Dialogue here.

​

If you want your character to do an animation while talking:

​

CHARACTER (animation)

Dialogue here.

​

Here is an example:

​

DARA (talk_excited_happy)

Hello, it's nice to meet you!

​

​

​

Make Characters Do Animations

If you want a character to do an animation without making them talk, the command is:​

​

@CHARACTER is animation

​

Here is an example code:

​

@DARA is react_pumpfist_happy

​

​

​

Make Characters Walk

If you want a character to walk to a different positin on the screen, the command is:

​

@CHARACTER walks to position

​

Here is an example code:

​

@DARA walks to screen right

​

You can make your character walk to a different zone and have the camera follow the character with the "follows" command:

​

@follow CHARACTER to position in zone #

​

Here is an example code:

​

@follow DARA to back right in zone 3

​

​

bottom of page