2  A Real Example

The previous illustration showed a very simplified version of a dopesheet. In practice, there are far more columns and boxes for information on a real dopesheet. Below, though still simplified, is the top part of a more typical dopesheet. There are endless variations and most big production houses will have their own designs.

NOTES

1.       although this is the currently available type of dopesheet in London, it is not ideal for modern practice using digital technology; a lot of space (above the blue box in the illustration) is wasted on a traditional dopesheet for indicating camera moves - space that for digital compositing would be better used for more animation levels

2.       SC. = scene number. On a series you would want far more information such as production title, episode number, sequence number and so on.

3.       FTG. = footage, or total length.

4.       SOUND  the breakdown of the soundtrack will be written here for lip-sync.

5.       ACTION  can be used to indicate key events in the scene, e.g. “balloon bursts”

6.       frm. = frame number. Some productions may well use timecode as well to place the scene’s position within a production precisely.

7.       the separate levels of animation; usually the column to the extreme right will contain the background

8.       CAMERA  this is the column in which opticals and moves are indicated

9.       SHEET this is of course the page number. When there is more than one sheet in a scene, I recommend indicating the number thus: 1/3 – this would mean that this is page 1 of a total of 3, (so the last sheet would be marked 3/3)

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