Research: Storyboarding

What is Storyboarding?

Storyboarding is what occurs before production begins, it is used in different films and media to have an idea of what may be to come for the filming. It allows the crew to have a visual representation of what scenes and shots are going to occur and in what order they will happen to plan film days by scenes. The actual storyboard is an order or series of drawings and images which convey key moments in each scene. This is all organized in specific order acting as a visual alternative to the script for those who don't see the vision of the director writer. It focuses on showing how the story or film would look on screen rather than a text describing it. Each frame includes many details regarding the camera angles, shot types, character positioning, and optional notes going over movement, dialogue,  or sound. This helps directors and filmmakers visually plan out a film's narrative to see how it will be presented.

How to Storyboard

• Break down and analyze the script into scenes

• Figure out the most important shots which convey the plot

• Draw simple panels representing each shot (stick figures are more than enough)

• Label each panel with the type of shot (close ups, medium, long shots)

• Organize panels to match the order of the film (continuity)

• Add notes discussing camera movement for cinematographer (pan, tilt, zoom)

• Include important sounds that convey specific mood (dialogue, sound effects, ambience)

• Review and adjust to make sure everything is clear and realistic to film

How is Storyboarding Helpful

In the end, storyboarding is genuinely helpful for crews because it essentially allows them to plan better, save time, and make production more efficient. By having a direct visual going over key shots and scenes, filmmakers are produce shots without having to put much effort into setting up which also reduces mistakes and delays. It also helps identify problems beforehand as some shots may not be possible during actual film day and the added anticipation of storyboarding allows them to see right through their mistakes and recorrect them. It also helps a lot with allowing the team to communicate much better, as everyone can see what the vision is supposed to look like.

Sources:

https://learn.toonboom.com/modules/intro-to-storyboarding/topic/the-importance-of-storyboarding

https://www.vyond.com/blog/what-is-a-storyboard-and-why-do-you-need-one/

https://www.skwigly.co.uk/storyboarding-tutorial-pt-1-the-dos-and-donts/

https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/animation/discover/animation-storyboarding.html

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-storyboard/

https://www.lafilm.edu/blog/storyboarding-101/