Storyboards

Storyboards

An essential planning device in the film and television sector of media.

Mostly used by directors as it allows them to think in advance about how they want the narrative of their media product to develop.

It also lets them think through technical and audio codes they might use to create narrative.

Making a storyboard helps media producers think through the moving image in their mind and then on paper with camera shots, angles and transitions all included.

If a storyboard is well-constructed and thought out, it saves a lot of time and money when filming a moving image text.

Storyboard conventions

Shot description, number and duration - a short description of what will be in each shot. Each shot must have a number and how long it will last. This helps work out the final film duration.

Visuals - Drawings of what will happen in each scene. These can be really detailed of simple line drawings. Sometimes photographs are added. The image should show how the shot should be framed and include any key props (mise-en-scene).

Technical Codes - what camera shots and angles will be used for each shot. Also a suggestion of what edit will take place between each shot. Arrows may also be used to show and movement of the camera such as zooms or pans.

Audio Codes - Sounds that are to be included in the shot can be described. These need to be clearly identified  as diegetic (naturally part of the scene) or non-diegetic (added to the scene), such as music, dialogue and sound effects.

Camer angles and position

Low angle - Makes subjects look strong and brave - also to see people’s faces when looking down instead of the top of their head.

High angle - Makes subject look week and vulnerable.

Birds eye view - directly above the subject. Usually from a distance.

Worms eye view - View from the ground

Side view - from an observers view

Frontal view - see what someone directly infant of the subject is seeing. Captures their emotion 

Rear view - So wee can see what’s behind the subject. Maybe they’re ignoring someone or hiding emotions

Over the shoulder shot - Usually used when two subjects are interacting

The 180 degree rule - Keep your characters/subjects on an invisible line ad keep your camera on one side of said line in order to keep the illusion that they’re looking at each other even when in different shots.

Script (Screenplay)

A piece of writing in the form of drama - different from prose forms of writing, like novels and short stories, as it is meant to be performed either for stage, radio, television or film.

When a script is written for film/tv it is sometimes known as a screenplay.

A script has to sound effective when it is read out loud. it also means it has to be written in a special way.

A script consists of dialogue (what the characters say to each other), stage directions and instructions to the actors and director.

Script Conventions

First line: In capitals INT (internal) or EXT (external) setting. Exact location - time of day

Character name: Always in capitals

Description of action: Explains the scene in detail

Sound effects: In capitals 

Characters lines (dialogue): Justified centre of page, under name of each character

Character intonation: In brackets 

Spacing: An empty line after each piece of information