Hello All,

It has been mentioned by a production company that I am dealing with, to undertake a screenplay storyboard for a short that they are interested in.

I really was wondering if anyone has done this and if you have any information you can supply on who undertakes these ? Are there artists that specialise in this type of work and if so any idea of the costs involved.

Looking forward to your advice.

Regards Alex

I do know that a lot of shorts get filmed around here and storyboards are hardly ever mentioned.  Most times, someone see's something they like in the script and simply shoot it.

Now Phil is having an animated script done (Bad Penguin) and I recall some drawings from it but for the most part, I'm not sure just how requested storyboards are anymore.

Hope I could be more help.

Shawn.....><

Thanks Shawn

They have requested it so i thought i would find out as much as i can regarding storyboards as i know very little until it was mentioned to me.

Hopefully there are people who do it or websites that can supply generic graphics for storyboarding ?

Regards Alex

Can I ask, is it for a short?

The reason I ask, is most of the time, shorts don't make you any money. They are, however a great addition to your resume.

Storyboards on the other hand, if done by someone who does them for the industry, will most likely charge a fee.

Just a thought. Good luck!

Shawn.....><

It's a lot of work to do a storyboard.  Writers usually are not asked to do a storyboard.

It's something you would do if you were directing the film. Are you directing the film?  

I would tell them that's an unusual request for a writer and ask why they want you to do it.  If you do end up doing it, then make sure you get more credit than just a writing credit.

Quoted from Alex_212 Thanks Shawn They have requested it so i thought i would find out as much as i can regarding storyboards as i know very little until it was mentioned to me. Hopefully there are people who do it or websites that can supply generic graphics for storyboarding ? Regards Alex

I use Toonboom storyboard pro for my stuff -- but I'm also a would-be "artist" to a vague degree.  Why would this company ask you to do story-boarding for a script  you've written?  Do they automatically assume you're an artist too or did you tell them you could or something?  

In any event, storyboards don't have to be highly detailed -- some people use stick figures for them and what have you.  I'm a bit more detailed in my attempts.  So it's kind of a here and there undertaking if you do end up story boarding for the script.  But, as I've said, if you can draw and you understand the storyboard process and what symbols to use and what not to use then it's a pretty rewarding experience.

Toonboom SBP even allows you to animate your storyboards.  It's a cool program, check it out.  I use Toonboom studio pro a lot and they both work hand in foot with one another.

I post a lot of my stuff to facebook and get feedback from various sources, so maybe you can try something like that when you've got something worked out.

Thanks Guys for your comments,

Just to clarify, it is for a short as mentioned, and the producer (who is not set in concrete yet) is considering taking it on and has requested it.

I am not happy to outlay funds for something that i may not get paid for considering the time i have put into it.

Like anything in this industry you can never know too much so i thought i would find the goss on this.

I will look into the software recommended and see if i can put together something myself.

Thanks

You draw a storyboard to plan out the shots you intend to film.

The Director usually instructs a storyboard artist...who is someone with a specific talent...it's not a writers responsibility. Or the Director does one himself along with a shot list to convey his ideas to the Production team.

If you're going to take the time to do a storyboard properly...you may as well go the whole hog and make the film yourself.

One shout out for cast or crew on Mandy/Craiglist and armed with your storyboard you can just shoot it.

You can try out a demo of Frame Forge...a dedicated 3D storyboard software that uses optically correct focal lengths of different cameras and things like that. The demo version is limited to the number of characters and objects, but is still useful.

And of course, depending on ones morality, the full version is probably available somewhere for free......

Thanks Scar Tissue Films

I think i will hold of for the moment and see what the producers do and if they are keen to sign it away.
I may then use on of the packages to do a story board and then go for more credit as part of the deal. I have some artistic flair so i may be OK managing it.

Regards

That is a bizarre request of a writer. Storyboards are for the director to show his/her vision of the film and what shots he/she wants. It doesn't have to be great either. As long as the crew, especially the DP understands what the director wants. I'm currently halfway through with the storyboards for Them That's Dead. I'm no artist, so they are basically stick figures with some camera directions.

I don't get why a director would ask a writer to storyboard their production.
Unless he's not thinking about the traditional definition.
Or wants a few images to pitch someone?

Perhaps he's asking for story beats?
I do that, but for features. Index cards help me construct scenes.



Did he say specifically what he hopes to get out of them?
Sounds to me there's a likely miscommunication here.

Regards,
E.D.

I hand drew storyboards for my first short and I’m doing the same for my second. But I’m also the director. I can tell you storyboards are a lot of work, even if they’re simple.

With my first short, the script was 14 pages and the storyboards were 19 (at 9 pics a page). It’s practically like drawing a comic book. And there are notes all over it. The director needs to be heavily involved.

Seriously, if you’ve never done it before, I think you’re going to be surprised at how much work it is.


Breanne

Thanks Breanne

If I go ahead with it, I would only really do it for the experience and to be able to say I have been there !!!!!

Not rushing into anything at this stage.

Ta Alex

Hey Alex, great attitude! You’re right, it’s good experience.

One thing I can say about storyboards, from a directorial standpoint, they really help you know your shots.

They also help make sure you don’t miss any. I remember being in the middle of shooting one day and having to sit down with my script supervisor. There were so many shots to get that day, I got lost. Having storyboards (and a great script supervisor!) saved me. ;D

Good luck with it! :)


Breanne

Thanks Breanne,

Do you use software to create your storyboard or do you do it by hand ?

I was thinking of doing it by hand to begin with and then tracing and improving it.
The storyboard would be for a short about 10 pages long.

Also if i did a storyboard, would i receive more than just a writing credit ? I really want to undertake a seachange and put more time into my writing and any credit i can get is important to me.

I have some great ideas and really want to get a few features up my sleeves. The shorts where only done for experience though i have people keen on some of them.

I feel that i really have great storytelling skills and a wicked imagingation and have to work on the technical side of things as I want to persue it further. I have so many ideas rolling around my head and jotted on paper and need to get the time to write them all, as well as finishing current projects.

Sorry if i sound self centred though i know i can achieve whatever i set my mind to as i am currently focusing in that direction.

All the comments and help of such nice people on this site are greatly appreciated and i hope to help others back in return once my skills get honed. :D

Regards Alex

PS it would be a great idea to have a Section on Storyboards on SS where people can show their work.

Quoted from Alex_212 Do you use software to create your storyboard or do you do it by hand ?

I drew them by hand. That was faster for me because I’m just not into storyboards enough to learn a program. And because they were shorts.

When I get ready for my first feature, I’ll hire someone to do them.

If I was planning on doing this stuff for every film, I would get a program.

Quoted from Alex_212 Also if i did a storyboard, would i receive more than just a writing credit ?

That’s between you and the director. You might ask about it. Honestly, I’ve never heard of a director asking the writer to draw storyboards. I could see if it was something you were into and you offered, but it seems strange to me that s/he would ask you to do that.

I kind of feel the same way as Rick (Scar Tissue Films). If you’re going to do all that, you may as well direct. If you’re the one with the vision, you’re practically in the director’s chair already.


Breanne

Thanks Breanne,

She is a producer and a Director and has mentioned to me that it would be a good idea to do the storyboard.

She has not taken on the project and I will probably hold off for a while and see.

Life is full of Challenges !!!!! Without trying nothing is accomplished !!!! ::)

Alex

I have never been asked for a storyboard for my shorts.

I did have one young lady who was "in school" who needed a storyboard for her class. She asked me if she could use my short fairy script to do so.
I told her yes.
When she was done with it, she emailed me the work she had done.
She is a very talented artist.

And no, she didn't produce the short. She just wanted to make a storyboard of it.

Did you ask this person what, if anything, had they produced in the past?

You may want to do so.

Cindy