{"id":2592,"date":"2014-10-28T10:59:56","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T17:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lm.sactoweb.com\/?p=2592"},"modified":"2017-09-29T11:58:31","modified_gmt":"2017-09-29T18:58:31","slug":"storyboard-even-cant-draw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ligonmedia.com\/storyboard-even-cant-draw\/","title":{"rendered":"Storyboard Even If You Can’t Draw"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”6px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px|” transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” custom_padding=”||0px|” padding_mobile=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_divider height=”55″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ hide_on_mobile=”on” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”CATEGORY HEADING” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#bcbcbc” text_letter_spacing=”2px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||0px|” custom_padding=”||0px|” _i=”1″ _address=”0.0.0.1″] DIARY OF AN ADMAN [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADLINE” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”72″ text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_color=”#1d1d1d” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”660px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”18px||80px|” _i=”2″ _address=”0.0.0.2″] Storyboard Even If You Can’t Draw [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”rgba(89,135,163,0.18)” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0px||20px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”0px|||” padding_mobile=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”AUTHOR IMAGE” src=”https:\/\/ligonmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/blog_photo.png” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_margin=”-48px|||” animation=”off” sticky=”on” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″ \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”AUTHOR NAME” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#323232″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”14px||0px|” _i=”1″ _address=”1.0.0.1″] David Ligon<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, Creative Principal, Sacramento [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”DATE” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#363636″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|||” _i=”2″ _address=”1.0.0.2″] October 28, 2014 [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”1″ _address=”1.1″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”ARTICLE PARAGRAPH 1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”40px||0px|” _i=”0″ _address=”1.1.0.0″] W<\/span>henever I do a commercial, or make a\u00a0short\u00a0film, I storyboard it.\u00a0 And although I can draw a picture with words, I can’t with a pen.\u00a0 And you know what, it doesn’t matter.\u00a0 I\u2019m not making a multi-million dollar Hollywood movie.\u00a0 I\u2019m making a small budgeted project and the storyboard is really a cheat sheet that shows\u00a0the client, actors, photographer, and even reminds me, the director, what is intended in the scene.\u00a0Why does\u00a0the director need to be reminded?\u00a0\u00a0Because while on set, things can get hectic.\u00a0 And that clarity of every shot I had a week before in the tranquility of my office\u00a0goes out the window when I\u2019m being harried and pulled in multiple directions, while having to get all my shots in\u00a0a limited amount of time. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”ARTICLE PARAGRAPH 2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”30px||0px|” _i=”1″ _address=”1.1.0.1″] Since I can’t draw, and haven’t invested in storyboarding software, my storyboards are usually created in one of two ways — stick figure drawings or stock photos.\u00a0 Are they pretty? Nope.\u00a0Do they work? You bet. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”rgba(89,135,163,0.18)” _builder_version=”3.0.75″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||20px|” transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”11px||0px|” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”2.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_divider color=”#aeaeac” show_divider=”on” divider_style=”solid” divider_position=”top” disabled_on=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ hide_on_mobile=”off” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”PULL QUOTE” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”32″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.3em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”900px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”16px||30px|” _i=”1″ _address=”2.0.0.1″] “Your storyboard should be a finished commercial or scene. Visualize it in your head; watch the scene play out and then create the storyboard.” [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#aeaeac” show_divider=”on” divider_style=”solid” divider_position=”top” disabled_on=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.75″ hide_on_mobile=”off” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”rgba(89,135,163,0.18)” _builder_version=”3.0.75″ custom_padding=”0px||10px|” transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”3.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”ARTICLE PARAGRAPHS 3 & 4″ _builder_version=”3.0.75″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”12px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

So don’t let the fact that you can’t draw, or that you don’t have time to be real artistic with the storyboard, prevent you from creating one.\u00a0 The first thing you need to do is get a template<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0You can either use a premade template, or do what I did and create your own.\u00a0 Don’t bother storyboarding until after you have a finalized script, or else you are going to be\u00a0redoing a lot of the scenes.\u00a0 Think about your script.\u00a0 Visualize the final production.\u00a0 And then get busy creating your storyboard.\u00a0\u00a0If my client is going to see the storyboard, then\u00a0I usually go the stock photography route.\u00a0If it’s just for me, then I usually just draw it with stick figures.\u00a0Really bad stick figures.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”ARTICLE PARAGRAPHS 5 & 6″ _builder_version=”3.0.76″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”12px||0px|” background_layout=”light” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

So what goes on the storyboard?<\/h2>\n

Short answer: Everything.\u00a0 Every shot you plan on using.\u00a0 The narration and dialogue that goes with that shot. The camera movements (use arrows to indicate a pan left or right; or\u00a0to push-in or pull-out).\u00a0 Your storyboard should be a finished commercial or scene.\u00a0 Visualize it in your head; watch the scene play out and then create the storyboard.\u00a0 When you edit the project will\u00a0you stick to it?\u00a0 Probably not.\u00a0 But it is a good roadmap.\u00a0 Sometimes when you are on set, the shot you want is impossible to get.\u00a0 Sometimes you get a better idea.\u00a0 Sometimes the location changes and you have to scrap your intentions.\u00a0 As they say: “stuff happens.”\u00a0 But even when stuff happens the storyboard is a reminder to get the crucial shots.\u00a0 Like maybe you need a close-up of the antagonist’s eyes.\u00a0 Storyboard it and you won’t forget.\u00a0 But also shoot the extra stuff.\u00a0 Like the wide shots and the close-ups, even when the storyboard shows a medium shot.\u00a0 Give your editor options.<\/p>\n

Remember, the purpose of the storyboard is so you can visualize the scene.\u00a0 So that the photographer can visualize the scene.\u00a0 So that the editor can visualize what you intended. A storyboard is a must. It doesn’t have to be artistic.\u00a0 It just has to be done.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.18)” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0px||10px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”5px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”4.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”ARTICLE PARAGRAPHS 7 & 8″ _builder_version=”3.0.75″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”12px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

Storyboarding example.<\/h2>\n

Here is the very simplistic\u00a0storyboard I did for my agency’s commercial called “Thump<\/a>.”\u00a0\u00a0We ended up using this as the beginning and ending of\u00a0our\u00a0reel<\/a> (the ending scene of the storyboard is the very last scene of\u00a0our reel<\/a>, but is not in the :15 version of the spot).\u00a0 I won’t win any artistry awards for the storyboard, but it helped me visualize what I wanted.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”1″ _address=”4.1″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_divider disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ hide_on_mobile=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Storyboard Image” src=”https:\/\/ligonmedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/LM_TV_Storyboards.jpg” alt=”Storyboarding commercials and videos” show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”500ms” animation=”fade_in” sticky=”on” _i=”0″ _address=”4.1.1.0″ animation_direction=”fade_in” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”IMAGE CAPTION” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_font_size=”16″ text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|” _i=”1″ _address=”4.1.1.1″]<\/p>\n

Storyboard for Ligon Media “Thump” ad.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_divider disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ hide_on_mobile=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”13px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”2″ _address=”4.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”ARTICLE PARAGRAPH 9″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”12px||0px|” _i=”0″ _address=”4.2.0.0″] And here is the final commercial. As you can see, we stuck to the storyboard in some scenes and improvised in others. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”3″ _address=”4.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/JieHGz1lMIo?list=PLR615SPD5A65QYaSmD7NamSaYdA7mUj9Q” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0px||8px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” transparent_background=”off”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”620px” custom_padding=”12px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”5.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_button admin_label=”Contact Button” button_url=”https:\/\/ligonmedia.com\/contact\/” button_text=”Contact Us” button_alignment=”center” background_layout=”dark” _builder_version=”3.0.51″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#dddddd” button_bg_color=”#2e3c6f” button_border_width=”1px” button_border_color=”#dddddd” button_border_radius=”10px” button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_font=”Droid Sans||||” button_icon=”%%75%%” button_icon_color=”#dddddd” button_rel=”on|off|off|off|off” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”6763″ \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”BUTTON & DISCLAIMER” _builder_version=”3.0.76″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”16″ text_font_size_phone=”12″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”30px||0px|” _i=”0″ _address=”5.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n

\n

If you like, share. If you don\u2019t like, don\u2019t share. And if you\u2019re indifferent, then share or don\u2019t share, whatever.<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whenever I do a commercial, or make a short film, I storyboard it. And although I can draw a picture with words, I can’t with a pen. And you know what, it doesn’t matter. I\u2019m not making a multi-million dollar Hollywood movie. I\u2019m making a small budgeted project and the storyboard is really a cheat sheet that shows the client, actors, photographer, and even reminds me, the director, what is intended in the scene. Why does the director need to be reminded? Because while on set, things can get hectic. And that clarity of every shot I had a week before in the tranquility of my office goes out the window when I\u2019m being harried and pulled in multiple directions, while having to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[dropcap]W[\/dropcap]henever I do a commercial, or make a\u00a0short\u00a0film, I storyboard it.\u00a0 And although I can draw a picture with words, I can't with a pen.\u00a0 And you know what, it doesn't matter.\u00a0 I\u2019m not making a multi-million dollar Hollywood movie.\u00a0 I\u2019m making a small budgeted project and the storyboard is really a cheat sheet that shows\u00a0the client, actors, photographer, and even reminds me, the director, what is intended in the scene.\u00a0Why does\u00a0the director need to be reminded?\u00a0\u00a0Because while on set, things can get hectic.\u00a0 And that clarity of every shot I had a week before in the tranquility of my office\u00a0goes out the window when I\u2019m being harried and pulled in multiple directions, while having to get all my shots in\u00a0a limited amount of time.\r\n\r\nSince I can't draw, and haven't invested in storyboarding software, my storyboards are usually created in one of two ways -- stick figure drawings or stock photos.\u00a0 Are they pretty? Nope.\u00a0Do they work? You bet.\r\n\r\nSo don't let the fact that you can't draw, or that you don't have time to be real artistic with the storyboard, prevent you from creating one.\u00a0 The first thing you need to do is get a template<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0You can either use a premade template, or do what I did and create your own.\u00a0 Don't bother storyboarding until after you have a finalized script, or else you are going to be\u00a0redoing a lot of the scenes.\u00a0 Think about your script.\u00a0 Visualize the final production.\u00a0 And then get busy creating your storyboard.\u00a0\u00a0If my client is going to see the storyboard, then\u00a0I usually go the stock photography route.\u00a0If it's just for me, then I usually just draw it with stick figures.\u00a0Really bad stick figures.\r\n

So what goes on the storyboard?<\/h2>\r\nShort answer: Everything.\u00a0 Every shot you plan on using.\u00a0 The narration and dialogue that goes with that shot. The camera movements (use arrows to indicate a pan left or right; or\u00a0to push-in or pull-out).\u00a0 Your storyboard should be a finished commercial or scene.\u00a0 Visualize it in your head; watch the scene play out and then create the storyboard.\u00a0 When you edit the project will\u00a0you stick to it?\u00a0 Probably not.\u00a0 But it is a good roadmap.\u00a0 Sometimes when you are on set, the shot you want is impossible to get.\u00a0 Sometimes you get a better idea.\u00a0 Sometimes the location changes and you have to scrap your intentions.\u00a0 As they say, \"stuff happens.\"\u00a0 But even when stuff happens the storyboard is a reminder to get the crucial shots.\u00a0 Like maybe you need a close-up of the antagonist's eyes.\u00a0 Storyboard it and you won't forget.\u00a0 But also shoot the extra stuff.\u00a0 Like the wide shots and the close-ups, even when the storyboard shows a medium shot.\u00a0 Give your editor options.\r\n\r\nRemember, the purpose of the storyboard is so you can visualize the scene.\u00a0 So that the photographer can visualize the scene.\u00a0 So that the editor can visualize what you intended.\u00a0 A storyboard is a must.\u00a0 And it doesn't have to be artistic.\u00a0 It just has to be done.\r\n

Storyboarding example.<\/h2>\r\nHere is the very simplistic\u00a0storyboard I did for my agency's commercial called \"Thump<\/a>.\"\u00a0\u00a0We ended up using this as the beginning and ending of\u00a0our\u00a0reel<\/a> (the ending scene of the storyboard is the very last scene of\u00a0our reel<\/a>, but is not in the :15 version of the spot).\u00a0 I won't win any artistry awards for the storyboard, but it helped me visualize what I wanted.\r\n\r\n\"Ligon<\/a>\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nAnd here is the final commercial.\u00a0 As you can see, we stuck to the storyboard in some scenes and improvised in others.\r\n\r\n