The art of storyboarding with Ridley Scott.

Summary

The speaker describes the process of creating a storyboard for film production, highlighting its role as the first visual draft of a film. They emphasize the importance of light, objects, and environments in shaping their artistic vision, drawing from their background in art school. The speaker shares how they use thumbnails and detailed drawings to refine scenes, collaborating with actors and storyboard artists. They mention influences from filmmakers like Hitchcock and discuss their preference for traditional methods over digital storyboarding tools, reflecting on critiques about their films being overly visual but choosing to stay true to their vision.

Takeaways

• 🎬 Storyboards offer the first visual preview of a film, helping to visualize scenes before filming.
• 🚗 The speaker enjoys observing light and landscapes while being driven, finding beauty even in industrial areas.
• 🎨 The speaker has a strong background in art, having spent seven years in art school, which deeply influences their work in filmmaking.
• 🖌️ Their artistic skills allow them to contribute to various aspects of filmmaking, including costume and set design.
• 📜 Reading the script often sparks vivid imagery in the speaker's mind, which informs location choices and scene direction.
• ✏️ Storyboarding starts with quick thumbnail sketches, allowing for fast visualization and adjustment before more detailed work.
• 🗣️ Collaborating with the storyboard artist helps the speaker solidify their vision and communicate clearly with the rest of the team.
• 🎭 Actors typically appreciate the speaker's scene suggestions, and the collaborative approach seems to work well on set.
• 📚 The speaker acknowledges that screenplays and storyboards are organic, often revisiting and improving them during the process.
• 💻 The speaker prefers traditional storyboarding over electronic methods, feeling that digital tools can be too time-consuming and unnecessary for their workflow.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of a storyboard according to the speaker?

The primary purpose of a storyboard is to serve as the first visual representation of the film. It allows the filmmaker to see the film in advance, as it provides a visual map of what is about to be filmed.

How does the speaker describe their experience with observing light on objects?

The speaker finds great enjoyment in observing the performance of light on objects, whether in industrial or beautiful areas. They are fascinated by the way light interacts with objects and have been captivated by this from an early age.

What was the speaker’s educational background, and how did it influence their career?

The speaker attended art school for seven years, which significantly shaped their approach to film. This training allowed them to engage with various departments related to art, such as costume and set design, and helped them develop a keen understanding of visual storytelling.

How does the speaker begin the storyboard process?

The speaker begins the storyboard process by reading the script and visualizing the scenes in their mind. They then create thumbnails or quick sketches to capture these ideas and decide if they will work for the film.

What is the role of the storyboard artist in the speaker's process?

The storyboard artist plays a crucial role in the speaker’s process by helping articulate and visualize the scenes. The collaboration with the artist allows the speaker to clarify their ideas and plan the scenes before arriving on set.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between storyboards and the filmmaking process?

The speaker describes storyboards as essential tools for planning and rehearsing scenes. By working through the storyboard, they are able to visualize and discuss the scenes, which ensures that they know exactly what they want to do when they arrive on set.

What does the speaker think of the use of electronic storyboards?

The speaker acknowledges that some people use electronic storyboards to map out scenes in detail, but they personally do not find it necessary. They believe it takes too long and prefer the traditional storyboard approach.

How does the speaker feel about critiques of their films being overly designed or visually focused?

The speaker initially felt discouraged by critiques that their films, like 'Duelists' or 'Blade Runner,' were overly designed or visually focused. However, they eventually decided to stick to their approach, believing in their method of blending strong visuals with storytelling.

What does the speaker mean by describing screenplays as 'organic'?

By describing screenplays as 'organic,' the speaker means that they are subject to change and growth during the filmmaking process. As new ideas arise, the script can evolve, and adjustments may be made to improve scenes or dialogue.

Why does the speaker sometimes make notations on the storyboard on the way to set?

The speaker sometimes makes notations on the storyboard on the way to set because they may have new ideas or insights. These notations help refine the plan for the day and ensure that any last-minute improvements are incorporated.