How to Storyboard a Short Film – Beginner’s Guide

You know what makes creating films a lot easier? A storyboard.

Storyboards are a series of panels and writing where you can draw scenes and camera shots from your film, writing the dialogue and talking about the action on the lines next to each panel. It’s a bit like a comic book that helps to plan out your film with drawings and text.

So, how do you make your first storyboard?

1. Get a storyboard template

First things first, you need a good storyboard template. There are many websites like Celtx when you can get a template for storyboards for free, filling in the blanks with your own pictures and words. A good storyboard template gives you plenty of space to draw pictures and write all the necessary information.

2. Think carefully about your script

If you’ve already got a script, take a look at your writing and imagine how the words will translate to visual film. How do you see the very opening of the film? Is there a wide establishing shot of the setting? Perhaps there is an extreme close-up on a prop that’s very important to your main character.

Go through your script line by line and imagine how it’s going to be filmed. What camera angles are you going to use? Will the characters be walking? Are there certain props you need to focus on? What setting will the scenes be in and what does it say about the characters’ lives?

3. Start drawing your storyboard panels

Get drawing on your storyboard! You don’t need to be Picasso – stick people are fine if you’re not a natural artist. Don’t worry about keeping all of the shots exactly like your drawings – it’s just good to get your visual ideas down on paper.

Once you draw the opening of your movie, shot by shot, you might decide that it doesn’t look quite right. If so, start again or make changes. It’s all a learning process!

4. Write in the dialogue

When you’re writing next to your pictures, make sure you include any dialogue that the characters say to each other.

Do they speak to each other while both in the same camera shot or does it cut back-and-forth? Are they looking at each other as they speak, or looking at a landscape in the distance? Do they shout angrily or speak calmly? All these details matter.

5. Think about camera angles and movement

Think about different camera angles and whether they suit your film. Are the angles wide or close-up? Do you want to show the scenery or hone in on the characters? Remember that different camera angles represent different themes and emotions.

For example, high-up angles make people look small or inferior, while low-down angles make people seem powerful and dominant. A shot with 2 characters in at the same time often implies that they’re stiff and distant, but showing them from 2 separate single shots makes them appear closer or more comfortable with each other.

6. Plan out the lighting

It’s often forgotten about, but lighting is very important in film! When drawing your storyboard, consider how you want each scene to be lit. Is it dark and moody or bright and optimistic? Even on a shoestring budget, it’s possible to make cool and unique lighting setups for your film.

I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to storyboard a short film for beginners. Good luck and stay creative!

About the Author

Kathy Jones ( 18 Posts)

Homemaker, Wife, Mother, Blogger, Freelancer, Health & Fitness freak based in Dallas, TX, United States. I work as a freelancer on projects and I review products, whatever I find interesting and of great use. From crafts tools, business tools, exercise equipment to gadgets and household items, I enjoy unboxing and reviewing products that are innovative and of high quality. My reviews are published in several online magazines and journals. Contact for professional and honest reviews of your products.
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