| The most successful directors in the business have all | | | | important gallery display in 1993 (the Pace Gallery). |
| learned the secret of effective pre-production...motion | | | | Today, the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) |
| picture previsualization is the keystone of setting up | | | | carefully storyboard every scene of their prospective |
| a great film. From the first frame to the final fade, | | | | film. Many directors take care to put together the |
| previz can organize and refine your artistic vision...and | | | | most detailed storyboards possible, because they |
| it's so easy to do. For decades, filmmakers have | | | | make it easier to find investors. Often, a complete |
| relied on different methods of "previz" to achieve | | | | previz/storyboard phase will be completed before |
| their goals. Some of the most memorable films out | | | | any funding is sought out. Award-winning director |
| there have been planned using unique tools and | | | | Martin Scorsese also spends a great deal of time |
| concepts that you can try, too! However, the | | | | refining his vision through careful previz and |
| methods of past decades are growing quite obsolete | | | | storyboarding. |
| - technology is changing the face of previz... | | | | Today, it's easier than ever to make previz |
| Previsualization can be simple and low-tech at the | | | | worthwhile for your project - cutting-edge software |
| outset - you might want to start with a simple | | | | programs allow you to quickly and successfully pull |
| sharing of ideas and visions for the project - you can | | | | together polished, complete storyboards. Because |
| sit with your group (if you're not working alone) and | | | | these digital storyboard software programs offer |
| come up with information about location, dialogue, | | | | pre-loaded artwork, backgrounds, and special effects, |
| music, camera angles, etc. By jotting down notes and | | | | as well as the easy inclusion of dialogue and music, |
| sharing your vision of your film with others, you can | | | | putting an entire pre-production storyboard together |
| put together a pool of ideas that add dimension and | | | | is much easier than it used to be. Bear in mind that |
| depth to your project. This brainstorming phase can | | | | storyboarding a major motion picture usually requires |
| be a great way to flesh out a script or concept - and | | | | thousands of drawings and frames. |
| it costs you nothing. Be sure to take notes or record | | | | Today's movie storyboard programs offer a whole |
| your session for later reference. | | | | new level of ease and simplicity - they are designed |
| Once you've established some guidelines and ideas, | | | | to work with your own imagination. You can switch |
| you can move forward into storyboarding. This part | | | | between scenes and go wherever your creativity |
| of previz maps out every scene of your film, | | | | takes you...changing elements like camera angles, |
| cartoon, commercial, or other project. Directors have | | | | characters, and sound can be as easy as clicking a |
| different ways of achieving great previz through | | | | mouse. If you're looking for a faster, more |
| storyboarding - some use small-scale models, some | | | | cost-effective way to get your storyboards ready, |
| opt for Bristol board covered in drawings and Post-It | | | | consider digital programs that make previz intuitive, |
| Notes...these old-fashioned tools are a bit more | | | | simple, and fun. The days of using props, figures, |
| time-consuming than today's digital storyboards. | | | | plastic models and Bristol Board are over. You can |
| Brilliant directors of classic films have created | | | | enjoy all the benefits of technology with storyboard |
| storyboards that are considered works of art. Orson | | | | software. Pacing, blocking and editing can all be |
| Welles Citizen Kane storyboards were part of an | | | | achieved quickly and almost effortlessly. |