What is storyboarding - workshop

 

Why are they important:

 

Before a team begins the process of filming, storyboards organise the scene, and it gives the people filming a chance to consider each section of the scene without spending actual time and/or money doing it on set. It also allows you to visualise each scene and sparks creative input. After filming, it also helps, as the editor can refer back to the storyboard to guide their choice of shots, and order of shots for the scene. For example, in this storyboard, you can see how it will help the director when filming, as it tells him what he camera angle and shot type he wanted for each individual section of the storyboard:

 

 

What’s on a storyboard:

 

         Things to include:

 

-   Shot number (for order)

-   Location (so you don’t have to draw every location, you can just write it)

-   Action (so you know what’s happening in that particular shot)

-   Shot/movement (what the camera does/does it move?)

-   Sound (any dialogue or diegetic/non-diegetic sound)

-   Lighting (any lighting

-   Transition (from shot to shot, thinking about the editing)

-   Timing (how long will the shot last for?)

 

With the template, depending on how good your drawing is, the information on the right varies. If you are a good artist, then less information, as it will be clear from the drawing. If the drawing isn’t as clear, more information on the right to make it clear. This is shown well with these three very different examples of storyboards, one with very clear images, and therefore not as much writing, one with less clear images and more writing, and one with writing in the images drawn to make it very clear later on when filming what they had in mind.

 

 

Alternative approaches to storyboarding if the drawing isn’t up to par:

 

-   Instead of drawing, take pictures of people acting it out roughly, or even action figures placed as characters in the scene (if no one in the media team can draw well)

-   Using software online to help – free animation software is available

-   More information on the right-hand side

Here is an example of an animated storyboard for the opening title sequence of the film 'The Worlds End':

 

 

Tips:

-   Don’t start by drawing, start using a step-by-step outline

-   Remember composition, and how you will frame your shots and draw the composition

-   Don’t number the shots until the end, as you may need to add shots, or remove shots. Average shot number on a storyboard is 35-40 shots

-   You can write on the drawings as well, and use arrows to signify the movements in the shots

-      When a page of boards is finished, take photos so you can back it up and have a photocopy.

I am going to look more into animating my storyboard, but as of now, I think my favourite storyboard is the one where the writing and drawing is equal, making it as clear as possible down the road.