Photo Storyboard Guidelines
For each assignment you will create a storyboard using 24 photos or "frames." Successful storyboards will have a premise and theme, will show a clear three-act structure, and will be told solely in pictures. You will use a camera of your choosing for this exercise—film, digital, or disposable. A few specifics on cameras:
- It is OK to borrow a camera from a friend or family member.
- Digital cameras can be checked-out at the IU Main Library from the Kent Cooper room (aka Wells Library E044).
- Disposables cost between five and ten dollars at most stores. If you use a disposable camera, be sure to ask for 3 x 5 prints, which will cut down on the number of pages you will require (you can only fit two 4 x 6 prints on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.)
Here are the various parts you will submit for this assignment:
- A cover sheet that includes your name, discussion section number, AI’s name, and the title of your story.
- Exactly 24 photographs. Submit (no more than 4 per page) in story order, mounted or printed on sheets of 8.5 x 11 paper (as shown below.) You can take as many photos as you want, but you can only include 24 in your story. The best projects take far more shots than they need, then select from the best to create a compelling story. Pay attention to framing, composition, Rule of Thirds, and the correct aspect ratio.
- Identify each "shot." Use the following labels to describe the shots we discussed in class: XLS, LS, MLS, MS or "two-shot", MCU, CU, XCU. If camera movement is required, be sure to indicate pan, tilt, dolly, truck, crane, hand held, or other movement. Type or print the shot label below each image in the sequence.
- On two of the photos, indicate how the “rule-of-thirds” applies to your composition. If necessary this can be a simple sketch on the back of the storyboard page.
- On a separate page, write your story's log-line, the premise, and the theme for your story.
- On a final page, write a one-page treatment that describes your story in detail. Use your notes and the example from "Writing Treatments That Sell" (chapter 3) for treatment formatting.
- All components MUST be fastened together in some fashion—bound, stapled, etc. Storyboards turned in as loose sheets will have 15 points deducted.
Late assignments WILL NOT be accepted. However, students may turn their projects in on March 21 to receive five points of extra credit. These early projects can be dropped off at Radio-TV 344 after 12:30pm on the 21st. Students may also deliver early projects in lecture class on Tuesday, March 22 or Thursday, March 24 to earn three points of extra credit.
Your pages should be formatted as follows:
Your projects will be evaluated using this rubric. Please download this document (.docx format) and review it to fully understand the expectations of the project. The points breakdown for the assignment is as follows:
| Points | Photo Storyboard Components |
|---|---|
| 10 | Photographs (composition, efficiency, sequence, etc.) |
| 10 | Screen Grammar (rule of thirds, symmetry) |
| 10 | Story quality (3 act structure? Conflict? Characters?) |
| 10 | Treatment |
| 5 | Premise |
| 5 | Theme |
| 5 | Log Line |
| 5 | Overall impression |
| 60 | TOTAL |
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