Why Are Storyboards Important?

Film production is a highly creative and equally technical field that requires a lot of visualization and input from various creative sources.

Storyboards can be shared between crew members and bounced from one individual to the next for added input. In fact, they’re a great way to prepare for production, but why are storyboards important?

Artistic Visual Reference

Storyboards bring the work of the writer to life in a way that allows the cast and crew to focus more on the essentials required for the film.

In fact, storyboards are vital because they help to deliver essential scenes and creative data to those who may not otherwise be as familiar with the entire background and vision of the film. The artistic visual reference that is provided by a storyboard is essential to the production’s success.

Visual Representation of the Finished Film

A storyboard provides a visual representation of the finished film project long before the film has been produced.

Similar to a comic strip, a storyboard outlines the individual shots and scenes that take place for the film so that there is a visual understanding of how the video project will be delivered. Great storyboards include details that showcase the various cuts, edits, and progress for each scene.

Idea Sharing

Storyboards are important because they provide a place to share ideas with others on the film crew. The script alone may not be enough to outline exactly how a scene will be shot or what the director’s view is of the story at a given time, but the storyboard can include valuable insight into the camera angles, lighting, and scene transitions that will take place to bring the story to life.

Production Clarification

Sometimes a script or the directions of a producer can be difficult to follow, especially for someone that may be a visual learner waiting for a better representation of the scene.

However, storyboards are important because they deliver visual information that can make production easier for crew members that may otherwise doubt things or have trouble understanding the script details and how the vision of the script is being delivered.

Time-Saving

Finally, storyboards are important because they can help to save time in production. While producing a storyboard requires some pre-production planning, doing so can alleviate the potential for changes or other production adjustments being made later in the process. It’s much easier to change the storyboard than it is to reshoot or change the entire scene and production of a project!

So, what makes storyboards so important? The planning, execution, and value that comes from outlining the creative elements of production via a storyboard make this a valuable element in the production process and a must at this stage of the creation!