Easy way to visualize storyboard shots? at DVinfo.net

Michael Fuller · January 21st, 2005, 02:32 AM

I'm a newbie and don't really know the lingo, so here's the Q:

Other than holding my hands in front of my face, is there a cheap and easy way to visualize what my shots will look like while I storyboard?

I'm horrible at drawing and having a hard time visualizing what shots will look decent. I dont want to drop a couple hundred on a directors viewfinder and I rent my camera by the day (PD 150) so I can't lug it around while I'm storyboarding.

Any poor-boy ideas? I was thinking something like taping a matchbox to the end of a toilet paper role... yeah, pretty ghetto but better than nothing.

Michael Wisniewski · January 21st, 2005, 02:48 AM

Try a digital still camera and Powerpoint.

You could even pre-plan your shots on your kitchen table if you've got some old GI Joe & Barbie dolls.

Dennis Vogel · January 21st, 2005, 02:46 PM

Storyboard software is another route. I know of several; I'm sure there are more.

Shotmaster www.badhamcompany.com
Boardmaster www.boardmastersoftware.com
Storyboard Quick www.powerproduction.com
Storyboard Lite www.zebradevelopment.com

Good luck.

Dennis

Christopher C. Murphy · January 21st, 2005, 04:10 PM

FrameForge...it's the best. I've been using it and it's amazing.

Murph

John Sandel · January 21st, 2005, 10:12 PM

Michael, I usually carry a couple empty 35mm slide-frames in my pocket & hold them up in front of my eye. If you're shooting 4:3, add some masking tape.

JS

Michael Fuller · January 22nd, 2005, 02:13 AM

thanks man! I'lltry it.

Christopher C. Murphy · January 22nd, 2005, 07:23 AM

I learned this in a Film Lighting class in Boston. It's the cheapest way I've ever seen to storyboard/check a shot. Take a piece of paper and cut out the ratio you want in the center. That's it - it will be exactly the same as having a viewfinder. You move it away from your eye or pull it towards your face...it's perfect and cheap. Your eye is the zoom while you adjust the zoom of the paper.

Aaron Shaw · January 22nd, 2005, 09:51 AM

You could get yourself a directors viewfinder. Very useful thing to have.

Peter Jefferson · February 17th, 2005, 06:57 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Christopher C. Murphy : FrameForge...it's the best. I've been using it and it's amazing.

Murph -->>>

totally agree..
FrameForge3d Studio.. allows u to set points, and focal ranges, as well as integration of your script and literally create and animation of yoru fim before u even hit record.
It will also help in gettin your ideas across to the talent, production crew, editors and producer$ as they get the gist of what your wanting to do.. makes things much easier as oppsed to trying to explain to people waht yoru tryint to convey to the viewer.. this way they actually SEE it..

it also works in real world scenarios, being that you put in yoru mesaurements, blocks, lighting configs etc and it will let you build your shot around those elements and wont let you go over restrictions.. (ie a crane shot indoors over a swimming pool.. put in your cranes dimensions, and put in your Ceiling height... FrameForge will then block you from going over that ceiling hight. This helps with setting up remote focus etc etc
Same concept works with Dollys etc

Glenn Gipson · February 17th, 2005, 10:22 AM

I used Frame Forge, and find it to be a fine program. Although I ended up not using it for most of my shoot due to time constraints.

Michael Carter · February 17th, 2005, 05:22 PM

In an interview with Shane Carruth (Primer) he talked about taking a 35mm still camera to all of his locations and storyboarding; he also shot tungsten film, and made notes about his still exposures, then referred to those when he shot the scenes.

If you can't afford a director's viewer, you can always use a still camera with a zoom lens to play with scene setup and focal lengths. If you're doing wide angle or really squashed tele stuff, your eye just won't show you the lens effects... you can walk a location pretty quickly with a manual-zoom camera (seems faster than powering up your DV) and play with angles.

January 21st, 2005, 02:32 AM	#1
Michael Fuller New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	Easy way to visualize storyboard shots? I'm a newbie and don't really know the lingo, so here's the Q: Other than holding my hands in front of my face, is there a cheap and easy way to visualize what my shots will look like while I storyboard? I'm horrible at drawing and having a hard time visualizing what shots will look decent. I dont want to drop a couple hundred on a directors viewfinder and I rent my camera by the day (PD 150) so I can't lug it around while I'm storyboarding. Any poor-boy ideas? I was thinking something like taping a matchbox to the end of a toilet paper role... yeah, pretty ghetto but better than nothing.

January 21st, 2005, 04:10 PM	#4
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	FrameForge...it's the best. I've been using it and it's amazing. Murph __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 21st, 2005, 10:12 PM	#5
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	Cheap, light & baffling to passersby Michael, I usually carry a couple empty 35mm slide-frames in my pocket & hold them up in front of my eye. If you're shooting 4:3, add some masking tape. JS

January 22nd, 2005, 07:23 AM	#7
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	I learned this in a Film Lighting class in Boston. It's the cheapest way I've ever seen to storyboard/check a shot. Take a piece of paper and cut out the ratio you want in the center. That's it - it will be exactly the same as having a viewfinder. You move it away from your eye or pull it towards your face...it's perfect and cheap. Your eye is the zoom while you adjust the zoom of the paper. __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

January 21st, 2005, 02:48 AM	#2
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Try a digital still camera and Powerpoint. You could even pre-plan your shots on your kitchen table if you've got some old GI Joe & Barbie dolls.

January 21st, 2005, 02:46 PM	#3
Dennis Vogel Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 409	Storyboard software is another route. I know of several; I'm sure there are more. Shotmaster www.badhamcompany.com Boardmaster www.boardmastersoftware.com Storyboard Quick www.powerproduction.com Storyboard Lite www.zebradevelopment.com Good luck. Dennis

January 22nd, 2005, 02:13 AM	#6
Michael Fuller New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	thanks man! I'lltry it.

January 22nd, 2005, 09:51 AM	#8
Aaron Shaw Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 587	You could get yourself a directors viewfinder. Very useful thing to have.

February 17th, 2005, 06:57 AM	#9
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	<<<-- Originally posted by Christopher C. Murphy : FrameForge...it's the best. I've been using it and it's amazing. Murph -->>> totally agree.. FrameForge3d Studio.. allows u to set points, and focal ranges, as well as integration of your script and literally create and animation of yoru fim before u even hit record. It will also help in gettin your ideas across to the talent, production crew, editors and producer$ as they get the gist of what your wanting to do.. makes things much easier as oppsed to trying to explain to people waht yoru tryint to convey to the viewer.. this way they actually SEE it.. it also works in real world scenarios, being that you put in yoru mesaurements, blocks, lighting configs etc and it will let you build your shot around those elements and wont let you go over restrictions.. (ie a crane shot indoors over a swimming pool.. put in your cranes dimensions, and put in your Ceiling height... FrameForge will then block you from going over that ceiling hight. This helps with setting up remote focus etc etc Same concept works with Dollys etc

February 17th, 2005, 10:22 AM	#10
Glenn Gipson Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Plainfield, New Jersey Posts: 927	I used Frame Forge, and find it to be a fine program. Although I ended up not using it for most of my shoot due to time constraints.

February 17th, 2005, 05:22 PM	#11
Michael Carter Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 108	In an interview with Shane Carruth (Primer) he talked about taking a 35mm still camera to all of his locations and storyboarding; he also shot tungsten film, and made notes about his still exposures, then referred to those when he shot the scenes. If you can't afford a director's viewer, you can always use a still camera with a zoom lens to play with scene setup and focal lengths. If you're doing wide angle or really squashed tele stuff, your eye just won't show you the lens effects... you can walk a location pretty quickly with a manual-zoom camera (seems faster than powering up your DV) and play with angles.