Chapter 1 Visual Storytelling and Storyboards

Objectives Learn how visual stories are told. Understand the elements of a story. Explore industries that use storyboards.

Visual Storytelling Visuals establish the setting in which a narrative story takes place. Camera framing, angles, and movement allow the audience to become active viewers as they watch the action unfold.

Show Me “Showing” allows you to mold a message into visual imagery. Show the actions of the characters, aesthetics of the locations, and how the characters feel.

Elements of a Story Beginning—establishes the location and introduces the main character and conflict of the story Middle—where the hero faces complications and obstacles within the story End—where the climax and resolution of the problem occurs

Storyboards A series of sketches that are used as a planning tool to visually show how the action of a story unfolds

Purpose of the Storyboard Clearly conveys the narrative flow of a story by defining the challenges and problems of a project Assists in the timing of a scene Assists crewmembers during production for framing the action

Industries That Use Storyboards Advertising Film Animation Television Multimedia Web design Government

Summary The principals of visual storytelling have been taken to new heights with the emergence of film, television, computers, and animation. Stories with structure have a beginning, middle, and end. When creating a visual story, you need to show the elements rather than tell it. –Read screenplays to further your understanding of visual storytelling. Storyboards are sketches that visually show how the action of a story unfolds.