Ever wanted to visualize your story through storyboards and animatics, but thought you needed to buy expensive software first?
As Wonder Unit, maker of Storyboarder, says on its website, "Fuck those guys."
Storyboarder is free, open-source storyboarding software that lets you quickly draw storyboards and turn them into animatics. Can you draw a stick figure? Then you can use Storyboarder. The intuitive interface includes six drawing tools, shot duration, and sections for dialogue, action, and notes. For more detailed drawings, you can click the Edit in Photoshop button, make all of your changes, and when you save in Photoshop, your storyboard will automatically update in Storyboarder.
Here are five more reasons you need to check out Storyboarder:
1. Import hand-drawn storyboards with your smartphone
Do you prefer to draw storyboards on paper? Storyboarder lets you print out blank storyboard worksheets with QR codes that you can use for traditional storyboard drawings, then lets you import those automatically by taking a picture with your smartphone.
2. Storyboard software that lets you export
Storyboarder allows you to export your storyboards to Final Cut Pro, Premiere, Avid, animated GIF and PDF contact sheets so you can share your work with all of your collaborators in their preferred format.
3. You don't even have to draw to create storyboards
Can't draw at all? Not even stick figures? (That's sad.) Storyboarder can generate shots for you using its Shot Generator tool. Simply enter some keywords or use their multiple drop-down menus to configure the shot you need.
4. Set a timer to get shit done
If you need to focus on getting storyboards done, set a timer with Sketch Sprint and get to work! At the end of time, Storyboarder will create an animated GIF of all of your hard work to show you your progress and make you feel good about yourself.
5. Edit the source code
Finally, if Storyboarder doesn't help you create storyboards exactly the way you like to work, you can make improvements to the open-source code and share with the rest of the community.
To learn more about Storyboarder or to download a free copy for yourself, head on over to its website.
Up next
Check out 5 important tips to make you a great storyboard artist, learn directly from the Coen brothers storyboard artist, and gain even more insight into storyboarding with these useful tips.
Source: Wonder Unit
10 Directing Lessons From Yasujirō Ozu
Ozu always kept it simple, beautiful, and deep.
Yasujirō Ozuu, a name synonymous with the golden era of Japanese cinema, has inspired filmmakers and cinephiles across generations. His approach to storytelling, framing, and character development offers a treasure trove of lessons for aspiring directors.
In this post, we delve into ten of his most influential techniques.
Let's get started.
1. The Importance of "Ma" (Negative Space)
Ozu’s use of "ma," or negative space, in his compositions teaches us about the power of what is not shown. His frames often feature empty spaces that speak volumes, encouraging viewers to engage more deeply with the scene.
2. Low and High Camera Angles
Ozu's signature low camera angles, often at the eye level of a seated person, create an intimate perspective. This approach invites the audience into the world of the characters, making the experience more immersive.
His high camera angles of buildings, bird's eye views, and static scenery shots emphasize a world that changes before our eyes.
3. Minimal Camera Movement
In stark contrast to contemporary filmmaking, Ozu often used a static camera. This technique forces the viewer to focus on the subtleties of the performance and the composition of each frame.
4. The Pillow Shot
Ozu frequently inserted "pillow shots," short, transitional scenes of nature, everyday objects, or settings, to create a contemplative pause in the narrative. This technique allows for a moment of reflection and emphasizes the environment's role in the story.
5. Restrained Editing
Ozu’s editing style is marked by its restraint. He often avoided conventional editing techniques like cross-cutting, instead opting for straight cuts that offer a more straightforward, contemplative flow.
6. Finding The Profound in the Everyday
Ozu's films often revolve around everyday life and simple stories, yet they touch on profound themes like family dynamics, the passage of time, and the clash of tradition and modernity.
7. Subtle Performances
Ozu directed his actors to deliver understated performances, believing that subtlety could convey deep emotions more effectively than overt drama.
8. Set Design
Ozu's meticulous set designs were integral to his storytelling. He carefully arranged every object in the frame to reflect the characters' inner lives and the film’s broader themes.
9. The Beauty of Simplicity
Ozu teaches us the beauty of simplicity in both storytelling and visual composition. His films, devoid of complex plot twists or elaborate cinematography, capture the essence of the narrative through simple yet powerful means.
10. Respect the Audience
Ozu respected his audience's intelligence, never over-explaining or spoon-feeding the story. He believed in the viewer’s ability to piece together the narrative and find personal meaning in it.
Yasujirō Ozu’s filmmaking philosophy transcends time and cultural boundaries, offering universal lessons for directors. His emphasis on simplicity, subtlety, and the profound in the everyday makes his work a continuous source of inspiration and learning.
It's amazing to have art like his to study and breakdown as we emotionally connect with its storytelling.
Now go watch his films and take these lessons into your own work.