How to Set Up Storyboards for Commercials

Almost all films are visually represented in storyboards in the preproduction stage.

By understanding the basics of storyboard creation you will be able to come up with a professional storyboard that can be used in the production of commercials and other video projects. Storyboards are used to plot out a scene and to help directors and crew set up before each shoot.

Things You'll Need

• Technical pencil
• Highlighter
• Thumbnail sheet
• Photo editing software
• Scanner

Instructions

1. Analyze the commercial's script. Read it thoroughly from the beginning to the end. Use the highlighter to mark anything that stands out to you.

2. Meet with the director and producer of the commercial and discuss how you've interpreted the script. Ask any questions that may pertain directly to the way in which you will draw the script. For example, ask whether the storyboard should be in color or black and white. Take notes of your discussion.

3. Using your notes as reference, lightly sketch each scene into the cells on the thumbnail sheet. Draw only the characters and anything else essential to the scene. For example, if a character will be walking into an elevator, draw just the character and the open elevator door.

4. Add action lines to each cell. The actions in a storyboard are represented with arrows and should be included to indicate any form of movement. For example, if a character is going to be climbing a set of stairs, draw an arrow pointing up the stairs.

5. Check each cell for any mistakes. Once you are satisfied with each cell, darken in each line until the cell illustrations are clearly visible.

6. Write in the technical information for each cell. On the left of the cell note the scene location. Directly under the cell, write the camera angle of the shot and a sentence that describes the action in the cell.

7. Scan each thumbnail sheet into a computer and edit the cells with photo editing software. Darken any sketch lines you may have missed earlier. Eliminate any unnecessary pencil lines. Once you have finished revising the storyboard, save each thumbnail sheet as a high-resolution JPEG.

Tips & Warnings

• After you complete each page of the storyboard, photocopy it to ensure that you have a backup if the original is damaged.

References

• Clay Towne: How to Create Storyboards for Film, Video, and Television
• OSU: Storyboards
• VideoMaker: How to Create a Storyboard

Resources

• Media College: Shot Types