Film development using storyboards

I thought I’d share with you all some of the storyboard work that we’ve been doing on the film.
Here you can see the progression of our storyboards from simple black and white outline to full colour concept. We are using our storyboards not just to plan the sequence of shots, showing angles and shot types, but also to show colours for the film – in this instance trying to blend warm and cool colours. Each storyboard develops the film visually as new ideas are created and new details thought out.

The storyboards are then developed onto an A4 sheet. Down the left hand side are the storyboards, then on the right the highlighted section of script that they relate to, followed by shot list coverage. It is designed to be a guide – not a list of what MUST be shot.

I’ve not tried this technique before (having everything on the same page) have to see how it works. Previously I would have the script in one hand and a shot list in the other. What I’ve found difficult is that the shot list becomes such a cold – unconnected thing “SHOT X -CU – John’s face.. line..” and so on. With the script, storyboard and shot list on the same sheet I hope to make a more complete guide to what needs filming.

I read an article in Sight and Sound (Talking Shop) interviewing a whole host of cinematographers about among other things their use of storyboards. I was really frustrated with the somewhat dismissive attitude to their use, “they’re useful for visual effects but I don’t use them for filming.” was the general consensus.

I come from an animation background where the storyboard is traditionally integral to the film making process. Once the storyboard is created you can create an animatic (the storyboard filmed with approximate timings) and then as the film is made, the animated sections can be inserted into the animatic.

The cinematographers interviewed by Sight and Sound felt, I think, that they’re creativity was being attacked when someone else had created storyboards.

I think that storyboards are an important and underated tool for keeping the whole production focused on what’s trying to be achieved and we shall be using them extensively in Raven Waiting.