Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
lens' fl air may be drawn or created artifi cially, through digital devices. The more you are
aware of the possibilities of photography and cinematography the better storyboard artist
you will be.
Single Shot to Sequence of Shots
A single image or shot possesses a certain amount of energy. A series of images will
manipulate the fl ow of that energy. It can build to a crescendo or stop us in our tracks. It
can tease us, irritate us, make us feel the monotony of a long wait or the excitement of an
unexpected surprise. This kind of energy comes from the kinds of pictures you create and
the sequence and pace at which they are presented.
A picture that shows something we recognize will carry a large portion of the
message and the energy of your story, such as a crying face, a hand reaching for
a gun, or an empty chair. Beyond the subject, the storyboard artist must also consider
how
the subject is presented in each shot and sequence of shots. I am referring to the
visual design. Balance, shape, line, space, tone, color, and texture are elements of
visual design and are tools of the storyboard artist. These formal, abstract elements speak
more directly to our emotions and cause us to feel a certain way about any subject. The
evolution of design elements through a sequence can echo the thematic and emotional
changes in your story. It can start with a single image, perhaps an empty chair. After all,
an empty chair can make us feel like we are lonely and miss someone who is not there
or it can be inviting us to sit down and join in on the activities. It may say that someone
has just left or that someone is expected. A storyboard artist needs to consider what idea
is being communicated and create a design for the shot that sends that message to our
emotions. The juxtaposition of one shot to the one before and after can reshape the idea
and further condition our reaction. It is the art of knowing what to show and how you
show it.
Formal Elements of Visual Design
If you create a scene that shows a landscape with rolling hills and slow undulating
horizontal curves, it may suggest a feeling of peacefulness. A shot of a rocky mountain
cliff with jagged, pointed shapes might make us feel danger and tension. Certain
colors can evoke excitement. Deep and shallow space can make us feel free or
claustrophobic. The juxtaposition of these elements can provoke even more heightened
emotional responses. There are many good art books about design. Find some and
study the principles of design for their own sake. However, it is important to understand
how to use these principles to tell stories in fi lm. One of my favorite topics on this topic
is Bruce Block's
The Visual Story
. Remember that you cannot separate what you are
showing us from the way you use the formal elements of design to convey an image's
emotional content.
