The importance of story boarding in filmmaking

Sep 11, 18

A sequence of a series of drawings or illustrations set in boxes is basically a storyboard.Comics are the first reference to storyboarding that one probably experiences. A storyboard visualizes a script in terms of visual cards detailing how the film will be visualized. Walt Disney in the 1920's first used the technique of storyboards for filmmaking. One of the first live action films to use this technique was Gone with the Wind. Storyboards have since then become essential for any kind of feature film, ad film, documentary film or short film. Here are some of the many reasons for the importance of storyboarding in filmmaking. The Director's Vision:

The director's vision is what makes a film. Most often what happens with a script is what happens when one reads a book. Everyone has their version of the film from the script. A storyboard helps the director communicate his/her version of the script so that everyone is on the same page in terms of vision. This is not specific only to feature films but ad films, documentaries and other format films as well. So, a storyboard communicates in visuals not words the film script the way the director envisions the scenes.

For the Technical Crew:

Taking the directors vision further the storyboard is essential because a film only works when there is clarity for all departments. All the technicians are should be in sync and not go their own way. A storyboard will give everybody an idea of the scenes. From the cinematographers to the lighting department to the actors, from the camera magnification to the camera angles there is so much clarity that a storyboard offers the technical crew. Additionally, a shot can be set up without wasting time discussing nitty-gritty details on location.

For the Clients and Producers:

The producers or clients are the ones with the money and they need to know her their money is going. A storyboard helps the director communicate his vision to the producers. The clients understand that their product shot is only going to stay for 5 seconds and the producers understand the need for hiring expensive equipment. This takes the ambiguity out of the equation and helps the shoot progress smoothly.

For a Rainy Day:

A whole lot can go wrong on the day of the shoot - from a sudden cloudburst to the withdrawal of permissions for the locations. A film shoot is a whole lot of preparation and a whole lot of managing the challenges the actual shoot has to offer. All the planning during pre-production is not enough for the shoot to progress as per schedule. With a storyboard on hand is easy to improvise the scene depending on the time, light or weather constraints.

Do a storyboard for any kind of film you are making. The storyboard doesn't have to be artistic and a 100% accurate in terms or drawings. They can be stick figures or rough representations. But, don't underestimate the importance of storyboarding in filmmaking.