Blackstone Certified came to us with a concept of superheroes and an idea of what they wanted in the video, but how are you supposed to get from an idea to a final project? Storyboarding.
This video was the kick-off to Blackstone’s new program to help contractors gain a certification recognized by many insurance companies and contracting partners. We were excited to showcase the idea that what you do in your everyday job can make you a superhero when you choose to consistently do the right thing.
A storyboard is a sequence of drawings showing how the video will progress. One picture on a storyboard equals one shot. These photos show movement that should happen in the shot, but doesn’t get into tiny details such as the background.
Storyboarding is the first opportunity for a client to see their idea in the real world. The process of creating a storyboard allows for the client and director to get on the same page about what the project should be. If a client is unpleased with something in this stage it’s simple and inexpensive to fix since filming hasn’t begun. (It obviously becomes much more difficult after a video has been shot and edited to make major changes.)
In addition to checking to see if the storyboard matches your vision, this is a good opportunity to make sure the piece works. The storyboard can help judge the amount of time the project will last, so you can start asking important questions: Can you tell the story in the right amount of time, does the dialogue/narration fit with the visuals, is the concept getting across? If you don’t like the answer to one of these questions, this is the time to change it before you get further into the project.
Storyboards are also helpful to the crew while filming. Since each photo represents one shot, the crew can make sure they get every shot they need. If you go into filming without a clear plan, you may come to the editing stage with too few shots or even missing a very important shot that was overlooked. Knowing what kinds of shots are wanted beforehand also means the crew can bring the right type of equipment for filming.
Long story short, things go smoother if you go into a situation knowing what you want to get out of it. A storyboard gives you a plan that makes the filming process go much more smoothly, and the outcome is obviously fantastic. Take a look for yourself!
