What is a Storyboard?

Storyboard graphics are used in film production as well as to produce movies, short videos, and other forms of visual content. These illustrations and pictures may appear initially as something similar to a comic, but what is a storyboard?

When you create a video for your business to boost marketing, increase sales, or otherwise reach an audience, you’re likely to overlook the various stages of video planning and execution that take place.

A storyboard delivers essential data in a visual format to assist in the graphic representation of your video. Used to help the entire film crew better connect with how each shot should unfold, a storyboard adds value and a creative outlook to an otherwise written script.

What Exactly is a Storyboard?

Storyboards are graphic representations of a script. They outline the video in a way that shows how each scene and shot should unfold. Typically made up of squares on a page that represents drawings or illustrations that each represent the shot and various scene elements involved in the production, the storyboard often appears like a comic strip at first.

Perhaps you created a storyboard before you were in film school? Storyboards are sometimes used to illustrate short stories, books, or other creative works. Much like a script but with visual elements relative to the production, a storyboard can help you to define the number and style of shots included in your story.

What Goes Into a Storyboard?

What should be included in a great storyboard? That’s a great question!

Generally, a great storyboard will include:

• Each shot will be created in the film.
• Sketches and stick figures that represent characters in the film.
• Drawings that showcase how video transitions and what plans must be known about each stage of the video.
• The shot number, action, dialogue, and special effects that will be used in a scene.
• Essential representation of the different inclusions in the film.

Storyboard Checklist

Every storyboard will include key elements that make the project powerfully effective.

The following storyboard checklist outlines the steps that a storyboard artist or other production crew member will take to ensure the main actors, effects, and shot communications are clearly defined for the story.

Here are the key elements that should be included in a storyboard for the film:

• The shot images. This will include drawings that outline the key details of the shot such as the actions that are taken, characters involved, and other pertinent information.
• The shot number. This will include the number of the shot, with the first shot in a scene being number 1 and so on.
• The action. This will include the main action taking place in a particular shot.
• The dialogue. This includes any particular speech or talking taking place in the shot.
• The narration. This includes any over-spoken narration taking place in the shot.
• Special Effects. This will include information on any key details related to technology needs, resources, or actual effects included in the shot. If a particular camera angle, movement, or shot type is required, such will be included in the special effects.

Now that you know what a storyboard is in film, are you ready to hire a storyboard artist to help you produce your film? Give Beverly Boy Productions a call!