Is it worth storyboarding?

DavidBeier

DavidBeier

Veteran
I love to storyboard because I love to compose shots. I think composition makes such a HUGE impact on a movie. That said, I'm a perfectionist and even though my storyboards aren't incredibly detailed, I end up spending and hour or so on each panel just re-doing it until I think the composition is perfect. I can't help it!

The result is that there's no way I'll have the whole thing storyboarded before we start shooting Friday. Now, I'm almost done with the shot list and I've done some storyboards of about ten shots (really important ones that I want to make sure come out perfect). Is it worth it to keep storyboarding (remember, I've got like 200 shots) or should I just trust myself and role with my shot list?
 
Hey David,
I think..and this is a non experiensed opinion, that you should do every single frame. I´ve been in a location twice this week because i didnt storyboarded each frame and when i saw my material, it was incomplete.

And, of course, you can live your story before it really begins!!!
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every single frame is a bit much though i think if im getting what your saying. Because depending on the shooting mode, 30 frames a second and 60 seconds in a minute, and a lot of frames dont differ very much,

and i think of story boarding as more of a guideline, but thats just me, i have a lot of learning to do.
 
I don't think he literally meant every frame...
But each setup, each shot - so you can ensure that you get all the coverage you need for the scene.
 
Essentially you want to storyboard the scenes that need a lot of coverage and that are advance. Try to get in the habit of sketching your major ideas. But you don't want every frame. Because if you follow the storyboard verbatim then you have no allowance for creative freedom. You are locking into the story you edited in your head. Half the magic is what you get on set.

The more important thing to do is get a full shooting schedule set up. Know what scenes get shot when - what time they start, what time you intend on moving on. It's called a script breakdown. Lets just say there is a reason ADs get paid to do this...

But a script breakdown and stripboards are far more important that storyboarding every scene.
 
I find overhead diagrams more useful. They can tell you what will be in focus, and what lens should be used. They also show camera movement better, and tell you how many camera's you need for coverage. Quick (only need one per location), but aren't pretty.
 
nadalpiantini said:
I draw the story and then, using CELTX for semi animation, you can see the flow of the idea like in this link:
Link.
Click to expand...

If the shot is complex, I scout the location, take a few pictures then Use Frameforge 3D to do the storyboards. but If you rely too heavily on them you have no freedom like mentioned above. Another problem:nads: is that you can spend hours in Frameforge or Storyboard artist etc. composing these super complex shots that you just can't do in the real world. In a nutshell, Story boarding is needed in my opinion, but do it with a realistic eye.
 
Just remember . . .

Storyboarding, shot lists, etc., are as much, if not more, for your crew as they are for you. You may have a picture in your head as to what you want, but your crew doesn't. You need to communicate to them exactly what you need in as short a time as possible, and storyboards are indispensable for this.

(And we all learn this from experience . . . :) )
 
I don't think it's necessarily that important to storyboard each frame. I just storyboard the main stuff and have a shot list for everything else. My friend doesn't storyboard at all, and his stuff turns out amazing. He's got it all in his head and on a shot list. If time is of the essence, and you think you know what you want, I wouldn't bother.
 
Do you think it is an absolute requirement to storyboard for a film to turn out successful?

I have most of the main shots that i need in my head and i cannot draw... So i'm going to avoid a storyboard again for this second short.
 
I can't imagine NOT storyboarding a film. Storyboarding is such a inexpensive way to experiment with camera angles.

Whether one uses stick figure drawings, hires an illustrator or simply uses a digital camera to shoot photo-boards, it costs less than inventing the shots on the set while a large crew waits. Everyone I've ever known who doesn't storyboard either moves really slow on set or has shots that don't cut together very well in post.

Even if someone showed me a movie that had been accomplished without storyboarding I am certain that it would have looked even better had the filmmaker taken the time to storyboard.
 
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Storyboards? Definitely!

Here is a shot from a storyboard I did for HorrorFest and the actual image from the movie:

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The above scene was of this guy getting pulled away by the 'Hellebore' creature.

The storyboard helps the cast and crew visualize the scenes. A lot of times, for me, I will create a storyboard image first, and then write the story from that. That's what I did for "Hellebore" in Horrorfest. I actually storyboarded the scenes or images that I wanted and Brian Dillon, the writer, created parts of the story from those images.

I find too, that if I storyboard or illustrate the scenes that are in my head. I can write them better (describe them) in the script.

I also find myself using the storyboard more than the shot list when setting up shots during production. It's a more visual way of communicating the scene, the mood, the action, and the set up with the DP and crew.

My .02 :)
 
storyboarding to me isnt necessary with digital. i got into film 6 years ago and it is definitely a must. those of you who say you dont do it now should atleast know how to or get into a habit of the technique becuase if you plan on shooting film you dont have the luxury you have with digital. my first film project was a fcking nightmare. i was still like you guys in the mindset of not storyboarding. since then i use a descent 10-12 megapixel digital slr and i storyboard wtih real pictures. i get em printed and buy a 3 ring binder and have the completed film in pictures inside a notebook on paper with notes and such. i get done locations, camera angles, prop set ups, and a few other things all at once. then i always carry my digital (usually a dvx) and i run through the scenes were shootin that day to make (if any) changes in camera angles so i still get that freedom. saves alot of money
 
I like doing them even when I'm shooting the film myself as it forces me to look at the editing beforehand.

If you haven't done a film before, then I would say yes you should do them. Even if you don't use them at all, you've got something to fall back on in case you don't get inspired while on set.

My habit is to storyboard about 90% of the shots with stick figures and notes (notes needed because I draw uglier stick figures than most infants). Then any complex framing I talk to my roommate (art major) and he sketches out the shots much more clearly (still rough, but the people look like people) and that's what I show the DP and/or actors.
 
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