Create a storyboard.

This is the process we’ll follow throughout this class:

Read & identify the main theme of your story
Collect relevant References
Learn the Principles of Storyboarding
Create Beat Boards
Learn Storyboarding Terminology
Create Thumbnails
Draw a Rough draft
Revise your storyboard draft
Finalise your Board

Your finished project should be a sequence of simple, clear and engaging panels that makes the viewer want to watch or flip through the shots until the end!

It’ll be helpful to share your project and get feedback from other students so you can make the best version of your storyboard.

And most importantly, have fun boarding!

Lesson links:

Lesson 1 - Finding the Main Theme

Script to Screen (Pixar):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyYG0GGvErE

https://youtu.be/PvgVsVmusPg

Emperor's New Clothes story:

https://andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheEmperorsNewClothes_e.html

Script Format:

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/how-to-write-a-screenplay/

Lesson 2 - Collecting References

Suggested movie/show list of references according to genre:

Dramedy (General):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_m9S03f5KY3YyRhUrUHj3Gb

Ref available on Netflix - Song of the Sea, A Silent Voice, The Little Prince, Tokyo Godfathers

Drama (Adults):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_nstk7CQFdRL8cyzFa0uRA3

Ref available on Netflix - Grave of the Fireflies, The Breadwinner, Nausicaa

Action/Comedy (General):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_kH5juxmsSvZnXuupVxtmy0

Ref available on Netflix - Rise of TMNT, Treasure Planet, Tarzan

Action/Comedy (Adults):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_kH5juxmsSvZnXuupVxtmy0

Ref available on Netflix/Amazon - Hot Fuzz, Zombieland, Police Story, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Thriller (Adults):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_k7yGZqx82txW0U1KrEVKKm

Ref available on Netflix/Hulu - Memento, Black Swan, The Silence of the Lambs, Ex Machina, Perfect Blue

Horror (General):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_l_z1MhsJf2gCI1uPV5kKDB

Ref available on Netflix/Hulu - Coraline, Paranorman, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride

Horror (Adults):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiW699rC0m_ljPny165TYiXJ_8ms5u06X

Ref available on Netflix - Us, Perfect Blue, Get Out, It Follows, The Babadook, A Quiet Place, Burning (2018)

Lesson 3 - Storytelling

Pixar Side by Side (Coco):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb3bV7A8qMU

Pixar Side by Side Screen (Up):

https://youtu.be/XoyZmu0IOKc

Lesson 4 - Clarity

Learn and analyse what makes storyboards clear.

Lesson 5 - 180° Rule

Watch movies/shows and analyse how they maintain the 180 degree rule, or how they break it and still make it clear to the audience.

Additional explanation for the 180° Rule: https://youtu.be/iW0bKUfvH2c

Lesson 6 - Composition

Study the composition in these films (All available on Netflix):

Spirited Away, Grand Budapest Hotel, Ghost in the Shell, Whiplash

Karolis Strautniekas' artwork:

https://strautniekas.com/

New Yorker Article featuring Karolis Strautniekas' Illustration:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-espionage/the-black-cube-chronicles-the-private-investigators

Spirited Away Trailer:

https://youtu.be/1fkHzj9a2XE

Whiplash Trailer:

https://youtu.be/Df1xkYYbYrY

The Grand Budapest Hotel Trailer:

https://youtu.be/KVyf-fzv-mA

Ghost in the Shell Trailer:

https://youtu.be/DwOQmuUJ2tg

Spirited Away Stills:

https://imgur.com/a/I2Ef0

A - Z Movie Stills:

https://film-grab.com/movies-a-z/

Lesson 7 - Continuity

Observe and analyse how movies/shows maintain their consistency and logic between scenes.

Lesson 8 - Creating Beat Boards

Read your script and create beat boards, each beat board should summarise one scene into a single image.

Lesson 9 - Terminology Part 1

Analyse when and why certain types of shots are used in specific moments within movies/shows. Focus on ones that are similiar in theme to your storyboard.

Lesson 10 - Terminology Part 2

Think about which camera movements would suit each scene of your storyboard, or if the camera should move at all.

Lesson 11 - Thumbnails

Thumbnail your storyboard in full. Refer to Part 1 and 2 of Storyboarding Terminology lessons if you are unsure what shots and camera movements to use.

Lesson 12- Rough Draft

While referring to your thumbnails and BG designs, draw your Rough Draft.

Lesson 13 - Revised Draft

Revise your Rough Draft. Refer to the Storytelling and Clarity lessons if you feel unsure what to change, or refer to your collected storytelling references.

Lesson 14 - Finalising your Storyboard

Clean up/Line your storyboard in full on a new layer.

Lesson 15 - Final Thoughts

Export your Storyboard into a PDF and/or JPGs. Share your storyboard as a project and celebrate!

Dar Laufer

--

1