# Storyboard

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/storyboard
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Nick Harty, Storiara

> A storyboard is a series of drawings, one panel per shot or key moment, that shows how a scene will be framed and cut. Each panel has a shot number and notes for action, dialogue, and camera movement. Directors use storyboards to communicate complex scenes to the cinematographer, ADs, stunts, VFX, and other departments before shooting.

## 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](https://storiara.com/glossary/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](https://storiara.com/roles/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](https://storiara.com/glossary/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](https://storiara.com/roles/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](https://storiara.com/roles/storyboard-artist) can do this professionally. For your own boards, the [storyboard template](https://storiara.com/templates/storyboard) gives you panels and note boxes, and [breaking down stunts, SFX, and VFX](https://storiara.com/blog/breaking-down-stunts-sfx-and-vfx) covers where boards matter most.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does every film need a storyboard?

No. Many dialogue-driven films shoot from a shot list alone. Storyboards earn their time on stunts, VFX, car work, action, and any scene where several departments need to agree on what the camera sees.

### Do you have to be able to draw to make a storyboard?

No. Stick figures with clear arrows and framing work fine for communicating with your own crew. Productions with the budget hire a storyboard artist, especially for pitches and complex sequences.

### What's an animatic?

Storyboard panels edited together in sequence with timing, and often temp sound or dialogue. It shows the pace of a sequence before anyone shoots it.