storyboard
STOR-ee-bord
/ˈstɔːr.i.bɔːrd/
A sequence of drawings, typically with some directions and dialogue, representing the shots planned for a movie or television production.
A visual blueprint used to plan camera angles, pacing, and composition before filming begins.
The story behind the word. The concept of storyboarding was developed at the Walt Disney studio during the early 1930s. Animators would pin individual sketches of scenes onto bulletin boards to see the narrative flow of a cartoon before starting the expensive animation process.
Word relationships
- visual blueprint: A descriptive term, whereas 'storyboard' is the official industry name for the physical or digital panels.
Commonly confused with
- script: A script contains the written dialogue and action, while a storyboard translates those words into sequential drawings.
Word family
- storyboarding (noun): The process of creating a storyboard.
- storyboarded (verb): Past tense of storyboarding.
Collocations
- storyboard artist
- digital storyboard
- storyboard sequence
Example sentences
- "Before we shot the complex car chase, we spent months drawing a detailed storyboard to map out every single camera angle." An interview with a famous action movie director.
Memory hook
It is literally a 'board' that tells the 'story' through pictures. Storyboard: A board of drawings that tells the story.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a script, which is purely textual; a storyboard is primarily visual.
Fun facts
- The first complete storyboards were created for the 1933 Disney short film 'Three Little Pigs'.
Related words
Explore more words
blueprint, choreography, workflow, outline, draft, postproduction
Also appears in
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