Difference between revisions of "Create a Storyboard"
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When you’re planning a video, the first step in the process is to make a storyboard so you can bring your script to life and present it to other people. A storyboard is a series of thumbnails that show the breakdown of the video, illustrating the key scenes — how the setting will look, who will be present, and what actions will take place. It’s often used as a mock-up for movie scenes, music videos, TV production, and more, and can be created by hand or using a digital medium. Read on to learn how to map your story, illustrate the key frames and fine tune your storyboard. | When you’re planning a video, the first step in the process is to make a storyboard so you can bring your script to life and present it to other people. A storyboard is a series of thumbnails that show the breakdown of the video, illustrating the key scenes — how the setting will look, who will be present, and what actions will take place. It’s often used as a mock-up for movie scenes, music videos, TV production, and more, and can be created by hand or using a digital medium. Read on to learn how to map your story, illustrate the key frames and fine tune your storyboard. | ||
| − | [[Category:Making Movies]] | + | [[Category: Making Movies]] |
==Steps== | ==Steps== | ||
===Story Work=== | ===Story Work=== | ||
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#*You may also want to depict changes in setting. If the story begins in one city and moves to another, make sure that will be clear in your illustrations. | #*You may also want to depict changes in setting. If the story begins in one city and moves to another, make sure that will be clear in your illustrations. | ||
#*If you’re storyboarding for a commercial, the process is no different: pick key images that will represent the flow and direction of the film from start to finish. As a general guideline, keep in mind that for a typical 30-second commercial, a storyboard should have no more than 15 frames. Factor in two seconds per frame on average. | #*If you’re storyboarding for a commercial, the process is no different: pick key images that will represent the flow and direction of the film from start to finish. As a general guideline, keep in mind that for a typical 30-second commercial, a storyboard should have no more than 15 frames. Factor in two seconds per frame on average. | ||
| − | #Decide how detailed to get. A storyboard can be incredibly detailed, with illustrations depicting every shot. If you’re in the preliminary stages of a feature-length film, you have too much ground to cover to get this detailed just now. However, you might eventually want to break the film down into individual scenes, with a separate storyboard for each one. This allows you to create a very detailed representation of the progression of individual scenes and is helpful when it comes to staying organized during film-making.<ref>http://filmmakeriq.com/2008/09/disney-the-art-of-storyboarding/</ref> | + | #Decide how detailed to get. A storyboard can be incredibly detailed, with illustrations depicting every shot. If you’re in the preliminary stages of a feature-length film, you have too much ground to cover to get this detailed just now. However, you might eventually want to break the film down into individual scenes, with a separate storyboard for each one. This allows you to create a very detailed representation of the progression of individual scenes and is helpful when it comes to staying organized during film-making.<ref name="rf1">http://filmmakeriq.com/2008/09/disney-the-art-of-storyboarding/</ref> |
#*If you're working on a film and breaking it down shot by shot, create what's called a shot list. For each shot on the list, you'll need to think about the shot's composition and other details involving how it will actually be filmed. | #*If you're working on a film and breaking it down shot by shot, create what's called a shot list. For each shot on the list, you'll need to think about the shot's composition and other details involving how it will actually be filmed. | ||
#*Remember that the point of the storyboard is to provide visual clarity and keep everyone on the same page. It’s not supposed to be a work of art in and of itself. Take a practical view when it comes to the level of detail you choose for your storyboard. You don’t want your viewer to get lost in trying to interpret your illustrations instead of seeing the bigger picture. | #*Remember that the point of the storyboard is to provide visual clarity and keep everyone on the same page. It’s not supposed to be a work of art in and of itself. Take a practical view when it comes to the level of detail you choose for your storyboard. You don’t want your viewer to get lost in trying to interpret your illustrations instead of seeing the bigger picture. | ||
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===Design=== | ===Design=== | ||
#Decide what medium to use for your template. You can draw a basic storyboard template by hand, simply dividing a posterboard into empty frames of the same size using a pencil and a straightedge. The setup should look similar to that of a comic book, with rows of square cells that show how the scene will look on a screen. If you prefer, you can use Adobe Illustrator, storyboardthat.com, Microsoft PowerPoint, Amazon's Storyteller, or inDesign to create a storyboard template in vertical or horizontal format. | #Decide what medium to use for your template. You can draw a basic storyboard template by hand, simply dividing a posterboard into empty frames of the same size using a pencil and a straightedge. The setup should look similar to that of a comic book, with rows of square cells that show how the scene will look on a screen. If you prefer, you can use Adobe Illustrator, storyboardthat.com, Microsoft PowerPoint, Amazon's Storyteller, or inDesign to create a storyboard template in vertical or horizontal format. | ||
| − | #*The cell sizes should be drawn in the same aspect ratio as the finished video, such as 4:3 for a TV screen or 16:9 for a feature film screen. You can purchase special thumbnail sheets with these dimensions.<ref>http://www.claytowne.com/beats-digging-ditches/storyboard-tutorial-how-to-create-storyboards-for-film-video-and-television/</ref> | + | #*The cell sizes should be drawn in the same aspect ratio as the finished video, such as 4:3 for a TV screen or 16:9 for a feature film screen. You can purchase special thumbnail sheets with these dimensions.<ref name="rf2">http://www.claytowne.com/beats-digging-ditches/storyboard-tutorial-how-to-create-storyboards-for-film-video-and-television/</ref> |
#*A storyboard template for advertising should be comprised of rectangular frames into which you insert the visuals. If you want to include captions, make sure there’s space where you can write in video descriptions. There should also be a column for the audio, which is where you include the dialogue and sounds or music. | #*A storyboard template for advertising should be comprised of rectangular frames into which you insert the visuals. If you want to include captions, make sure there’s space where you can write in video descriptions. There should also be a column for the audio, which is where you include the dialogue and sounds or music. | ||
#*If you find yourself storyboarding for more than one project, it helps to have a good Wacom™ tablet, so you can board directly into Photoshop. | #*If you find yourself storyboarding for more than one project, it helps to have a good Wacom™ tablet, so you can board directly into Photoshop. | ||
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#*Composition (lighting, foreground/background, color palette, etc.) | #*Composition (lighting, foreground/background, color palette, etc.) | ||
#*Angle from which the camera is shooting (high or low) | #*Angle from which the camera is shooting (high or low) | ||
| − | #*The type of shot (wide shots, close-ups, over-the-shoulder shots, tracking shots, etc.)<ref>http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/</ref> | + | #*The type of shot (wide shots, close-ups, over-the-shoulder shots, tracking shots, etc.)<ref name="rf3">http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/</ref> |
#*Props (objects in the frame) | #*Props (objects in the frame) | ||
#*Actors (people, animals, cartoon talking couch, etc.: anything that can act rather than be acted upon) | #*Actors (people, animals, cartoon talking couch, etc.: anything that can act rather than be acted upon) | ||
#*Special effects | #*Special effects | ||
| − | #Add other important information. Next to or below each cell, fill in your description of what’s happening in the scene.<ref | + | #Add other important information. Next to or below each cell, fill in your description of what’s happening in the scene.<ref name="rf3" /> Include dialogue that will take place. Add information about the length of time the shot will take. Finally, number the cells so they’re easy to reference when you discuss your storyboard with others. |
| − | #Finalize the storyboard. Once you have identified the key points of the subject and worked out a design for each frame, review your work and make final changes. Be sure that each cell portrays the action you want it to portray. Tweak the descriptions and dialogue if necessary. It’s a good idea to have someone else review the storyboard to make sure it flows well and isn’t confusing.<ref>http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=23&cid=23&sublinkid=37</ref> | + | #Finalize the storyboard. Once you have identified the key points of the subject and worked out a design for each frame, review your work and make final changes. Be sure that each cell portrays the action you want it to portray. Tweak the descriptions and dialogue if necessary. It’s a good idea to have someone else review the storyboard to make sure it flows well and isn’t confusing.<ref name="rf4">http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=23&cid=23&sublinkid=37</ref> |
#*Consider adding color. If you’re creating an advertising storyboard, this will help your ideas pop. | #*Consider adding color. If you’re creating an advertising storyboard, this will help your ideas pop. | ||
#*Remember that it’s not necessarily important that the drawings look realistic or perfect. Depending on the viewing audience, simple stick figures might suffice. In most cases, storyboards don't need to be perfect, they only need to make sense to your team. | #*Remember that it’s not necessarily important that the drawings look realistic or perfect. Depending on the viewing audience, simple stick figures might suffice. In most cases, storyboards don't need to be perfect, they only need to make sense to your team. | ||
===Fine-Tuning=== | ===Fine-Tuning=== | ||
| − | #Think in three-point perspective. While your storyboard illustrations don't need to look like they were created by a professional artist, there are a few artists' tricks you can use to make your images look more like movie scenes. This isn't mandatory, but it can help the people you're working with visualize the shot more clearly.<ref>http://nofilmschool.com/2013/09/storyboarding-tips-dreamworks/</ref> | + | #Think in three-point perspective. While your storyboard illustrations don't need to look like they were created by a professional artist, there are a few artists' tricks you can use to make your images look more like movie scenes. This isn't mandatory, but it can help the people you're working with visualize the shot more clearly.<ref name="rf5">http://nofilmschool.com/2013/09/storyboarding-tips-dreamworks/</ref> |
#*Instead of drawing all of your characters as though they were standing on the same horizontal line, put them in perspective. Have some standing a little further from the camera and some standing closer. The ones standing further from the camera should appear smaller, with their feet higher up on the page, and the ones standing closer should appear larger, with their feet lower on the page. | #*Instead of drawing all of your characters as though they were standing on the same horizontal line, put them in perspective. Have some standing a little further from the camera and some standing closer. The ones standing further from the camera should appear smaller, with their feet higher up on the page, and the ones standing closer should appear larger, with their feet lower on the page. | ||
#*When it's time to translate the storyboard to film, you'll have a much better idea of how to direct the shot. | #*When it's time to translate the storyboard to film, you'll have a much better idea of how to direct the shot. | ||
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#*For example, if you want to cut from one room to another, have a character in the first room look toward the door because they hear a noise. | #*For example, if you want to cut from one room to another, have a character in the first room look toward the door because they hear a noise. | ||
#*This helps the story's continuity and keeps the viewer engaged. | #*This helps the story's continuity and keeps the viewer engaged. | ||
| − | #Let your storyboard morph as you go. Your storyboard can be an extraordinary tool to have at your disposal when you're setting up your shots and directing your film. However, relying heavily on your storyboard might end up being too confining. As you make your film, you're bound to come across ideas for shots you didn't think of before. Allow yourself to drift from the board, or at least revise it, so that the filmmaking process is a bit more organic.<ref>http://nofilmschool.com/2013/08/storyboarding-with-coen-brothers-storyboard-artist/</ref> | + | #Let your storyboard morph as you go. Your storyboard can be an extraordinary tool to have at your disposal when you're setting up your shots and directing your film. However, relying heavily on your storyboard might end up being too confining. As you make your film, you're bound to come across ideas for shots you didn't think of before. Allow yourself to drift from the board, or at least revise it, so that the filmmaking process is a bit more organic.<ref name="rf6">http://nofilmschool.com/2013/08/storyboarding-with-coen-brothers-storyboard-artist/</ref> |
#*Remember to accept others' input as you go along, especially if you're working with a talented film crew. A storyboard is meant to be edited and changed. It can often be improved by ideas you might not have thought up on your own. | #*Remember to accept others' input as you go along, especially if you're working with a talented film crew. A storyboard is meant to be edited and changed. It can often be improved by ideas you might not have thought up on your own. | ||
#*Most film directors have a different style when it comes to storyboarding. Some map out every last detail, while others use it as a loose guide. | #*Most film directors have a different style when it comes to storyboarding. Some map out every last detail, while others use it as a loose guide. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
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* [[Create a Movie Using Windows Movie Maker]] | * [[Create a Movie Using Windows Movie Maker]] | ||
* [[Make a Movie in Your House]] | * [[Make a Movie in Your House]] | ||
| − | * [[Category:Home Movie Making]] | + | * [[Category: Home Movie Making]] |
== Sources and Citations == | == Sources and Citations == | ||
