This document provides guidance on creating storyboards for films. It discusses breaking down a script into shots, evaluating each shot by considering location, actors, props, shot type, angle, movement, lighting and effects. The author recommends creating a shot list and then constructing storyboard panels by drawing illustrations of each shot along with descriptive text. Key steps include choosing a panel size and shape, adding a border, and including a description box below each illustration panel. The overall process helps visualize the film and plan shots before production.

1. Storyboarding for Film
Giulianno Morales Marietti
Universidad del Sagrado Corazón

2. Giulianno Morales Marietti
gmarietti aroba live punto com
@GiuliannoMM
filmtalkwith.wordpress.com

3. Agenda
Section 1
Breaking down your script.
Section 2
Evaluating each shot.
Section 3
Creating a shot list.
Conclusion
Constructing storyboard panels.

4. Section 1
Breaking down your Script

5. ● Break down the screenplay into shots.

6. ● Break down the screenplay into shots.
Shot: a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera.

7. Types of shots

8. ● Break down the screenplay into shots.
Shot: a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera.
● Figure out what you want the shots to
entail.

9. ● Break down the screenplay into shots.
Shot: a film sequence photographed continuously by one camera.
● Figure out what you want the shots to
entail.
● Transform ideas into storyboard panels.

10. Basic storyboard panel

11. Section 2
Evaluating the shots.

12. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:

13. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
●
What is the location setting?

14. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
●
●
What is the location setting?
How many actors do I need in the shot?

15. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
●
●
●
What is the location setting?
How many actors do I need in the shot?
Any important props or vehicles in the shot?

16. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
●
●
●
●
What is the location setting?
How many actors do I need in the shot?
Any important props or vehicles in the shot?
What type of shot is it? (close-up, wide-shot,etc.)

17. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
What is the location setting?
● How many actors do I need in the shot?
● Any important props or vehicles in the shot?
● What type of shot is it? (close-up, wide-shot,etc.)
● What is the shot’s angle? High angle? Low angle?
●

18. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
What is the location setting?
● How many actors do I need in the shot?
● Any important props or vehicles in the shot?
● What type of shot is it? (close-up, wide-shot,etc.)
● What is the shot’s angle? High angle? Low angle?
● Do actors or vehicle need to move within the frame, and
what is the direction of that action in the shot?
●

19. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
What is the location setting?
● How many actors do I need in the shot?
● Any important props or vehicles in the shot?
● What type of shot is it? (close-up, wide-shot,etc.)
● What is the shot’s angle? High angle? Low angle?
● Do actors or vehicle need to move within the frame, and
what is the direction of that action in the shot?
● In what direction does the camera go?
●

20. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
What is the location setting?
How many actors do I need in the shot?
Any important props or vehicles in the shot?
What type of shot is it? (close-up, wide-shot,etc.)
What is the shot’s angle? High angle? Low angle?
Do actors or vehicle need to move within the frame, and
what is the direction of that action in the shot?
In what direction does the camera go?
Do you need special lighting?

21. While planning each shot panel, ask yourself these questions:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
What is the location setting?
How many actors do I need in the shot?
Any important props or vehicles in the shot?
What type of shot is it? (close-up, wide-shot,etc.)
What is the shot’s angle? High angle? Low angle?
Do actors or vehicle need to move within the frame, and
what is the direction of that action in the shot?
In what direction does the camera go?
Do you need special lighting?
Do you need any special effects?

22. Section 3
Creating a shot list.

23. ● Decide whether you want to storyboard every shot or just
the ones that require special planning, like action or
special effects.

24. ● Decide whether you want to storyboard every shot or just
the ones that require special planning, like action or
special effects.
● If you want to keep a certain style throughout the film like
low angles, special lenses, or a certain lighting style (for
example, shadows) then you may want to storyboard every
shot.

25. ● Decide whether you want to storyboard every shot or just
the ones that require special planning, like action or
special effects.
● If you want to keep a certain style throughout the film like
low angles, special lenses, or a certain lighting style (for
example, shadows) then you may want to storyboard every
shot.
● If you only want to storyboard certain scenes that may
require special planning keep a shot list of all the events
or scenes that jump out at you so that you can translate
them into separate storyboard panels.

26. Here’s an example of a shot list:

27. Conclusion
Constructing storyboard panels.

28. A storyboard panel is basically just a box containing
the illustration of the shot you envision for your film.

29. Ways to obtain storyboard panels:

30. Ways to obtain storyboard panels:
● You can either purchase pads of
storyboard panels.

31. Ways to obtain storyboard panels:
● You can either purchase pads of
storyboard panels.
● Draw your own panels — four to six on
a regular 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper
(keeping them at a legible size).

32. Ways to obtain storyboard panels:
● You can either purchase pads of
storyboard panels.
● Draw your own panels — four to six on
a regular 8-1/2 x 11 piece of paper
(keeping them at a legible size).
● Print blank storyboard panels using
your desktop computer.

33. Quick steps to design your own storyboard panels:

34. Quick steps to design your own storyboard panels:
1. Decide which shape and size of panel to use.

35. Quick steps to design your own storyboard panels:
1. Decide which shape and size of panel to use.
● A television storyboard panel resembles a square, only
slightly wider.

36. Quick steps to design your own storyboard panels:
1. Decide which shape and size of panel to use.
● A television storyboard panel resembles a square, only
slightly wider.
● Theatrical feature-film storyboards are rectangular in
shape, almost twice as wide as a television screen.

37. 2. Draw the shape of the panel and add a thick
black border (approximately 1/2 inch in width)
around the square or rectangle.

38. 2. Draw the shape of the panel and add a thick
black border (approximately 1/2 inch in width)
around the square or rectangle.
● Placing a border around each panel helps you to see
each panel as a definitive separate shot, and
subliminally creates the illusion of a TV or darkened
theater around your shot, giving you an idea of what
that individual image will look like.

39. 3. Lastly, create a description panel by
drawing a 1-inch empty box just below the
bottom of the frame panel

40. 3. Lastly, create a description panel by
drawing a 1-inch empty box just below the
bottom of the frame panel
● Use this box to write down important information
that describes in detail what the illustration doesn't
show or enhances what is drawn in the frame above.
For example, include any important dialogue, camera
directions, scene numbers, or special-effects
instructions.

41. There you have it!

42. There you have it!
Once you’ve finished, your storyboard should
look a little like this:

44. Thank you for your time!