Storyboard

Storyboard for The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd

Storyboard for 8-minute cartoon

Storyboard template example

Storyboard is a visual representation of a film sequence and breaks down the action into individual panels. It is used in film production, television production, animation, and video game development to visualize the scenes and sequences of a story before full-scale production begins. A storyboard is essentially a large comic of the story, with each block representing a scene or a significant part of the scene. It sketches out how a video will unfold, shot by shot. It's made up of a number of squares with illustrations or pictures representing each shot, with notes about what's going on in the scene and what's being said in the script during that shot. Storyboards are used to plan the storytelling, to pre-visualize the cinematography, and to save time and money during the production phase.

History

The use of storyboards is believed to have originated with Walt Disney animation studios during the early 1930s. Disney is often credited with making this tool standard practice for film production. Before this, a similar method called "story sketches" was used, primarily in animation. The storyboard became an essential tool in the animation industry before it was adopted by live-action film directors and television producers to pre-visualize their projects.

Purpose and Benefits

The primary purpose of a storyboard is to visualize the storytelling, plan the shot sequence, and communicate the director's vision to the production team. It helps in identifying potential problems that could arise during the production phase, such as complex transitions or special effects that may require more time or budget. Storyboards also serve as a reference point for the production team, ensuring that everyone understands the director's vision and the sequence of events within a scene.

Components of a Storyboard

A storyboard typically includes: - Panels: These are the individual drawings or images that represent each shot. - Action descriptions: Text descriptions of what is happening in each panel. - Dialogue and sound: Indications of the dialogue, music, or sound effects that accompany each shot. - Camera angles and movement: Directions for how the camera should move during the shot. - Timing: Information on the length of each shot and how it fits into the overall sequence.

Creating a Storyboard

Creating a storyboard involves several steps: 1. Script breakdown: The first step is to go through the script and break it down into shots and sequences. 2. Sketching: Next, the director or storyboard artist sketches the key frames that represent the core of each shot. 3. Adding details: After the basic frames are sketched, details such as camera angles, movement, and specific actions are added. 4. Review and revision: The storyboard is then reviewed by the director and possibly other members of the production team, and revisions are made as necessary.

Types of Storyboards

There are several types of storyboards used in the industry: - Thumbnail storyboards: Quick sketches that are used during the initial planning phase. - Animatics: A version of the storyboard where the panels are edited together with temporary soundtracks to create a rough version of the final product. - Previs (Pre-visualization) storyboards: More detailed versions that may include 3D animation to give a closer representation of the final product.

Conclusion

Storyboards are a crucial tool in the planning and production of films, television shows, animations, and video games. They help directors and producers visualize their ideas, communicate their vision to the production team, and plan the logistics of the production. By pre-visualizing the story, storyboards can save time and money and help ensure that the final product aligns with the original vision.