1. STORYBOARDS
A storyboard is a graphical illustration which outlines the media production prior to creation. This
genre of visual representation allows a media producer to blueprint their ideas before creating the video
production. A storyboard allows you to organise your production scene-by-scene and you can easily see
when and where you are going to shoot the scene.
Why use storyboards?
Storyboards are a fundamental part in
the pre-production stage. This useful planning stage allows the production company to
visualise the aims before filming. Whilst on set, the correct team behind the camera is ready
and knows every scene. By drafting a storyboard allows the relevant crew members to know
where to be and when, this increases efficiency. If a production company didn’t have a
storyboard, only a small group within the company will know what is going on – this can lead to
complications when coming to edit when realising that you have not created enough clips, or the clips
don’t reach the aim of the director. Storyboards create a visual image meaning if one director doesn’t feel
happy with one of the scenes, the effort into rectifying this isn’t as much time consuming and expensive as
re shooting the whole scene. Production companies usually make many copies of the storyboard before
concluding with the final storyboard which can be sent to the technicians who work behind the camera. The
storyboard can also work as a guide to the script writers therefore without the storyboard the scribe could
struggle with visualise what is going on. Furthermore, production companies create a storyboard in order to
visualise possible missed legal and logistical requirements which are essential in the pre-production
planning task. Licensing is key if your media production includes music, companies nowadays
hire special experts which specialisein making sure your production is copyright free. The legal
industry is becoming more prominent these days as without music productions are boring and
dry. It would be hard to imagine a TV show/ film without any music – just dialogue. Most film
companies use soundtracks which are cheap to own but if you want specific music it can be
Instructions to tell the actors and the
director what to do. This also helps if
the illustration isn’t clear
Rough sketch to indicate
the main clip within the
scene – sometimes minor
details may be left out
Shot Number –
indicates to the
director what shot
you are on.
This can be really
useful if they
publisher had to re-
sketch the frame.
Producers use storyboards to have a clear layout
in order to express the director’s ideas within
one single visual to communicate with other
members of the crew. A storyboard allows the
production company to allocate when particular
technicians to come in on different shooting
days rather than every crew member on every
day. This efficient method can save lots of time
and money.
2. very expensive. ‘Skyfall’ created their own soundtrack which is another marketing technique some
companies use. The copyright for this is free because the song was made for the film.
