Working in the movies
While CGI has largely overtaken practical effects, there are still plenty of instances where practical methods are preferred. That was the case for the production company behind the second season of the Flemish TV series The Twelve (De Twaalf), who chose to have their actors interact with real digital products on laptops, mobiles, and tablets during filming.
To achieve this, they needed fully functional prototypes—designed to mimic real products and services—that actors could use naturally on set.
Designing for cinema
Working directly with the set’s digital prop producer, I reviewed scripts, filming schedules, and prop devices to ensure that, by the scheduled filming date, the prototypes were ready to be used—following the exact scripted flow and on the correct device.
After a long search for the perfect tool to design and export the prototypes for remote use, I chose Framer (for a brief return to the tool) to create both the prototypes and their interactions.
To achieve maximum realism for the TV series, I had to replicate real-time interactions such as writing, sending, and receiving messages on WhatsApp; browsing Facebook on a laptop; receiving and opening mobile social media notifications and being redirected to the app; reading a newspaper article; swiping profiles on Tinder—and much more.
key takeaways
·
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Especially in a volatile environment like a film set, where things can change at the last minute. It was a stressful but necessary challenge to stay remotely on standby during filming, ready to ensure that the prototypes were functioning correctly and ready on time.
Thankfully, that scenario never played out. The prop coordinator and I had thoroughly tested the prototypes multiple times beforehand, making sure everything was set for a smooth shoot.
·
Not being proficient in the use of a product that is necessary for a project can be a bottle neck, especially when working under tight deadlines. While the process generally ran smoothly, my limited experience with Framer occasionally restricted my ability to create the most optimal prototyping solutions.
On the flip side, it pushed me to think creatively and find alternative ways to solve unexpected problems as they arose.
