Guidance and Recommendations for Aspiring BeamNG Filmmakers 🎥

Welcome, Future Directors and Creative Minds!

Are you passionate about action, chases, and high-octane storytelling? Do you find yourself inspired by the scenes you can create in BeamNG.Drive? If so, you're in the right place. In this guide, we'll explore some essential techniques and software tools I use to elevate my BeamNG filmmaking to blockbuster levels.

🎬 Rec / Replay / Slo-Mo: The 3 Cornerstones of BeamNG Filmmaking

The power of BeamNG's Record/Replay function lies in its ability to capture complex, dynamic 3D scenes for later playback, providing a robust framework for your storytelling. This is a monumental leap in filmmaking within the gaming universe.

Basic Guide to Record/Replay:

Starting and Stopping: To initiate the recording within your scene, simply press ALT + R. This activates the recording feature, capturing all the actions, movements, and dynamics in real-time. Press ALT + R again to stop.

The Power of Slow-Motion
Slow-Mo Techniques: Use Alt + Left Arrow to slow down time and
Alt + Right Arrow to speed it up.

This is especially critical for intricate scenes involving crashes, car chases, or detailed movement of props.
So .. Why Slow Motion?:

Recording in slow motion allows the software to more accurately capture the trajectory, physics, and interaction between each moving part. This results in smoother, more realistic replays without the distraction of jittering or glitching elements in replay.

MEGA-PRO-TIP:
The Virtual Computing-Power-Upgrader
BeamNG is a real-time simulation software, which means your computer needs to compute a plethora of variables on the fly. If your machine struggles due to the complexity of a scene, especially with multiple cars, slow motion can be your savior.

How it Works: When you reduce the simulation speed to x0.5, you're essentially doubling the time your computer has to calculate the physics of the scene. This effectively eliminates lag for scenarios that were previously burdening your system.

Scaling Up: Now, imagine you initially had four cars causing lag. At x0.5 speed, you could theoretically include up to eight cars without experiencing lag. To scale it even further, reducing the speed to x0.25 gives your computer double the time again, paving the way for even more complex scenes.

Pushing the Limits: For the brave souls out there, you could theoretically include up to 50 cars in a single scene! To do this without causing lag, you'd need to reduce the game speed to x0.06.

Disclaimer:
Is this fun? No. A game speed of x0.06 is boring as hell.
But does it work? YES, absolutely. It's movie making, not gaming.

For comprehensive understanding, here's the official documentation.

PS: The best way to "get it" is by trial and error / learning by doing!

🎥 Master the Art of Camera Paths

Creating compelling camera paths is an art form that requires both technical skill and a creative vision. The Camera Path tool in BeamNG's World Editor allows you to establish Keyframes, essentially mapping out the camera's movement through 3D space.

Getting Started: To access this feature, open the World Editor by pressing F11. Within the editor, navigate through the menu to find Camera Paths. This is where your journey in crafting cinematic movements begins.
Keyframes and You: To create a path, you insert keyframes at different intervals. Each keyframe stores the camera's position, rotation, and field of view. This enables you to choreograph complex camera moves like dolly shots, crane shots, and even 360-degree panoramas.
Practice Makes Perfect: Crafting camera paths can be tedious and requires practice. Mastering this tool will add another layer of polish to your BeamNG films, enabling drone shots and dynamic 360-degree perspectives.
Video Tutorial: For a more comprehensive guide, check out:

PRO TIP 🚗💨:

The Axis of Action: Why It's Crucial in BeamNG Filmmaking

"Crossing the line" or "180 rule" refers to the cinematic rule that maintains spatial orientation in a scene, particularly during action sequences like car chases.

The Line in Question: Imagine a virtual line that runs between two cars engaged in a high-speed chase. The camera should ideally stay on one side of this line to maintain a consistent perspective. Crossing over this line can disorient your audience, making it hard for them to follow the action.
Why It's Important in BeamNG: Given that BeamNG allows for intricate, fast-paced action, staying on one side of the axis is even more critical. With complex car physics and high-speed crashes, crossing the line can make the scene incomprehensible.
Case Study: Let's say you're filming a chase where Car A is chasing Car B down a narrow street. If you start by showing Car A from the right and then abruptly switch to a left-side view, the audience might get confused and lose the sense of direction, momentum, and speed. The scene would lose its impact and potentially derail the tension you’ve carefully built up.

Imagine "Interviewer" and "Interviewee" being 2 cars

Software Toolbox:
Extra Goodies to Up Your Game 💻

Voice Actors🗣️

Quality voice acting can elevate your BeamNG films to a whole new level, adding a dimension of realism and emotional connection.

Where to Hire: Websites like this one are goldmines for affordable, yet talented voice actors. You can find a variety of accents, tones, and styles to fit your script.
The Script: It's not just about words; it's about how those words are said. Make sure you have a well-organized script in a PDF format, highlighting the emotional tones or mood for each line. The more precise your directions, the better the outcome.
Audition: Some voice actors offer a free short audition of your script. Utilize this feature to assess whether their style fits your vision before committing to the full project.

Voice Actors ➔

Editing🎬:

Editing is the final, crucial stage where your vision comes to life. Programs like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects offer a robust platform for professional editing and compositing.

Premiere Pro: This is my go-to program for general video editing tasks like cutting, trimming, and sequencing your film.
After Effects: Specializing in compositing, this program allows you to integrate your VFX overlays seamlessly. However, mastering After Effects requires a significant investment of time and energy.
Skills Required: Both of these programs are complex and feature-rich. It might be beneficial to invest in some advanced courses or tutorials to get the most out of them.

Video Editing ➔

VFX Websites🎆:

Visual effects like explosions and smoke can add an extra layer of excitement and tension to your BeamNG films.

Choosing a Source: There's a wide variety of websites where you can purchase high-quality VFX overlays. One of my favorites is this one, simply because their VFX is absolutely dope and 4K! These sites typically offer both free and premium options, catering to all budget levels.
Compatibility: Ensure that the VFX assets you purchase are compatible with your editing software. Most mainstream VFX overlays are universally compatible but always double-check.

Sick Explosions ➔

Music (free trial) 🎵:

A go-to platform for a vast array of royalty-free tracks is Epidemic Sound for me, with my favorite composers being Hampus Naeselius and Dream Cave.

Perfect for setting the mood and elevating tense moments in your film.

In terms of track selection: Don't just pick what sounds good but choose what really feels right for each scene. Each scene has a natural arch of tension. So try to use the music to your advantage here.

Licensing: One of Epidemic Sound's perks is its straightforward licensing, making monetization super easy because they whitelist your Youtube channel.

AND: Besides music, you can also source various sound effects from Epidemic Sound to enhance action sequences.

They have a 30-day free trial, so go check
them out:

Browse Music ➔

🎬The Ideal Computer Rig for BeamNG

When it comes to getting the most out of BeamNG, choosing the right computer rig is crucial. BeamNG is not just a graphically demanding game (on high graphic settings which are crucial for movie making) but also a complex physical simulation that requires powerful hardware. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when selecting a computer rig for BeamNG:

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

More Cores are Better: BeamNG benefits immensely from a multi-core CPU. The higher a single core, the better too. Since the game performs a multitude of physical calculations, having more cores can distribute the load more efficiently, resulting in a smoother gaming experience and less laaaaaggg.
My recommendation: A processor with at least 6 cores, ideally 8 or more, is optimal for BeamNG. AMD Ryzen 9 or Intel Core i9 are excellent choices.

Of course you can go below that. For example, I had to deal with a 6-cored Lenovo Legion Y540 RTX 2060 i7 9750h Laptop for my first 4 films. But it was quite the weak experience and tedious to work with all the lag. Also, it bloody died after 2 years just because (literally 2 weeks after the warranty expired - don't buy Lenovo).

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

High Performance Required: Given BeamNG's graphical demands, you'll need a powerful graphics card. At least an RTX2060 6GB if you wanna make movies with BeamNG.
Recommendation: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series or AMD Radeon RX 6000 Series are good options.

RAM (Random Accessing Memory)

More is Better: BeamNG can be quite RAM-intensive, especially when dealing with complex scenarios. Think of RAM as the stuff BeamNG has to remember in the background. The more cars a scene has, the more parts are flying in a replay, the more random memory is used to quickly transform it from code into data (in the replays example).

Recommendation: At the VERY least 16 GB of RAM, ideally 32 or 64 GB if you plan to work intensively with BeamNG.

Storage

SSD for Faster Load Times: A Solid-State Drive (SSD) is highly recommended to reduce load times and improve the overall gaming experience.

Recommendation: An NVMe SSD with at least 1 TB of storage space.

Additional Considerations

Cooling: Given that BeamNG can put a heavy load on your hardware, an efficient cooling system is important. With a gaming laptop, you'll have to be on "hair dryer fan mode 1000" nonstop. Can be very loud and annoying...
Power Supply: A robust power supply (600W or more) is recommended to adequately power all components. However, if you plan to get a major rig upgrade, 1000W will be necessary.

By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your computer rig is capable of running BeamNG in all its glory.

My Current PC Setup Specs:

Case: GIM ATX Mid-Tower PC Case Black 10 Pre-Installed 120mm RGB Fans
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900KF (Latest Gen) Gaming Desktop Processor 24 cores
GPU: ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 Trinity OC 24GB
RAM: 32GB XPG Lancer DDR5 RGB 6000MHz
Motherboard: GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS Elite AX DDR4
CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken X73 RGB 360mm
SSD: Kingston FURY Renegade 2TB
Portable Storage: WD 2TB My Passport Ultra Blue
Power Supply Unit: FSP Hydro G PRO 1000W 80 Plus Gold

Monitor: ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K HDR

Keyboard: CORSAIR K57 RGB Wireless Gaming Keyboard
Mouse: Logitech M705 Marathon Wireless Mouse