Storyboarding/Composition

Storyboard Symbols

50+ Camera Angles, Shots, and Movements: A Complete Guide

Shot Types

Establishing Shot

This shot is normally used at the beginning of a scene to show details of the setting and where the characters are situated within it

Long shot

Closer to the subject than the establishing shot.
Shows the characters whole body
Great for action shots

Medium Shot

Shows the subject from the waist up.
Good for showing hand gestures.
Cuts out most of the background and allows for more detail.

Close Up

Shows intimate details of the subject.
Great for showing expressive emotion in the face.

Extreme Close Up

Shows intimate details of the subject.
Great for showing expressive emotion in the face.

Angles

Eye Level

This is your standard angle and is the most widely used.
The camera is at head level to look people straight in the face.
Shows neutral emotion.

High Angle

Used to make subjects seem smaller, weaker and insignificant.
Try using this on your main character during moments when they are down or not in control of the situation.
Helps make the hero the underdog.

Low Angle

Looking slightly up at the subject.
Low angles make heroes seem larger, stronger, and more confident. Used in moments of strength.
This can be used on villains too to make them seem bigger than our heroes.
Be careful to not look up noses!

Birds Eye

Puts the audience in a Godlike position.
This angle can be tough to recognize at first.
Shows all the action on the ground.

Worms Eye

Extreme low angle, often looking up towards the sky.
Makes the subject seem giant and the viewer small

Over the Shoulder

In this angle the camera is placed behind one character (over the shoulder) to look at the face of a second character.
This is used to film conversations.

Point of View (First Person)

- This is your standard angle and is the most widely used.
- The camera is at head level to look people straight in the face.
- Shows neutral emotion.

Storyboarding

Inception (2010)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Storyboard Artist: Gabriel Hardman

Spiderman 2 (2004)
Director: Sam Raimi
Storyboard Artist: Chris Buchinsky

Jurassic Park (1993)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Storyboard Artist: David Lowery

Jaws (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg Storyboard Artist: Joe Alves

Storyboard Assignment

Part 1

Please complete the following assignment in a Google Document. Title the document - Storyboard Assignment
After viewing the videos above please answer the following questions regarding storyboards

What is a storyboard?
Why make a storyboard?
How do I make a storyboard?
Who was the creator/inventor of the storyboard?

Part 2

Here is a sample script that you have the task to transform it into a storyboard. Storyboard templates are available at the back of the classroom. Storyboard should include:

drawing
action of character
camera angles
estimated time for the shot

First Day in Video Intermediate Computer Lab
   - The first bells ring at 8:30
   - Johnny walks in the lab.
   - Johnny choose the computer beside the teachers desk.
   - He press the start button on his desktop computer.
   - Sarah walks in the lab.
   - Then sits beside Johnny.
   - She then start her computer lab.
   - Then the rest of the students arrive just before 8:37.
   - The second bell rings.

Part 3

Online find a 15 second sequence from a film, and storyboard it. Include: shot types, camera movements, key dialogue
Storyboard sheets can be found in the back shelf in the classroom