Storytelling for the screen
Part 2:
Pre-Production
Review Shots and Framing
Making Your Storyboard
Today, we'll be reviewing shots and framing in order to help you prepare your storyboards for making a 2 to 4 minute film. So as you probably remember, after you have your story done (or as done as you can), making a storyboard is a great way to bring your story to life and help you prepare for your film shoot.
Just to remind you, you can make your storyboard in various ways but the two major ways would be:
+Draw the storyboard.
+Use pictures of videos for your storyboard.
I'm a big fan of using pictures for your storyboard because it's very simple but effective way to visualize your film and you do not need to learn how to draw. In addition, you can shoot the pictures on location and sometimes with the actors you plan to use. All of this really helps you figure out what will work and what won't for your film.
Here are two videos that show how two different filmmakers use photo and video to make their storyboards:
Reviewing Shots
So before you work on your storyboard, let's review the major shots that you have at your disposal to tell your story.
Here's a great video from the website, Studio Binder, that clearly explains the major shots.
Activity:
Make 9 shots for the shot types
Okay now that we have refreshed your memory on the different shots. I want you to go out and take 9 different pictures representing the 9 different shots. The key thing is to make sure you adhere to the rules of that particular shot. In case you need a reminder of the shots. See the images below.
Also, for bonus points, take shots that create some kind of emotion.
Reviewing Framing
Now that we have reviewed the shot types, it's time to talk about framing. As you may recall, framing your shot is how you arrange your actors and other elements in the frame of the shot.
It's so important because it determines where the audience focuses their attention and creates relationships between elements in the frame.
Here's another short video talking about framing from Studio Binder:
Activity: Make 6 shots for the framing types
Now that you have reviewed the framing types, you are going to take pictures to represent these different framing types. Here are the framing types to help remind you.
1. Single (clean framing)
2. Single (dirty framing)
3. Two shot
4. Over the shoulder (OTS)
5. Point of view (POV)
6. Insert shot
Don't forget the Rule of Thirds
As you make your shots, it's important to be conscious of the Rule of Thirds. As you may recall, the Rule of Thirds is when you imagine the frame of your shot being divided into 9 equally sized quadrants and you use the four central points in the center of the frame to put your subjects.
Or you can use Center Framing if it feels more effective to you.
Below are two examples:
