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Creating Detailed Storyboards for Videos

Objective:

Students will be able to create detailed storyboards that focus on visuals, actor movement, shot angles, specialized editing techniques, and special effects.

Warm Up:

  1. Think about your favorite movie or video. What scenes stand out to you? Why?
  2. How do you think filmmakers plan out their scenes before shooting?
  3. What is a storyboard, and why do you think it is important in filmmaking?

Key Vocabulary:

  • Storyboard: A visual representation of a film or video that outlines each scene through sketches or images.
  • Shot Angle: The position of the camera in relation to the subject being filmed (e.g., high angle, low angle).
  • Editing Techniques: Methods used to combine different video clips to create a cohesive story (e.g., cuts, fades, transitions).
  • Special Effects: Techniques used in film to create illusions or visual tricks (e.g., CGI, practical effects).

Learning to Create Detailed Storyboards

Creating storyboards is an essential part of filmmaking. A storyboard helps filmmakers visualize the scenes before they start shooting. It’s like a comic strip that outlines the important moments in a video. When making a storyboard, you should focus on several key elements, including actor movement, shot angles, and editing techniques.
Actor Movement: In your storyboard, describe how actors will move during each scene. Will they walk, run, or stand still? You can use arrows or notes to indicate the direction of their movement. For example, if a character is running towards the camera, draw an arrow pointing forward.
Shot Angles: Think about the camera angles you want to use. Different angles can change the mood of a scene. A high-angle shot can make a character look small or weak, while a low-angle shot can make them appear powerful. Label your storyboard with the type of shot angle for each scene, such as "close-up," "wide shot," or "over-the-shoulder."
Specialized Editing Techniques: Consider how you will edit your video. This includes transitions between scenes, such as cuts or fades. You can indicate this in your storyboard by writing notes next to each frame. For example, you might write "fade to black" at the end of a scene to show that it will transition smoothly into the next.
Special Effects: If your video includes special effects, make sure to note them in your storyboard. This could be anything from adding CGI creatures to using practical effects like smoke or explosions. Clearly labeling these effects will help the production team plan ahead.
By focusing on these elements, you can create a detailed storyboard that serves as a blueprint for your video project. This organized approach will help you communicate your vision clearly to everyone involved in the production.

Check for Understanding Questions (Respond in Jupiter before leaving class):


Do your own research and use the notes above to come up with responses and examples for the questions below.
  1. Why is it important to include actor movement in a storyboard?
  2. How do different shot angles affect the viewer's perception of a scene?
  3. What are some examples of specialized editing techniques you could use in your video?

IRL


Storyboard Skills for Filmmaking : Creating storyboards is a crucial part of the filmmaking process. When aspiring filmmakers plan their movies, they visualize each scene in a series of drawings. This helps them organize their thoughts, decide on camera angles, and establish the flow of the story. By learning to create storyboards, you are gaining skills that could lead to a career in film production, directing, or animation, where these techniques are essential for successful storytelling.
Advertising and Marketing Strategies : In the world of commercials and advertisements, storyboards are used to map out the visual narrative of a product or service. Companies use storyboards to communicate their ideas to clients and ensure the message is clear and engaging. By mastering storyboarding, you can enter fields like marketing, advertising, or graphic design, where your ability to visually convey ideas will be highly valued.
Video Game Development : Storyboarding isn't just for movies and commercials; it is also vital in the video game industry. Game designers use storyboards to outline the plot, character development, and gameplay mechanics before coding begins. This helps ensure that the game is cohesive and immersive. By learning to create storyboards, you are preparing yourself for potential careers in game design, animation, or interactive media, where creative storytelling plays a key role.