Storyboard analysis
A storyboard is something used to demonstrate how the shots of a scene should look and what order they should be put together in. Usually this is in the form of lots of square boxes, each one usually shows a single shot, but sometimes a shot can be spread between multiple boxes if the camera moves or the action in the scene changes significantly enough to justify a new drawing.
It's also common to include notes, arrows, directions and shot types, as well as what sound should go with what shot. They are designed to be as clear as possible, and are usually drawn by skilled artists if for a large production.
It's also common to include notes, arrows, directions and shot types, as well as what sound should go with what shot. They are designed to be as clear as possible, and are usually drawn by skilled artists if for a large production.
The image shown is a storyboard I have drawn from a small scene in the 2004 film 'The Grudge.' This is not only a demonstration of how a storyboard my look, but also shows how easily tension can be created in a scene from only 9 shots.
Things such as wide shots, to isolate the character's on screen, low angles / high angles, to give the impression of something watching said character, and lingering shots for long periods of time create a great amount of tension in an audience. |
Here we have a famous storyboard; from Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' (1963). Most shots don't have any details written around or underneath them, the drawings are very detailed and the shots progress up and down rather than side to side. Arrows are used as directions for the actor and the birds. |
It is, of course, important to note than storyboards do not necessarily show exactly what the finished film will look like, directors don't always follow them exactly, it is something that they are allowed to take liberties with, they may change things on the day of the shoot. After All, film is an artform that is always moving and the best directors take advantage of events happening on the day of a shoot, whenever they'd been planned or not. |
Some storyboards are more creative in how the get their message across. For example, this storyboard from Christopher Nolan's 'Inception' (2010), is one large image on the page, boxes are drawn around the actors to show how the camera will move from one shot to the next, following them. As you can see, it gives a much clearer impression on the scene than five individual boxes would. This film is also shot in widescreen, meaning that the boxes are much more rectangular than they would be otherwise. |