Apps for Storyboarding

There are many storyboard apps out there, but very few are built with the production process in mind. In StudioBinder, you can create storyboard frames directly from your script, fully edit your images, and share your work for feedback from your clients or department heads.

Yes, filmmakers use storyboards all the time. What has changed a lot over the years is that the process has evolved to include digital storyboards, making the old-fashioned "pen and paper" method basically obsolete. AI storyboarding has also come into play, but no matter where the images come from, filmmakers rely on storyboards to create and refine their vision in pre-production in order to maximize their time and efficiency during production.

There are many ways to storyboard your project, so really, the correct way to storyboard is whatever works for you. But there are a couple of standard practices that most people utilize to make the process quicker and more beneficial.

• Storyboard images in shot/story order so that the context is clear
• Make sure the image itself is clear and legible
• Add notes and descriptions to clarify

A good storyboard does a few things well. It establishes the character in their environment; it captures the perspective of the camera; it denotes blocking and staging; and, most importantly, it communicates to the cast and crew what each shot will look like and require when it comes to production.

The most important part of storyboarding is clarity. The whole point of the storyboard is to establish the vision on the page so that the cast and crew understand what each shot will look like and what it will require to execute on set. If your image or notes/description are confusing, this defeats the purpose.

There are a few things one can do to improve their storyboarding skills. One is to practice your illustration technique because the clearer and more detailed your images are, the better. Another skill to practice is knowing how to distill your scenes down to the essential shots so that the story and continuity come through clearly in the storyboard.

If you don't know how to draw, storyboarding is still possible. One option is to use simple illustrations like stick figures and shapes. As long as your vision is clear enough, your artistic skills are secondary. Another common alternative to drawing is to take photos of each shot. And, finally, a third option is to pull existing shots from other projects to use in your storyboard.