Planning: Storyboarding (Miss. B)

Storyboarding

Storyboards are drawings of the sequence of shots for a script. They inform on multiple things, including characters, story/plot, and extras such as sound/editing. This is useful because it allows the director to communicate specific ideas to members of the crew. For example, if the Lighting Operator is unsure on which lighting to use, the director can consult the story board, find the frame, and narrow down the detail specifically to 'lighting'. Storyboards also save time instead of making decisions on the spot; it's important to know the last ten steps you took, the one you're on now and the next ten in line to keep the work flowing and efficient. A story board avoids confusion, conflict, and reinforces clarity of the concept. The Story boarder (Mohidin) is responsible for creating our main storyboard - however we have all created a separate source of information to show our understanding of the final idea.

Advantages of storyboarding include:

• Knowing exactly what your plot consists of
• How to exhibit this practically, by use of the extra detail provided
• An aversion of confusion about what to do next
• A sense of order because of the frames
• Keeping watch on time with the seconds, because all productions have to last a certain amount of seconds/minutes/hours
• Information for all roles - lighting for the lighting operator, shots for the camera operator and so forth 

Storyboarding helps the editor in particular because once all aspects have been established through those details, all that is left is the details. However, information about lighting can be infused with editing - such as using an effect to create low-key.