- Firstly, storyboards allow a filmmaker to pre-visualize their ideas and refine them in the same way a scriptwriter refines their ideas through a succession of drafts.
- Secondly, they serve as the clearest language to communicate ideas to the entire production team.
A storyboard includes:
- The shot type
- Camera position/movement (using arrows)
- Camera action/dialogue/detail
- Any notes
Camera Position:
- High camera angle
- Low camera angle
- Level camera angle
- Long shot
To illustrate camera movement, you can use arrows.
Note any dialogue used in the film.
Storyboard Language:
Pan: A steady, sweeping movement from one point in a scene to another.
POV (point of view): A shot which is understood to be seen from the point of view of a character within the scene.
Reaction Shot: A shot of someone looking off screen or a reaction shot can also be a shot of someone in a conversation where they are not given a one of dialogue but are just listening to the other person speak.
Tilt: Using a camera on a tripod, the camera moves up or down to follow the action.
Zoom: Use the camera lens to move closely towards the subject.
Close-up shot: A close range of distance between the camera and the subject.
Dissolve: A transition between two shots.
Fade: A transition that slowly swifts between two shots.
Jump cut: A rapid, jerky transition from one frame to the next.
What is a storyboard?
A story board is an illustrated version of the script in a production. The director will use it as a first visual draft of what should be done in a film or a television series. The storyboard is a very effective way to communicate what a director wants in their project. A script can be interpreted in many different ways, but a storyboard doesn't leave much place for interpretation.
In animation, the storyboard will contain all the important information needed for the production:
- A basic idea of the layout
- The script
- The dialogue
- The duration of each scenes
- The camera movement if there is any
- Character or element actions
- Mood or Colour
A panel is one specific action or moment in a storyboard. One drawing is one panel. You will find all sorts of information in a panel.
The Action is what is going on at the moment in the storyboard. The character or characters poses should be clear and to-the-point. Arrows can be used to help explain what is going with the action also. Action Notes are extra information to help understand what is taking place in the storyboard. Not every panel has notes but there should be enough so that no one is confused by what is going on in the board.
Dialogues (if there are any)
should be included in the specified box. Simply copy the dialogue from the
script and paste or type it into the dialogue box.
Arrows are a clear way to
indicate to the viewer what is going on. They can be drawn in all sizes and
directions to show perspective in movement. They are used often, as they help to
make your storyboard clear.
Panel Annotations are important. Sometimes, they are put inside arrows, inside a circle. This is up to the storyboard artist.
Characters coming in or going out of a panel should be clearly indicated as
this makes a big difference in a scene.
Camera movement should
also be included in the panel. A camera move should be marked. You should have the first frame for the starting point and the
second frame for the ending of the move. Then arrows can indicate the direction
of the move.
