In this post I am going to be talking about our storyboards.
A storyboard is like a miniature version of the final film and acts like a blue print for your film. It's a plan that depicts your script through visuals. It's the most important stage of pre-production and it helps the director visualize the details of their film prior to the production stage.
The basic storyboard conventions that are often used in a live action film and an animated film are;
Long Shot - A long shot is often used to introduce the beginning of a scene. It's called a long shot as the camera is generally kept far away from the subject to capture a larger area of view. A long shot establishes the audiences perception of the time, place and action of that scene. It is often used as an establishing shot.
A storyboard is like a miniature version of the final film and acts like a blue print for your film. It's a plan that depicts your script through visuals. It's the most important stage of pre-production and it helps the director visualize the details of their film prior to the production stage.
The basic storyboard conventions that are often used in a live action film and an animated film are;
- Shot Selection
- Camera Movements
Long Shot - A long shot is often used to introduce the beginning of a scene. It's called a long shot as the camera is generally kept far away from the subject to capture a larger area of view. A long shot establishes the audiences perception of the time, place and action of that scene. It is often used as an establishing shot.
Mid Shot - A mid shot or a medium shot is the most common shot used in film. Most of the actions happen in a medium shot. It's a heavily reliable shot as it is considered to be the closest to what we usually see in real life. Mid shots are usually framed for a single actor to waist height. For group shots with many people in it, two-shot with just two actors in it and over the shoulder shot.
Close Up Shot - A close up shot is an important element of films. A close up shot if overused can end up like a talking heads movie. Mostly close up shot helps achieve immediate intimacy. Close up of a characters face, or lips and eyes to show subtle changes in the expression helps build a strong connection with the performance and if cut smoothly to a medium shot to reveal strong body gestures, it can make the action look very effective.
Camera Movements;
Tilt - Moving the camera up or down while keeping its horizontal axis constant. Similar to when you nod your head up and down - this is tilting.
Pan - Moving the camera to one side or the other, keeping its pivot at a fix point. Look to your left and then look to your right - that panning.
Zoom - Zooming is one camera movement that most film makers are familiar with. Technically it involves changing the focal length of the lens to make the subject appear closer or further away in the frame. Zooming is one of the most frequently used camera movements and one of the most overused. This action of zoom can be used to direct the viewer's attention to some specific part in the scene. Like zooming in and zooming out are more often used as revealing tools.
Dolly - If the camera moves towards the subject or away from it, it's called a dolly. The name comes from the old "dolly tracks" that used to be laid down for the heavy camera to be moved along.
Truck - Trucking is similar to dolly but the motion of the camera is left to right. It means physically moving the camera from left to right or vice versa, but keeping the perpendicular relationship intact. Not to confuse it with pan, in which the camera remains firm on its axis only its lens turns from left to right.
Benefits of creating a storyboard prior to filming;
- It forces you to think through all the logistics of your film
- You can determine your plot and the flow of your plot
- You can determine the camera angles and movements you will use
- you cam determine the graphics and sound effects you will use
- It allows you to sit down with members of your team and toss ideas around.
- It will help you stay organised when you shoot and edit.
- Provides everyone on your team with a detailed visualization of the final product.
- You can assure that your time shooting and editing will be efficient and well organised.
- It informs the production team so that the vision is shared effectively.
- Helps to improve/develop the narrative
- make filming location more efficient
Here is a storyboard from a real film. The film is psycho.
I am now going to embed the scene from the film that matches with the storyboard. Lets see if they are exactly the same.
Here is another example from the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry Potter Storyboard
Here is the film scene to go with the storyboard. Again you can see if the film matches up with the storyboard.
For my next post I am going to embed and explain our very own storyboard for our own Media product. Our thriller Never Look Back.
