What is storyboarding?
Storyboarding is planning out your Video shoot, shot by shot, so that there is an element of knowing in advance, what you are going to do. It is a blueprint for the shoot execution. Without an action plan you would find it difficult to convey your shoot structure to the viewer. Every one involved in ‘video production’ should be ‘au fait’ with the concept of storyboards and be familiar with what the viewer will see, ahead of the production. The video crews understanding of the workings of this procedure is essential for creating and implementing a successful video presentation.
How important is a plan of action?
It is not just important, it is essential. The methodology empowers you to set up a video production, knowing exactly what you require in advance. Nothing is left to guesswork or on the spot ill informed decisions about the shoot which points the way to a professional shoot. Any possible hiccups that might ordinarily arise through lack of any real planning can be thwarted and any resulting ill conceived decisions can be pre empted so a smooth course of action is embarked on. Within the framework you are free to try different story line approaches and video shoot strategies. The storyboard will keep you on the right tracks allowing you to experiment a little with the technical side of the shoot.
What base does a sound team work from?
Sound technicians can work as a team from the blueprint as the various elements of this skilled art demand a collaborative effort. Blueprints can be completed digitally – an advancement on the traditional manual hand drawings of yesteryear. However, if preferred, the old tried and tested methods can be adopted to fill in the story board template.
Have you any tips about taking video shots?
When creating the video shoot storyboard, it is vital to enumerate your shots and dispel any ensuing confusion that might arise. It is useful to label the shoot whereabouts so as to avoid duplicating journeys between one location and another. If animation is required in your shots, it is important to draw motion indicators on your storyboards. This will inform the crew of what is included in the shoot and leave them better equipped to achieve positive results. Sound and lighting are an integral part of the video production and as such must weave a unifying effect throughout the video.
How is the technical side of producing a video organised?
The types of video shots being taken – close ups, medium and long shots is another element requiring particular attention. By labelling your storyboard in this way to highlight and connect video shots with images the camera man and assistants can decide what angle shots are appropriate for each of the story boarded shots. The cameraman needs to know exactly what angles he will be shooting as well as any post production ideas or concerns that might impact on the final production. Another element frequently deployed in storyboarding is taking shots from above. This is clearly a well defined video shot in terms of people being aware of it already through the storyboard layout.
Can anyone learn the art of video production?
Video production requires experience, passion, subject specific knowledge and the ability to tell a story that encapsulates a brand. Corporate Video only requires the essential content to convey the desired brand message so it does not have to be as content rich as a feature film. Someone with creative ideas can do a storyboard – it does not need to be an expensive artist and in that respect they can have ownership of the storyboarding and of the completed corporate video production.
Source by Glenn Ryan