Year 7 Media Arts · Making Media — Produce and Present · 8m read

Storyboarding and Planning

Professionals plan before they film. Storyboards turn your ideas into a shot-by-shot plan.

Learning objective: Plan a short video using a storyboard and shot list.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can draw a storyboard.
• I can write shot descriptions.
• I can plan a simple production.

A storyboard is a comic-book blueprint. Before building a house you draw plans. Before filming, you draw a storyboard — like a comic strip showing every shot so the whole crew knows the plan.

Plan before you film

STORYBOARD:
• Boxes showing each shot in order.
• Under each: shot size, angle, movement, action, dialogue/sound, duration.

SHOT LIST:
• A table of shots to film, grouped by location.

PRE PRODUCTION:
• Script or outline, locations, props, roles (director, camera, actors), schedule.

| Storyboard panel includes | Example |
|---|---|
| Sketch of shot | Stick figure at a door |
| Shot size/angle | MS, low angle |
| Camera movement | Pan right |
| Action | Character opens door slowly |
| Dialogue/sound | Creaking door SFX |
| Duration | 3 seconds |

Key ideas at a glance

• Plan before filming: Saves time.
• One panel per shot: Clear sequence.
• Include sound: Audio matters.
• Make a shot list: Check off on the day.

Worked example (Easy)

What should a storyboard frame for a door opening include?

1. Sketch. Hand on door handle.
2. Notes. Close-up, eye level, door creak sound, 3 seconds.

Answer: Sketch plus shot size, angle, sound and duration.

Worked example (Medium)

Storyboard a 4-shot sequence: "finding a mysterious box".

1. Shot 1. LS: character walks into attic; dusty light.
2. Shot 2. CU: eyes widen.
3. Shot 3. POV: box in corner, slow zoom.
4. Shot 4. ECU: hand reaching for lid. SFX: heartbeat.

Answer: LS → CU → POV zoom → ECU with heartbeat.

Common mistakes

• Skipping planning Filming becomes chaotic. Fix: Storyboard first.
• Skipping planning Missed shots on the day. Fix: Storyboard and shot list first.

Pre-production

Professional productions spend lots of time in pre-production: scripts, storyboards, location scouting, casting, scheduling and permissions.

The better the planning, the smoother the shoot. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock storyboarded every shot before filming.

Practice questions

1. A table of shots to film is a:

   1. Script
   2. Shot list
   3. Poster
   4. Credit

   (1 marks)

2. Name two roles in a film crew.

   (2 marks)

3. A storyboard is:

   1. A finished film
   2. A sequence of drawings planning each shot
   3. A costume
   4. A soundtrack

   (1 marks)

4. POV stands for:

   1. Point of view
   2. Part of video
   3. Pan over view
   4. Picture of victory

   (1 marks)

5. List three things a storyboard panel should include.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Storyboards plan shots.
• Include technical notes.
• Organise pre-production.
• Storyboard every shot before filming.