Storyboards are great. I’m a commercial filmmaker so details are everything! Plus there is nothing like being able to show your client what you’re going to give them and then deliver it. I used to pride myself on ‘shooting the boards’. My Instagram page frequently depicts a before and after where you can see the final image contrast with its ideated child.
Lately, I’ve begun using storyboards more as a visual checklist for pre-production and scheduling rather than a set of rails to glide along on the shoot day. Of course, I make sure that the frame promised is collected but, I find that with detailed boards, you have plenty of freedom on the shoot. Giving you the opportunity to confidently craft the narrative into new and more memorable areas with the cast and crew.
The only catch is you need a Canva account. If you’re not using Canva… what are you doing with your life?
These storyboards are easy to use with a free account. There are three versions,
DETAILED, with plenty of places to add in all the key details including Production Company, Advertising Agency and Client plus department heads. Producer, Director, DOP, VFX and Art Department. There are dialogue boxes and places for detailed descriptions and even notes.
SIMPLIFIED is for those that just want the images and a chunk of text below.
PRINT and SKETCH is a version where all the details are blank. I often print a few of these off for draft sessions when working with my storyboard artists to scratch away at. This version can also be saved as a JPG and thrown into sketching apps on Microsoft Surface or Ipad Pro.
You’ll find a single page of each at the bottom, duplicate and get boarding!