Download our Storyboard Template
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Drawing a storyboard is the most important thing you can do before writing a video script or shooting your video.
If you’ve been on any of my multimedia or video workshops, you’ll know how much I emphasize this important step.
A storyboard does not need to fancy. Many of us cannot draw very well. Me included.
Storyboard is Not Art
No matter how bad we are at drawing, we can still at least sketch out stick figures that show what we are visualizing in each frame.
A storyboard is not meant to be artistic. It is meant to be functional. It simply shows you and anyone else working with you on the video what shots you intend to shoot and how you want to frame them.
I first learned the importance of a storyboard when I did the BBC’s Single Camera Directing course.
And my colleagues in BBC Training constantly drummed in its value as they taught some of the world’s best TV camera operators.
Doing a storyboard was great advice.
Because in my experience, the videographers who draw a storyboard before they shoot or write a script almost always shoot better video. And they do it faster.
Two Good Reasons for a Storyboard
You’ll recall in my seminars that I suggest two good reasons to start with a storyboard.
- The first is to discipline your mind to think visually. That means considering every part of your visual message. This includes camera angle, shot size and camera position. Considering every part of your picture includes thinking about your backdrop and interrogating everything in your picture with the question, does this support my message? Having carefully thought through your pictures you can start writing dialogue and commentary. You can start tackling the other message layers.
- The second purpose is to save time when you go out and shoot your video. A storyboard enables you to plan your shoot more intelligently. As a result, you’ll shoot less footage that you end up discarding.You’ll save time by shooting only the footage you need. You’ll save your editor’s time by giving them less video to process. And they won’t need to waste their time sitting through sub-par footage that will end up on the figurative “cutting room floor”.
Anyway, we know why a storyboard is important. To save you time drawing up pieces of paper with boxes on them, I’m providing the storyboard template we use in seminars. Click on the icon below to open it up and print as many as you like.