The Film on Paper
Storyboarding is the first and most crucial step in translating the written word of the screenplay into the visual language of cinema. A storyboard is a series of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a film. Each frame of the storyboard corresponds to a specific camera shot, and will often include notes about camera movement, blocking, and dialogue. For complex action sequences, animated storyboards called ‘animatics’ may be created to get an even clearer sense of the timing and rhythm.
This process is an essential planning tool that allows the director to experiment with the visual storytelling of a film without the immense cost of actually shooting it. It helps to identify potential problems, refine the pacing of a scene, and ensure that the director’s vision can be clearly communicated to the entire production team. While not every film is storyboarded from beginning to end, it is an indispensable process for animation, visual effects-heavy blockbusters, and any sequence involving complex stunts or action.
The Functions of a Storyboard
Storyboards are a vital communication and planning tool used throughout the pre-production and production phases.
| Function | Description | Key Users |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Planning | Allows the director and cinematographer to design the film’s visual composition, including camera angles, shot sizes (close-up, wide shot), and camera movement (pan, dolly, crane). | Director, Cinematographer |
| Communication | Serves as a clear and unambiguous guide for all creative departments, ensuring everyone is working towards the same visual goal. It shows the art department what to build and the visual effects team what to create. | Entire Film Crew |
| Pacing & Editing | By laying out the shots of a scene in order, the director and editor can get a preliminary feel for the rhythm and flow of the sequence, making the editing process more efficient. | Director, Editor |
| Budgeting & Scheduling | A detailed storyboard helps the producers and assistant directors understand the complexity of each scene, allowing for more accurate budgeting and scheduling. | Producers, Assistant Directors |
Director Alfred Hitchcock was famously obsessive about storyboarding, pre-planning every single shot of his films in such detail that he claimed the actual shooting process was ‘boring’ because all the creative decisions had already been made.