Storyboarding for People Who Can't Draw

For all our students storyboarding their short film projects we're recommending the video above by Russell Hasenauer titled "Storyboarding for People Who Can't Draw". It's a useful video because it helps to explain how the storyboarding process can be achieved even by students who don't draw well, or lack confidence in their drawing. Storyboarding is not chiefly about drawing - it's about how you juxtapose shots to tell a story, ideally clearly and simply.  

Storyboarding

Skilled storyboard artists are in high demand, and there is a serious skills shortage here in the UK. Storyboarding is a craft that involves the ability to tell a story visually using both traditional drawing and also (increasingly) 3D skills. Storyboard artists should also master the basics of acting, performance, cinematography - and also have a sense of fun and entertainment about their work.  

Clear Storytelling

Above all, storyboard artists must learn to be clear.  Great board artists often become directors - storyboarding can be a route to the very top of our industry.

Reading List
The main book on storyboarding that we recommend is Prepare to Board by Nancy Beiman. You can read more about it here.

To find out more about Animation Apprentice, click here for a link to Frequently Asked Questions. To sign up for our next classroom at Animation Apprentice, follow this link.