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Your 20 to 40 Second Previs Scene

The capstone project for Blender for Filmmakers: Sets, Cameras, Light and Previs — a free AI & Emerging Tech course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.

Start the course free Download the project workbook

The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.

What you will submit

One shared video link (YouTube unlisted, Google Drive or similar, set to 'anyone with the link can view') to the 20 to 40 second rendered previs, plus uploaded screenshots of the set, cameras, lights and character, the exported guide frame (rough render with its depth or line pass), and the shot list with asset credits and the lighting description.

What to do, step by step

  1. Part 1. Plan a scene of your own, 20 to 40 seconds long, with at least one character and an action (for example someone walking in, sitting down, reaching for something). It must be your own idea, not the Second Hand example from the course. Write a short shot list: for every shot, the shot number, size, lens in millimetres, camera move (or still), what happens, and its length in seconds.
  2. Part 2. Build the set in Blender: blocking shapes plus at least three free assets (for example Poly Haven models, textures or an HDRI). List every asset with its name, source and licence.
  3. Part 3. Add at least one moving character with a real action: a Mixamo character and animation, your own motion capture (FreeMoCap, Rokoko Vision or another tool), the course mannequin, or your own model. Say which you used and where the motion came from.
  4. Part 4. Animate at least two different camera moves from the course (for example a dolly in, a truck, a crane, an orbit, a handheld shot, a whip pan or a dolly zoom) and name each one in your shot list.
  5. Part 5. Light the scene with a named set-up from course 2 (for example three-point, low-key, Rembrandt, rim, practicals, or a window light) and describe in one or two sentences where each light is and why.
  6. Part 6. Render the scene to video at 24 fps and at least 1280 × 720, in Workbench (grey) or EEVEE (rough-lit). Upload it (YouTube unlisted, Google Drive or similar) and set the link to 'anyone with the link can view'.
  7. Part 7. Export one frame as an AI guide: the rough render of that frame plus its depth pass or its line pass, from the same camera at the same size.
  8. Submit the video link. Upload four screenshots (the set from above, the Blender window with your cameras and Timeline markers, your lights selected, your character in the scene) and your guide frame images, and put your shot list, asset credits and lighting description in the notes or in a shared document linked from your video description.

Files to work with

Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KB

How it is graded

CriterionWeight
The previs is the learner's own scene, 20 to 40 seconds, rendered cleanly, and its shots read clearly with sensible timing and continuity25%
Camera work: at least two different named moves, animated smoothly, that suit the story moment; lenses and shot sizes match the shot list25%
The set and lighting: blocking plus at least three credited free assets, and a named lighting set-up built and described correctly20%
The character performs a real action believably (Mixamo, mocap or posed), placed correctly in the set, with its source stated15%
The AI guide frame: a rough render with a matching depth or line pass from the same camera, at the same size15%

You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted once free; further attempts come with the All-Access Pass or as a paid retake.

Before you submit: make your link public

If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to finish Blender for Filmmakers: Sets, Cameras, Light and Previs before submitting the project?

Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Blender for Filmmakers: Sets, Cameras, Light and Previs is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.

How is the project graded?

An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.

Can I resubmit if I fail?

Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.

What do I actually submit?

A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 8 steps.

Is the certificate real?

Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.

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Ready to earn this certificate?

Blender for Filmmakers: Sets, Cameras, Light and Previs is self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.

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