Storyboarding Essentials

Contents Foreword, by Stratton Leopold Introduction 1. What Is Storyboarding?             The Types of Storyboards             A Visual Road Map 2. Interpreting the Written Word             Script Basics             Script Breakdowns             Spec Scripts Versus Shooting Scripts             “And Now, a Word from Our Sponsor” Exercise: Script Breakdowns and Thumbnails A Difference of Opinion: The Great Savannah Race Interview: Kenny Chaplin, DGA/DGC 3. Rendering             Rough or Polished Finish             Little Drawings, Big Ideas             The Right Tool for the Job             Compositing A Difference of Opinion: Un-Deadwood Interview: Keith Ingham 4. Principles, Elements, and Conventions             Aspect Ratios             Getting Started Blocking the Composition             Staying Organized Numbering             How to Insert Shots Exercise: Numbering 5. Continuity             What Is Continuity?             Axis and Allies Breaking the Axis             30 Degrees of Separation Neutralizing and Cutaway Shots             Screen Direction and Visual Logic Avoiding Confusion             Building Tension and Creating a Surprise Don’t Turn Around A Difference of Opinion: Hyde from Jekyll—the Chase 6. What the Camera Sees             The Camera             Deep and Wide             Shooting on Location             Framing Heights and Angles Other Shots to Consider             Cut to the Chase             Behind the Scenes Exercise: Identifying Framing Heights and Angles 7. Move Me!             No Reaction Without “Action!”             Movements             Drawings Versus Diagrams Camera Moves as Drawings             Photomatics and Digimatics             Order Out of Chaos Exercise: Movement Calls A Difference of Opinion: Hyde from Jekyll—Transmogrification Interview: Whitney Cogar 8. The Martini Shot             Putting It All Together             A Toast to Storyboarding Afterword: Humans Tell Stories, by Tina O’Hailey Appendix Index