Initial Storyboarding:
Below is my first 25 panel post-it note storyboard based on the prompt ‘A flight is delayed and a couple gets into a heated argument with the airline’s customer service’:
I found this task fun but challenging as it required me to dip into storytelling and narrative, which is something I don’t have too much experience and practice doing. The use of the prompt given, I did however find useful in kickstarting my ideas.
After receiving feedback from two tutors, I realised that a lot of my panels were unnecessary and didn’t get straight to the point of what I intended to convey. For this reason, I decided to cut some of them out and replace them with clearer shots. My tutors also helped me to think more creatively in how my shots appeared visually; I tried to incorporate some over the shoulder shots, wide shots and close ups. I also tried to make sure to consider the 180-degree rule, so my panels looked less choppy and flowed together nicely. This version ended up being only 15 panels.
Reworked Storyboard:
Below is my reworked initial storyboard. I think it is more concise and clearer for a reader to interpret.
Although I was somewhat happy with this version. I wanted to make my drawings even clearer so I could differentiate my characters and their features but also make the setting of the airport more obvious. For this reason, I decided to digitally draw the panels on procreate.
Digital Storyboard:
Digital storyboard made on Procreate:
I spent a day making my panels on procreate so I could make them neater and more cohesive with one another. I do think this has elevated my narrative as it has allowed to set the scene better and show more of my characters and their expressions. I would have liked to polish them a bit more had I had more time; however, I still am somewhat satisfied with what I was able to create.
On Friday of the first week of this rotation we had the opportunity to use Premier Pro. This was my first time using the software and I was very eager to learn how I could develop my storyboard into an animatic by editing and applying sound. I at first found navigating the interface challenging, however by week 2 felt more confident using it.
Feedback session:
On Monday of the second week for this rotation, we received feedback on our draft animatics. Suggestions I noted down (from my peers and tutor) for further improvement included:
- make the progression of time clearer in my story by editing
- portray the progression of time clearer by changing some of my panels (adding a clock, adding a panel to show the exterior of the airport and showing that it was nighttime, editing in lighting etc.)
- implement sound effects to compliment my panels
- Re drawing – some of my scenes and exaggerating the anger and frustration of my character – if I wanted to go for a more comical effect
Wednesday: I spent the session editing my animatic and adding sounds to make my narrative more engaging for the audience. Overall, I am quite happy with it, although I notice some things I could have improved if I had worked on it for longer; I would have liked to have shown the progression of time in a clearer way. For example, by altering my panels as suggested above, however with the limited time I had, I compromised by using a phasing out editing inbetween feauture between my panels. I think this was somewhat successful as it does demonstrate the changing of the surroundings which does imply the passing of time.
Final Animatic:
Link: https://artslondon.padlet.org/skhodabocus0120241_1/rotations-vtuxo2hw4d0kvo2f
Some feedback I received in the group crit included:
- Improvement in the composition of some of my panels – one example given by one of my peers was that my last panel looked unrealistic – they suggested the plane should have been further from the window of the airport.
- More careful consideration of sound effects – even though I attempted to make the sound slightly quieter when I panned out to wider shots within my scene, I don’t think it was a clear enough distinction.
- Making the passage of time clearer – I could have used a clock to show the progression of time or shown the exterior of the airport (at nighttime).
Positive Feedback:
- My peers found my animatic had a clear storyline, they liked the establishing shot of the first scene (with the airport background), and they found that my sound effects elevated my storyline (it became more comical which then made it more engaging for the viewer).
Self-Reflection:
- If I were to redo this rotation, I think I would try simplifying the style I drew in to make my process more manageable – As shown in the first panel I tried to add more detail and make clean lineart, however with the limited time I had, the style became more inconsistent and sketchier by the end.
- Next time I would also make sure to make my canvas size correct for film (1920 x 1080)
- The thing I struggled the most with (during the process of making the animatic) was in fact coming up with the initial storyboard on post it notes – specifically thinking concisely in how I could compose each panel, so it was meaningful and so that the story flowed nicely while also trying to expeirment with different types of shots.