Activity 1: Your First Storyboard

T-SBFND-001-011

Using the themes introduced to you, try storyboarding a nursery rhyme using a pen and paper. Try to apply all the theory you just learned. Include a minimum of four different types of camera shots and one camera move in your project.

This is your very first storyboard, so it's understandable that you will probably make some mistakes. Keep this storyboard as a reference, so when you start learning more storyboarding concepts, you can see what you did correctly and what you didn't.

This storyboard exercise will get you to start thinking like a storyboard artist. When you have completed this exercise, you will have a better understanding of the process.

So go ahead and give it your best shot!

Material

  • MO-SBFND-001/blank-storyboard-template.pdf

How to create your first storyboard
  1. Open the blank storyboard template, and print or photocopy as many copies as needed to draw your storyboard. This is a standard storyboard template. Each page contains four panels.

  1. Choose the scene you will use to start your storyboard. It's always best to start from the beginning, but sometimes, that's not always the case. If so, simply choose the scene that you have most fully developed at this point.
  1. With a pencil and the blank template, write down the title of your storyboard, author's name (you) and the date.
  2. For the first shot in the scene, start sketching the action that will occur. Then add your notes including any dialogue. Be concise in your notes, but be sure to include the most pertinent details.
  3. Sketch the second shot in the scene and add notes. Continue sketching and writing notes until your scene is complete.
  1. Now that your scene is complete, it's time to go back and review it for completeness. This is an important step in the storyboarding process, one that will refine your storyboard significantly.
‣ Does each panel's drawing clearly illustrate the action, movement and direction?
‣ Reread your notes and correct, add or delete anything unnecessary. You want the notes to be clear and concise.
‣ Do you need to add any camera moves? Or remove some?
‣ Should you redraw some of the panels because they don't fit the storyline of the scene or don't illustrate the action?
‣ Does each panel show the story instead of telling it?

This exercise will show the strength your story, as well as reveal its weaknesses. Either way, storyboarding is great way to exercise your story telling skills.

Quiz

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Time Estimated 30 mins

Difficulty Level Beginner

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