Storyboards

If movies are half visual (at least), then storyboards are as important as a script.

Shooting a movie without storyboards is like improvising the dialogue on set.

Now, most directors don’t storyboard, which might explain why most movies are so visually dull. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch any episode of Tony Zhou’s YouTube series Every Frame a Painting.)

Spielberg talks about his storyboards.

But to all the directors who don’t storyboard, let me try to persuade you…

1.) Storyboarding is fun. You get to imagine your movie on paper. You get to play around with the visuals without any constraints.

2.) Storyboarding is cheap. You don’t have to hire an artist. Stick figures are good enough for Spielberg.

3.) You will not be obligated to shoot your storyboards. You can still be creative during the shoot if you want. What’s the harm in having a tentative plan?

Why do I care about this? Well, I’m tired of watching cookie-cutter movies and TV. And I know the problem is not a lack of creativity. It’s a lack of planning.