What's on a storyboard page
A standard page has three to six frames in the project's aspect ratio, with text boxes underneath. For the car scene at the end of the diner sequence (scene 31, EXT. DINER PARKING LOT - NIGHT):
| Panel | Shot | Frame (described) | Notes under the panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | Wide: diner windows glowing, Volvo in lot, Maya walks to car | Static. Hold until she opens door |
| 2 | 31A | Medium through windshield: Maya sits, grips wheel | Arrow: slow push in. Rain on glass (SFX) |
| 3 | 31B | Joe in diner window, rain-streaked, watching | From Maya's POV. 85mm |
| 4 | 31C | Low wide from exit: Volvo pulls past camera, taillights | Car passes L to R. Camera car or static? Ask stunt coord |
Drawings use conventions a crew can read at a glance: arrows inside the frame for subject movement, arrows outside or a second frame outline for camera moves, and numbered shot labels that match the shot list.
Who uses the boards
The director and DP agree framing and lens choices. The 1st AD counts setups to schedule the scene. The stunt coordinator and special effects team see exactly where the car passes camera, and the VFX supervisor sees which frames need rain enhancement or cleanup. On the tech scout, boards help everyone standing in the parking lot picture where the camera goes.
Storyboard, shot list, previs
A shot list covers the same shots in columns: size, lens, movement. A storyboard shows composition and the order of cuts. Previs goes further with rough 3D animation, usually for action and VFX work, done by a previs artist. Productions pick based on complexity and budget, and often use more than one for the same scene.
Boards that mislead the crew
Boards drawn without the real location end up with angles that don't exist (a wide from where a wall stands). Boards that ignore coverage show only the "hero" frames, and the editor gets nothing to cut to. And boards that aren't updated after the tech scout mislead departments who prep from the old version, so date the pages and mark revisions.
A storyboard artist can do this professionally. For your own boards, the storyboard template gives you panels and note boxes, and breaking down stunts, SFX, and VFX covers where boards matter most.