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John walks into the principal's office.

 

John: Excuse me, Principal Moore.

Using the types of shots we've already discussed, we can progress the story by moving the characters into medium shots in the same locations.  This indicates to the audience that we are still in the same locations but now we are getting closer to the characters, which allows the audience to get to know the characters more intimately.

The caption adds additional information to the storyboard:

Principal Moore turns towards the door.

Principal Moore:  Please come in John and have a seat.

Since we've already been introduced to John as a character in the long shot, the next step is a medium shot to give the audience more time to see who John is.  When setting up for a medium shot, we will give the actor room to show some of his personality (we will see how he's dressed, how he walks, what he may be carrying). In a visual medium like film or television, everything about the character says something.  Some characters physical presence says more than the words that might come from their dialog.

John walks closer.

Another type of shot commonly used is an Over-the-Shoulder shot.  It connects the two characters and shows that they are in the same location at the same time and sets up the ability for each character to be seen when talking. 

Often, beginning filmmakers choose to film conversations in profile because it's easy.  However, profiles don't allow the audience to see the emotion on the face of the character.  So over-the-shoulder shots are preferable in shots of conversations. 

John: I see you found my dog, Maddie.

Over-the-shoulder shot set up. 

When creating over-the-shoulder shots for a conversation, keep the camera on the same side of the characters’ shoulders.  Here, John is on the left side of the frame and Principal Moore is on the right. In the previous shot, John was also on the left side of the frame and Principal Moore on the right. Characters should occupy approximately the same screen position.

Advanced: At this point you can teach about a "stage line" and how the camera stays on one side of the character until a neutral shot is taken and then the camera can change sides. 

This shot is also called a Reverse Angle Shot (reverse of the prior shot). The audience gets to see the reverse side of the conversation. 

Principal Moore:   You know we don't allow dogs in the school. And this is the third time this week she's been here.

Cutaway Shot

This is a shot of an element or item in the story that the storyteller wants to highlight or bring into focus for the audience to notice. It is often, but not always, in the same location as the rest of the story and it is in support of what the story is about. In a mystery, the director might cut away to a clue hidden in the room so that the audience is given privileged information. Here, the cutaway is of John's dog so that we now see that the puppy is close at hand. The conversation or dialog between the Principal and John might still continue.

John: I'm sorry, Mr. Moore.  I told her to go home but she didn't listen to me.

A Two Shot is simply two of the characters together in one shot.  This is a filmmaker’s short cut to say that we need both characters in the same frame at the same time.

John is happy to his puppy. John's puppy barks as John says:

John:

I taught her to sit but maybe she came to school to learn how to speak!

Close Up

A close up allows the audience to see the character's reaction to what's going on in the story.

Principal Moore:

She sounds like she already knows how.  They both laugh as puppy continues to bark.

People, places and things are the visual elements of a story.  A software program like StoryBoard Quick helps imaginations bring ideas, concepts and stories to life.  Whether you have a story idea or need to stimulate your imagination, StoryBoard Quick provides tools and artwork to make the job fun and easy.

Visit www.storyboardquick.com for more information about PowerProduction Software's storyboard line of products.

 

Storyboarding—Part Two

  November, 2008