3. how this fits in sequence
notes on what you see
what you see
dialogue
elements of a storyboard
4. elements of a storyboard
Storyboards do not have to be well drawn. They only have
to communicate your ideas (and should be more explicit
than this one)
7. premise: fundamental concept
that drives the plot
Trace a route: “Find 100,000 deutsch marks and get
across town (i.e. the roads not taken).”
8. ACT 1: SET UP – SETTING, CHARACTERS, AND PROBLEM INTRODUCED
Confined to a wheelchair, Jefferies spends the day watching his neighbors. Lisa wants Jefferies,
but he acts distracted.
ACT 2: TURNING POINT – PROBLEM GETS COMPLEX
A neighbor appears to have killed a dog that was digging up the garden; Jefferies thinks the neighbor has murdered his
wife, but his detective friend doesn’t believe him.
ACT 3: DENOUEMENT – CLIMAX HAPPENS AND PROBLEM RESOLVED
Jefferies convinces Lisa to sneak into the neighbor’s apartment to find evidence of the murder, but they both almost get
murdered themselves. Now that she is a co-conspirer, Jefferies agrees to marry Lisa. Lisa is happy.
three act story
Organize a presentation with three “acts” or “chapters”: 1) set the characters
and context; 2) detail a problem; 3) resolve the problem. Let story lead your
narrative, not data.
9. BUILD A CASE
Provide information and argue for a specific
interpretation – reveal a way to look at the world
ACT 1: Background information
ACT 2: Analysis
ACT 3: Findings or proposal
ways to tell a story
Organize a presentation with three “acts” or “chapters”: 1) set the characters
and context; 2) detail a problem; 3) resolve the problem. Let story lead your
narrative, not data.
10. GIVE A SUMMATIVE TOUR
Describe existing conditions in depth and volume that
puts a single phenomenon in context
ACT 1: Individual instances
ACT 2: Explain phenomena
ACT 3: Draw phenomenon into context and draw
conclusions
ways to tell a story
Organize a presentation with three “acts” or “chapters”: 1) set the characters
and context; 2) detail a problem; 3) resolve the problem. Let story lead your
narrative, not data.
11. EXPLORE A SCENARIO
Explain a problem or condition through the experience
of stakeholders
ACT 1: Describe a character and their issues/concerns
ACT 2: Detail the mechanism that could serve them
ACT 3: Describe how the character is served
by the proposed program or service
ways to tell a story
Organize a presentation with three “acts” or “chapters”: 1) set the characters
and context; 2) detail a problem; 3) resolve the problem – narrate with stories
not data
12. Evaluation
Explore the strengths and weaknesses of a given
phenomenon, issue or dimension
ACT 1: Set a baseline: establish existing conditions
and explain them in context
ACT 2: Evaluate conditions or solutions via matrix
comparison, continuum, pros and cons, etc.
ACT 3: Make recommendations
ways to tell a story
Organize a presentation with three “acts” or “chapters”: 1) set the characters
and context; 2) detail a problem; 3) resolve the problem. Let story lead your
narrative, not data.
13. ACT 1
MAIN IDEA
ACT 2
MAIN IDEA
ACT 3
MAIN IDEA
storyboarding
with index cards
1) Make a grid with three acts and write out the main idea
of each act
15. IDEA
ACT 1
FACT
IDEA
FACT
IDEA
GRAPH
FACT
MAIN IDEA
PHOTO
PHOTO
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
DIAGRAM
IDEA
ACT 2
FACT
MAP / DRAWING
FACT
DIAGRAM
PHOTO
MAIN IDEA
IDEA
FACT
MAP / DRAWING
GRAPH
PHOTO
PHOTO
PHOTO
ACT 3
MAIN IDEA
PHOTO
IDEA
IDEA
MAP / DRAWING
IDEA
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
DIAGRAM
storyboarding
with index cards
3) Place the cards into the grid, grouping content based
on the ideas you want to express.
16. IDEA
ACT 1
FACT
IDEA
FACT
IDEA
GRAPH
FACT
MAIN IDEA
PHOTO
PHOTO
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
DIAGRAM
IDEA
ACT 2
FACT
MAP / DRAWING
FACT
DIAGRAM
PHOTO
MAIN IDEA
IDEA
FACT
MAP / DRAWING
GRAPH
PHOTO
PHOTO
PHOTO
ACT 3
MAIN IDEA
PHOTO
IDEA
IDEA
MAP / DRAWING
IDEA
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
DIAGRAM
storyboarding
with index cards
4) Talk through your presentation – thinking especially about how
you transition from one idea to another. What else do you need?
17. IDEA
ACT 1
FACT
IDEA
FACT
IDEA
GRAPH
FACT
MAIN IDEA
PHOTO
PHOTO
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
DIAGRAM
IDEA
ACT 2
FACT
MAP / DRAWING
FACT
DIAGRAM
PHOTO
MAIN IDEA
IDEA
FACT
MAP / DRAWING
GRAPH
PHOTO
PHOTO
PHOTO
ACT 3
MAIN IDEA
PHOTO
IDEA
IDEA
MAP / DRAWING
IDEA
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
MAP / DRAWING
PHOTO
DIAGRAM
storyboarding
with index cards
5) Revise. Re-sequence / re-group cards; re-visit main ideas; edit and
identify gaps in content (ideas / visuals).
18. Main Idea
Supporting Ideas
Background /
Clarification /
Contradiction
storyboarding
on a blank page/whiteboard
1) Draw grid of boxes, leaving column on right for main and supporting
ideas and background information.
23. main point A
main point b
main point N
main point X
main point v
main point L
storyboarding:
hybrid technique
1) Brain dump. List all main points in the order they occur to me.
24. main point A
assumption main point b
key idea
main point N
assumptions main point X
key idea main point v
main point L
storyboarding:
hybrid technique
2) List any assumptions or key ideas required to understand or accept
any of these points, build any especially significant ones into the list
25. main point A
assumption main point b
key idea
main point N
assumptions main point X
5
key idea main point v
main point L
storyboarding:
hybrid technique
3) Put your list in sequence.
3
1
2
5
4
4 6
7
26. storyboarding:
hybrid technique
1
2
5
4
analysis
existing
conditions
{
3
4 6
7
{
proposals
main point A
assumption main point b
key idea
main point N
assumptions main point X
5
key idea main point v
main point L
main point b
main point n
main point a
main point x
main point Q
main point v
main point L
main point M
4) Recopy the list and identify act/chapter breaks with main ideas.
Evaluate per timing, duration and tonal needs, and readjust.
27. Main Point 2
Main Point 1
FACT
FACT
IDEA
FACT
Message
Message
Message
Main Point 3
Message
Main Point 4
FACT
Message
Main Point 5
Message
Main Point 6
Message
Message
Main Point 7
FACT
ASSUMPTION
IDEA
ASSUMPTION
Message
storyboarding
hybrid technique
Message
Message
Message
5) Use the blank page/whiteboard method, sketch in ways to visualize
each message. Try not to be limited to only the visual material you
have already made.
28. Main Point 2
Main Point 1
FACT
FACT
IDEA
FACT
FACT
IDEA
Message
Message
Message
Message
Main Point 3
Message
Main Point 4
FACT
Message
Main Point 5
Message
Main Point 6
Message
Message
Main Point 7
FACT
ASSUMPTION
IDEA
ASSUMPTION
Message
storyboarding
hybrid technique
Message
Message
Message
6) Revise. Re-sequence; evaluate coherence, timing, pace and story
arc; edit and identify gaps in content (ideas / visuals). Make additions.
29. write a premise
10
brainstorm three acts/chapters
10
build your storyboard
20
Start with main ideas/points
group discussion
storyboarding exercise
20
