When you are planning out your next masterpiece for YouTube you’ll probably want to storyboard the concept and get your ideas sketched out in a visual format. You can use a standard storyboard, chalkboard, or large paper and markers. But what if you are sitting on the beach and a great idea comes to you? Will you lose the concept and possibly a million dollar idea?
Not if you have the Pocket Storyboarder along. Just pull out the desired cards and start writing with your amazing Fisher Space Pen. Don’t worry about the sand with this pen as it will write anywhere. Grab your title card and quickly write down a cool title for your idea. Then grab the actor cards and write a short bio for each one.
Now you are ready for scene one. Grab the scene card and draw a quick sketch. Now take out some story cards and start sketching the first scene story. Put a short title at the bottom of each and a number so you’ll know what order they go in. Go left to right in your mind with a card for each part of the story. Keep the creative juices flowing and finish up your first scene.
If your scene has dialog, grab an actor dialog card and write down the actors name in the small box along with the dialog in the large box. If you have background narration in a scene, grab a narration card and write down what is being said. Mark down the corresponding story card number the narration goes with so you can assemble it all together when you get home.
Keep the inspiration going, look up at the waves, and take a sip from your cool drink. This is heaven with a pen. Card after card will keep the story flowing. Soon you will find a complete scene created with actors, narration, and dialog. Clip everything together with your mini clip, slip the finished production in your pocket and enjoy the rest of your time at the beach.
When you get home, take out your cards, blow the sand off, and lay them out on a flat table. Start from left to right with the title card first, then the actor cards and then the first scene picture. Now take your story cards and continue them from left to right. Grab your narration and dialog cards and put them on top of the corresponding story card, so you can see the dialog that goes with the action.
Soon the whole scene is coming to life and your story emerges. It’s easy to continue on from here. Grab another scene card and illustrate what scene two is about. Start again with the individual story cards and add narration and dialog as necessary. Go from left to right and start a new row when necessary. Add scene transitions between cards as necessary. Use the focus card to zoom in on the action or highlight a character.
Within a short time the whole movie comes together on your table. You grab your camera and take a quick shot. The nice thing with the pocket storyboarder is you can move things around. You have complete flexibility. You can add actors in or take them out. Need to change the dialog, just grab a new card. Changes are quick and easy.
When you have everything the way you want it, take another picture and then gather up your cards starting at the bottom of the storyboard and work your way to the top. Now you have a complete outline which you can take back to your computer to write up the screen play. When you head out to shoot your first scene bring the cards along so your actors get a visual idea of the action.
Since the cards are flexible you can just lay out the scene you are shooting. This makes it much easier to work with than the standard large storyboard. If you find the scene is not working in real life, just grab some new cards and quickly make the changes. It’s quick, easy and very visual. Your actors will love the visual layout and they will pick up their lines quickly by making their own dialog cards. Your narrator will have an easy time with the voice-overs by just reading card after card.
This tool is easy to use and can be printed in under five minutes. Break the cards apart, grab a pen, some sharpies and some colored pencils. Have fun and create your multimedia masterpiece.
Free Storyboard Cards
Instructions:
- Download the Pocket Storyboarder template
- Template includes 2 pages, a main template and 10 story cards
- Open in Microsoft Word
- Add text to the cards or print blank
- Cut & paste cards as needed
- Print out on Avery Business Card stock (10 card)
- Break cards apart
- Lay them out on your desk or table
- Start with the Title Card
- Add Actor Cards
- Add a Scene Card
- Add Individual Story Cards
- Create a great storyboard
- Modify as necessary
When you create the next masterpiece be sure to let us know!
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