StoryBoard Software

Chris Messineo

Chris Messineo

Veteran
My efforts to find a storyboard artist to work with on my first film have failed and I definitely want it storyboarded in great detail.

I have found 4 software packages out there that look promising:

StoryBoard Quick http://www.storyboardartist.com

StoryBoard Pro http://www.atomiclearning.com/freestoryboard.shtml

FrameForge 3D http://www.frameforge3d.com

StoryBoard Lite http://www.zebradevelopment.com

Is anyone familiar with any of these and have any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,

Chris Messineo
Off Stage Films
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

if your going to be doing it yourself , imho using software is a great waste of time. as long as your can draw out the basic concept for the shot close to what yo want it to look like, youll be fine. the art in the pics dosnet really matter, what matters is the basic idea of the composition for the shot, and the general placement of things, and your notes can be intrcate to assure you that you know what is going on in each shot. i storyboard in practically stick figures, but i know what its supposed to look like. and it just gives me a reminder, and a guidline of what shots were doing, and as to the movement, and placement of things and such. if your screenplay is detailed enough, and your storyboard art is able to be deciphered , then your fine. sitting there and playing with objects and such and putting every shot together to a "t" in software can be fun, but if your doing the shooting, dont waste your time. you should really only need a reminder of the plan, more than having everything spelled out for you , cause you should already have in your head the iodeas for the shots from the screenplay. but again this is just imho. try out some software on a trial basis or somthing, and see what works best for you.
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

thanks loser, glad to know i'm not the only one using stick figures :) i actually did this during a script writing test when i was in school and the instructor marked me off a few points because of it!? i agree, it's not the artistry, it's understanding the concept of the shot.
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

Word to the IAL.

My storyboarding is legendary for its horrificness. But, since my crews are small and are used to it, it works for its intended purpose, which is: take the time to think your shots through on paper and watch the movie (or commercial, etc) on paper, to make sure it makes sense. Then use the storyboards to communicate the basic setup to the shooter or anyone else who needs to know what's going on in the shot.

For more professional presentations, I also searched through the storyboard software selections. I came to the conclusion that FrameForge was probably the best for a guy like me, someone who cannot draw at all (I mean, I couldn't draw blood if you gave me a butcher knife. I couldn't draw water from a well.) I ordered it but haven't even opened it yet. Just another of those things to get around to sooner or later...
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm just not sure that stick figures will help me. At this point I don't have enough sense of where the camera should be. I need help visualizing the outcome.

I have narrowed my choice to StoryBoard Quick, which is quick, but doesn't actually create a 3d environment you can play in and AppForge 3D which is not quick, but creates a 3d environment you can play in.

Chris
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

understood,:) but remember that it should go from your head to the screen. or in the case of storyboarding ..from your head to the paper/storyboard to the screen. trying to get the software to tell your head what the scene should look like is going to be a long proccess of trial and error, and experimentation, and crossing your fingers - but if its where your at, its where your at, and theres not much you can do about it. the software in that case will at least let you change around the camera angles at will once you set up a scene, and figure out what you like, but it sounds like you should really just get out with a cam and practise the art of cinematography until its second nature, perhaps some books, or more studying on the subject.. i dont know... but its going to be a long road ahead if you cant visualize what you want your film to look like in your head. its what filmmaking is all about , taking whats in your head, and putting it on the screen in a well communicated, and visually stimulating way.
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

Chris, I have a suggestion for you. Forget about those programs. They are a waste of time. You will never get what you really want, because it's in your head. I'm a creative director in an ad agency and thank god I know how to draw, because I will put on the paper exactly what I envision. if you want the boards in great detail, you're gonna be spending a lot of money in illustrators. Just draw them yourself. The thing with the boards is that you are telling a story, just like the comic books. Visualize it and then shoot it. It doesn't have to look great. If you need any help on how to visualize, email me at ecoloco@mac.com. I can show you boards that i have made for my clients. They work.

Bono
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

Check out Wes Anderson's storyboards for "Rushmore." Then you won't worry about software . . . ;)
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

In any case, don't buy Storyboard Quick. I did it once in a day I had lost my brain somewhere $200 or something wasted. The app stinks big time !

I agree with the other fellas : consider spending your budget in drawing lessons to learn the basic concept of perspective. Not so complicated to understand. Worth it, it will educate your eye, which is a useful organ for a moviemaker...

My drawings are crimes in themselves — I should be in prison for that — but as they more or less succeed in describing my inner vision to the people I work with, nobody complains ; they just laugh at me. So the team can relax at my expense (which is the only expense I can afford anyway : I don't pay them so I let them laugh...)

The problem is I don't really like to draw, so I need to kick my butt everytime I have to do it. Maybe that's your problem too, CMessineo ?...
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

I draw relatively primitive stick figures accompanied by terse written notes when I do storyboards, and it has worked out fine so far. Personally, I have found storyboards to be very helpful.

Amazingly enough, Spielberg didn't use any storyboards when he did "Schindler's List."

I also like this quote from David Fincher:

"Directing ain't about drawing a neat little picture and showing it to the cameraman. I didn't want to go to film school. I didn't know what the point was. The fact is, you don't know what directing is until the sun is setting and you've got to get five shots and you're only going to get two."
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

In my experience, In tv commercials, the add agencies(Creative director) will make storyboards(nice ones) to present to clients,(nissan,beer, etc.) with their treatment attachded. Then when the ad agency is awarded the gig, they present it to a production company(with director) and have them make estimate on how much the commercial is going to cost,along with detailed treatment. Usually a good producer and PM will estimate the cost after the director decides how he wants to shoot it, with cameraman. The storyboards are now presented to a 1stAD , which he will make a shot list for the crew. Since it is important to have storyboards in my kind of shooting, It doesnt matter if it is stick figures or a nicely done one. The 1stAd will probally be the only one to keep a storyboard on the set.....and rest is usually left in the production meeting on the table....
 
Re: StoryBoard Software

Hey ! I seized the occasion and downloaded a FrameForge 3D demo this morning.

Quite a good software.

I'm not sure it makes you earn any time compared to the traditional method, but it's a pleasant program to work with.

What's great is that you can test different focal lens lengths and see how they look like (you sure have to be very skilled to deal with focal lengths directly on paper)

This app can't replace traditional storyboarding — mostly because of human considerations : a good storyboarder's look is an unvaluable plus. But I think it's a useful tool.

For instance, you can imagine trying different framings and give them to the storyboarder without telling him/her where you want them, let him/her put the artistic touch and confront the two visions.

In any case, this is a pleasant software to work with. The interface is quite intuitive. As always with this kind of toy, the key is not to get swallowed by the unproductive so called superproductive potentialities, but you must all be already vaccinated against this particular disease by the time ;)
 
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