The Power of a Storyboard

One of the most commonly overlooked components of video production is found in the very beginning of your prep phase: The storyboard. I believe there are two reasons why this is so often skipped or forgotten entirely. Either 1 - you don’t feel like it’s worth the extra effort because you already wrote a detailed script, or 2 - you’re so eager to shoot your video that you skate right over the very thing that will take it from good to great! 

When you finally get to your film set, gear in hand and talent waiting anxiously, you’ll find there are an uncomfortable amount of things that are outside of your control. The more you can plan, prepare, and anticipate ahead of time, the more fun you’ll have playing Director and the shoot will feel seamless. Not to mention, you’ll be perceived as more professional too! So what even is a storyboard, and why should you care to devote extra time to it? Allow me to unpack that for you, and provide a couple of strategies for making the storyboard a key part of your pre-production routine.

What is a storyboard?

Think of a storyboard as a comic book of sorts. You’ll have several boxes on a page with some relatively primitive drawings, and underneath each box, you will write out a couple of sentences for context. A storyboard should not be a duplicate of your script, but rather a visual representation of what is seen on camera. As you are building the story around your tailored message, you should be imagining each shot and camera angle with the edit in mind. This will get easier with practice, but will ultimately be your guide and serve as your “shot list” when it comes time to hit record.

Why is it so important to create a storyboard?

The obvious answer to this question is exactly what I said before… the storyboard will serve as your guide, or a framework that will remind you which shots you need on the day of filming. Spoiler alert! Not all videos are filmed in the order that they are intended to be viewed. For example, you may need to film a couple of scenes out of order based on set availability, weather, or general timing. Without a linear path, it can be easy to miss shots and the last thing you’d want is to discover a key piece of the message missing while you’re editing the final project! Your storyboard will protect you from yourself, and keep you on track. It will also help you put the pieces back together during the edit.

Another reason you should consider building a storyboard, is that it paints the picture for your client who may not have the same ability to visual a complete video the way you do. Not all brains work the same way and remember, you are the creative person hired to bring this idea to life. You’ll need to cast your vision with as much context as possible, so that your client can understand the nonverbal queues and the nuances of what may be happening in the background. A storyboard allows you to share that context with imagery that will support your script, making it much easier to follow, and generally create stronger buy-in.

Strategies for implementation

Now that you know what a storyboard is and why you should use one with each video project, let’s discuss some simple methods for how to make it a natural part of your pre-production routine.

1. Start early - I’m less interested about whether the storyboard is crafted before or after the script, and more concerned that it is completed before you begin scouting locations or gathering your gear. This should be one of the first things you do as the story is being drafted, this way you can review a more concrete idea with your client to ensure you’re on the right track, before wasting your time filming something that completely misses the mark.
   
   
2. Less is more - The goal here is to provide some additional context to reinforce your scripted message, not rewrite the script entirely! As you illustrate each shot and camera angle, you’ll want to list out a couple of bullet points that explain the movement and positioning of production.
    
   1. For example, your video might open with the camera zoomed in on someone’s face. Your note here might simply say, “close up.” As the video progresses, you may want to reveal more of what’s happening in the background. “Pan out and reveal actor #2 as they deliver their line.” The storyboard is a visual representation of the written message.
      
      
3. Grab a template - There's no need to reinvent the wheel! A blank storyboard template can be found online as a free download. Otherwise, open up your favorite writing program (Word, Google Docs, etc.) and insert 8-10 squares on a page set to landscape (horizontal) and leave enough room to type or write in a couple of notes under each box.

Write your story!

When listening to an engaging speech, so much of the speaker’s body language (hand gestures, shoulders, facial expressions, etc.) reinforces the message. If you remove the visuals, it’s the same speech, but the impact is reduced dramatically. Use your storyboard to more adequately cast the vision and keep yourself on track. You may be tempted to grab a camera and start filming, but a little extra time on the front end will make for a much better result in the long run. Slow down, start early, and storyboard something amazing!