Story-Telling: Storyboards & Trailers

STORYBOARDS

For this session we spent some time learning about storyboards and trailers. We began by looking at storyboards and how we can include them in our work. We looked at some detailed examples from big hollywood movies like this one:

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Looking at this storyboard you can easily imagine what the scene would look like as part of the movie and that's the whole idea of a detailed storyboard. However, not all storyboards have to be detailed. We looked at some less detailed examples from big hollywood productions like this one:

This storyboard is not very detailed but you still get an idea of what the final image might look like, something which can come in handy when shooting the script. Next we looked at the different styles of storyboard that can be used. These are:

• Graphic- Detailed drawings
• Diagrammatical- Basically stickmen
• Plan view- Birds eye map
• Or even just Photographs

Storyboards are not essential in the production of a film but they can help when it comes to designing a shot and setting up a frame size. In production they are often used as a reference point. In pre-production they can be used to help decide how a scene should be shot. In production they can be used to guide setting up shots. And in post-production they can be used by editors to help visualise the final product. They are not essential to a production but can be very helpful. If one is not used, you should at least have a shot list.

Next we looked at the type of language that is used in production and on storyboards:

• Shot sizes: Birds-eye view or Angels Perspective (from above), Extreme Long Shot (ELS), Long Shot (LS) or Wide Shot (WS), Medium Shot (MS), Close Up (CU) and Extreme Close Up (ECU).
• Camera Movement: Tilt Shot (up or down), Crane Shot, Pan Shot (right or left), Tracking Shot (on rails) and Dolly Shot (not on rails).
• Others: Two shot (two people), Low Angle, High Angle, Over the Shoulder (OTS) and Stedicam Shot.

TRAILERS

Finally we looked at trailers and how they are used. We viewed a couple of good examples including the trailers for Psycho (1960) and Jaws (1975). Trailers are designed to hook an audience by using the most exciting/dramatic/comedic/shocking moments from a production. Often music and voice overs are also mixed in. A few things to consider when producing a trailer are:

• What is the story?
• When is it on?
• Who is it aimed at?

We were given the task of making our own trailer using footage from the short film Soft by Simon Ellis. This is what I produced:

It took me a while to create the trailer because I couldn't decide on what music to use. I think music is very important in trailers and so, after watching the film again, it is often my starting point. I eventually decided I wanted the music to contrast with the visuals. I thought about using a Frank Sinatra song and eventually decided to use That's Life. I think the song fits well because for some people this kind of situation is "life". I wanted the song to contrast with and also reflect on the story involved. Overall I think the trailer came out pretty good. I found the session very useful and informative, however for my own project I will be shooting the opening two minutes, not a trailer.