Storyboarding

Understanding Storyboarding

  • Storyboarding is the process of visually outlining the plan for a film, animation, or other media project.
  • Structuring your ideas in this way allows you to see how the story will flow, crucially providing the ability to identify any potential issues before you start filming.
  • A storyboard is usually made up of a sequence of drawings paired with brief descriptions; think of it as a comic strip version of your final production.

Importance of Storyboarding

  • Storyboarding provides a visual guide for your media project, which can help everyone involved to understand the vision.
  • It is a crucial part of the pre-production process, helping to identify any problems or logistical issues before production begins.
  • Utilising storyboards can save both time and resources by preventing unnecessary shoots and reshoots.

Creating a Storyboard

  • Start with a script or a basic outline of your project’s story. From this, you can identify key scenes that need to be in your storyboard.
  • Each scene or shot in your project should have its own box or frame in the storyboard.
  • Within each box, draw the key elements of the scene. Include characters, props, and anything else important to the scene.
  • Below or next to the box for each scene, write a brief description of what is happening in the scene.

Evaluating a Storyboard

  • Look at your storyboard as a whole. Does the story flow logically from start to finish?
  • Consider whether each scene moves the story forward. If it doesn’t, should it be in the project at all?
  • Finally, consider whether your storyboard successfully communicates your vision. If someone unfamiliar with your project looked at the storyboard, would they understand what you are trying to do?

Challenges in Storyboarding

  • It can be challenging to distill complex scenes or ideas into a few drawings and words.
  • Ensuring that your storyboard can be understood by others can be difficult, especially if you are not confident in your drawing skills.
  • Storyboarding can also be time-consuming, especially for lengthy or complex projects. But remember, the time spent on an effective storyboard can save hours, days, or even weeks during the actual production.