Pre-Production: Storyboard Research
Film storyboarding is not a necessity when making creating a film but it is something nearly all filmmakers use to help aid their visual imagination onto paper and then finally a moving image. In many of my projects I have found storyboards useful as a visual representation of what is in my mind, so when shooting my mind doesn't go blank and I have something to stick to. Although a shot list can be useful to this, it's not a visual aid and sometimes you do just need a visual aid. In previous projects, it has also helped me to see if ideas work and actually look effective together. Although I am not amazing at drawing it is something valuable to have nevertheless.
Storyboarding in this project will help me visualize what is actually being seen on screen and visually what the documentary is showing. Being that I am Director of Photography, I would like to see what shots will work in sequence with each other.
As an editor, this will also help me see what I am going to work into the edit and how I can shoot to edit. Shooting to edit is something every filmmaker should have in mind. Storyboarding will be helpful to also remind myself when it comes to the editing of what my original intentions and ideas are behind each of the shots. The visions I have in mind already I have begun storyboarding but its difficult to finalize everything when the script isn't yet complete; something which will help navigate the story further. Because our documentary, like most documentaries, is so contributor heavy, it's difficult to script what is going to happen without those contributors confirmed.
The following is an example storyboard from the show Vikings. This storyboard is well illustrated but again not incredibly detailed and that's because it doesn't need to be.
I did find it difficult finding documentary storyboards as they aren't done as commonly as what they are in film. However, carrying this planning method from films can be just as effective in helping me. Storyboarding will help me understand the following:
Will the concept work?
A storyboard reveals whether a concept will work or no one determines the direction the course is going to take. With my project, it is important to understand visually what is happening on screen.
Will the action work?
Storyboards contain notes to developers like what media to be used, what elements get synched with which part of the audio narration, which elements would be clickable, and the resultant reaction. This gives a comprehensive idea of how the course would flow in its entirety. So, the storyboard serves as the blueprint. With documentary making it is important to see wether it will work as we want everything to link in well.
Utilizing the budget effectively.
In case of complex animations where it takes a lot of time and budget to develop the final product, it is always better to have an approved storyboard from the client in place. The storyboard helps to envision what the final product would look like. In the meantime, if the client decides to make some changes in the course, they can very well share their inputs during this phase so that it does not affect the production budget.
Identifying errors at an early stage.
It is during the storyboarding phase that most of the errors related to narration, media, and other relevant details are identified. This saves the much necessary time, effort, and cost that could disrupt the production phase.
Deciding on appropriate media.
It is essential to get the most relevant and appropriate media into the course. The storyboarder does their best to identify these when they visualize, but they might not hit the mark every time. For example: Are the media complementing the content well, are they appropriately representing the content, are the required elements in the media available, are the required ethnicities represented, etc. At the storyboarding stage, these can be identified and corrected before development starts.
Hitting off with punch lines or dialogues.
It is while creating the storyboard that you can test if certain punch lines or dialogues would work as you have imagined before. You can write these dialogues and share them with the stakeholders or course owners who have a higher visibility into the curriculum and can guide you about the mindset of the audience you are targeting at. Alternatively, you can also try this tactic with a test audience or pilot participants to see how it works.
Need changes to be made later?
So, you’ve deployed your course and learners are taking it. Six months down the line, you need to update it. How do you do so efficiently and without creating version issues? Pick up the latest version of the storyboard and make changes to and share it with the rest of the group.
Storyboarding in this project will help me visualize what is actually being seen on screen and visually what the documentary is showing. Being that I am Director of Photography, I would like to see what shots will work in sequence with each other.
As an editor, this will also help me see what I am going to work into the edit and how I can shoot to edit. Shooting to edit is something every filmmaker should have in mind. Storyboarding will be helpful to also remind myself when it comes to the editing of what my original intentions and ideas are behind each of the shots. The visions I have in mind already I have begun storyboarding but its difficult to finalize everything when the script isn't yet complete; something which will help navigate the story further. Because our documentary, like most documentaries, is so contributor heavy, it's difficult to script what is going to happen without those contributors confirmed.
The following is an example storyboard from the show Vikings. This storyboard is well illustrated but again not incredibly detailed and that's because it doesn't need to be.
Will the concept work?
A storyboard reveals whether a concept will work or no one determines the direction the course is going to take. With my project, it is important to understand visually what is happening on screen.
Will the action work?
Storyboards contain notes to developers like what media to be used, what elements get synched with which part of the audio narration, which elements would be clickable, and the resultant reaction. This gives a comprehensive idea of how the course would flow in its entirety. So, the storyboard serves as the blueprint. With documentary making it is important to see wether it will work as we want everything to link in well.
Utilizing the budget effectively.
In case of complex animations where it takes a lot of time and budget to develop the final product, it is always better to have an approved storyboard from the client in place. The storyboard helps to envision what the final product would look like. In the meantime, if the client decides to make some changes in the course, they can very well share their inputs during this phase so that it does not affect the production budget.
Identifying errors at an early stage.
It is during the storyboarding phase that most of the errors related to narration, media, and other relevant details are identified. This saves the much necessary time, effort, and cost that could disrupt the production phase.
Deciding on appropriate media.
It is essential to get the most relevant and appropriate media into the course. The storyboarder does their best to identify these when they visualize, but they might not hit the mark every time. For example: Are the media complementing the content well, are they appropriately representing the content, are the required elements in the media available, are the required ethnicities represented, etc. At the storyboarding stage, these can be identified and corrected before development starts.
Hitting off with punch lines or dialogues.
It is while creating the storyboard that you can test if certain punch lines or dialogues would work as you have imagined before. You can write these dialogues and share them with the stakeholders or course owners who have a higher visibility into the curriculum and can guide you about the mindset of the audience you are targeting at. Alternatively, you can also try this tactic with a test audience or pilot participants to see how it works.
Need changes to be made later?
So, you’ve deployed your course and learners are taking it. Six months down the line, you need to update it. How do you do so efficiently and without creating version issues? Pick up the latest version of the storyboard and make changes to and share it with the rest of the group.
For interviews, I would like to use a three-camera setup. This is something I learned from the documentary project at the end of first year. Although interview setups are common and there are lots of examples around to use, I would like to storyboard shots for each of the interviews to see if there is anything interesting I can do with the locations and have each interview tailored specifically similar to what they do in reported missing.
For my storyboard, I designed my own template on Adobe Illustrator
https://elearningindustry.com/8-reasons-storyboarding-important-jumping-off-elearning-development
For my storyboard, I designed my own template on Adobe Illustrator
https://elearningindustry.com/8-reasons-storyboarding-important-jumping-off-elearning-development
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