Fully Developed Storyboard

Here is our fully developed storyboard)

Individual Storyboard

Here is my fully developed segment of the storyboard, once collaborated with the entire group; I have strong hopes that our fully developed storyboard will look superb! 

The Process of my Storyboard

Today, I began constructing my own individual part of the group's storyboard. Initially, in previous lessons we devised a detailed outline of the sequence & highlighted sections assigning segments to individual people.

I went home and found myself a template online that I could utilise for this project. Here was the template I concluded on using, as I felt I could write underneath the images elaborating on the action / emotion of the character in question as well as the scene and filming techniques and terminology. It also became apparent that I could print a version of this template, to draw illustrations on. 

I then began printing multiple copies of the storyboard template, ensuring that I had enough to complete the assignment / if I horribly went wrong within the drawing aspect of my illustrations as I noted my drawing skills weren't particularly amazing. 

I then began the initial drawing process. I began by reading and acknowledging my segment of the fully updated outline, to establish exactly what I needed to be illustrating. Taking into consideration all elements of mise-en-scene, to ensure a realistic interpretation would be made. I then fully began the drawing process, by making my first illustration. 

I decided that 'stick figures' would be most effective for me. As I previously mentioned, drawing isn't my strongest speciality. I took elements of costume into consideration, including scenery however no clear explanation or product exuding narrative. This is when I decided to utilise the drawing section of the template, to further emphasise narrative and elaborate on what's actually occurring. 

The process of making these individual illustrations was therapeutic to me, as I watched a video and treated the assignment as an opportunity to 'wind down' and relax. I ensured to continue referring to the document exclaiming my section of the outline, to further amplify detail within my illustrations that conveyed an accurate yet niche representation. 

This image shows progress, as I made it to four complete sections fit with a brief outline to elaborate upon narrative underneath the illustrations. At this point within the process, I was beginning to understand what the full storyboard would look like once each individual within my group had completed their segment. 

I also began gaging an understanding of what our opening sequence would look like & the overall result and I was very happy with the possibility of what we could achieve. 

To conclude, I enjoyed the process of making my storyboard. I felt I was happy with the outcome, whilst enjoying the process a lot more than I thought I would. I think the finished storyboard will look fabulous and I'm excited in furthering our opening sequence alongside further development. 

What is Storyboarding?

I have explored what storyboarding is & have conducted information from my research that will ultimately help me within the process of storyboarding and help improve and establish my opening sequence substantially. 

Storyboarding within its simplest form, is the visual outline of a film. This is a useful technique during pre-production to organise the appearance of shots whilst continuing to portray narrative & also devising character concept art for your film / TV series. The image of the sketch on the left is from Disney's 'Encanto'. It is a drawing of a character named 'Isabela', in her final stages of development. Speaking of development, storyboarding is also key for post-production. As it shows your development of characters and storyline, which can be displayed to the media for publicity and recognition, or for behind the scenes. 

The clip above me is a clear example of what should be included within a storyboard. In this video each sketch has been edited together, to create the effect of stop-motion film. This storyboard is vastly thorough in comparison to a regular storyboard. Furthermore, the basics of what should be included would be multiple sketches of the scene, or whole film that convey the narrative and establishes camera angles / movement. 

Some tips of storyboarding I've found are templates. Online, there are a variety of different templates to choose from. However my favourite would be the landscape one that depicts a great foundation to build from. You are allowed the ability to sketch and apply writing below your images to express what the scene acquires. 

I think this will help our group profoundly throughout the process of developing our sequence, as often, new prospects can arise when fully deciphering the sequence via storyboard. It allows for discussion of what we like / dislike. Furthermore, helping our group come to a conclusion that we're all agreed on. 

Test Shoot Review

Unfortunately, due to complications with COVID-19. I was not present throughout the filming process, as previously mentioned. I have conducted a review, to express the outcome of this recording through my perspective. 

Personally, I felt our idea translated well to film. The prospect was clearly represented of a strong female protagonist, being hunted by higher-class male hunters. I think it made for a substantially engaging opening sequence. Our idea is within one minute, seventeen seconds. This is an issue, as our sequence is advised to be within two minutes. I felt the pace needed to be faster regarding action, and slower regarding the tension as there wasn't any balance. 

I think our narrative was conveyed successfully, however I think elements can be improved to portray this clearer. This includes music, and details within costume that display components of character. I do not think that tension has been communicated successfully, as I think this would be illustrated using non-diegetic soundtrack and ambient sound effects to create an eerie atmosphere that enhances audiences apprehension immensely. The camera angles / movement have worked quite effectively, however with further development they can be easily improved. 

There are many cuts within our sequence, which is something I think that can be taken away. I think this needs to be taken away, simply as the long shot duration can enhance the tension within the sequence and again, creates this sense of apprehension. There can also be more utilisation of hand-held camera shots, as this adds to the themes of chaos and anarchy within our film. 

There are elements of shot duration that haven't worked within this test shoot that we've acknowledged and will ensure doesn't occur within the official opening sequence.

I think what has worked well, would be the small details hinting to the rest of the narrative. Including this frame of numbers. I think this adds an element of authenticity within our sequence, and creates a further dynamic and naturalistic performance aspect. This could however be further developed, by making these numbers appear within a component of costume. As this adheres to the notion of the young woman being hunted, and seen as numbers rather than human-beings. 

Overall, for a test shoot I personally think that this is excellent. Of course, there are essentials that can be improved. However, I think this is a splendid brief outline of what our sequence will consist of. And I think that this is an exceptional exercise to help further develop the sequence, making it of exemplary standard. 

Test Shoot Edited

Here is our test shoot fully edited, unfortunately due to complications with COVID-19. I wasn't present for the filming of this project. Therefore, I have not constructed the 'planning' for our test shoot. 

Our Test Shoot)

New Outline

We devised a full outline, as further development had been made to the opening sequence that we wanted to capture. Here is the complete full outline, as it stands February 3rd 2022. 

Full Outline) 

The sequence opens, we see a girl struggling as she hysterically crawls amongst the leaves of the woods she is embedded in. Attempting to escape, as she is pulled by the hair & her throat is slit. Her body drops, and two men are revealed to the audience. Both apparently posh, draped in tweed and noticeably higher-status. 

One man drops down to examine her now corpse, he takes an object from her. Perhaps a dog tag, or an object that merely identifies her and establishes the magnitude of their hunt. He places this object in his pocket, suggesting to audiences that this is not the only girl they've hunted. These two hunters have a brief conversation, authenticating that there is only one more girl to kill. Perhaps they tally up their kill counts, or laugh about the matter to construct this evil presence of either characters. 

They conclude that they must separate, turning their last kill into a competition to see who can kill her first. The scene cuts to the remaining girl (the female protagonist) in another location within the woods. It appears she is attending to her wounds using the fabric of her dress. Further justifying her survival skills and creating this appearance of a 'strong female lead' & subverting the stereotypes within the horror genre. She is now preparing her own weapon, filling her sock with stones / sharpening a stick.

The tension arises as the shots switch between the hunter searching for her, and her hiding. Audiences are hearing ambient sound effects of leaves rustling and startling her, twigs crunching and the light breeze of the wind catching her now torn and distressed dress. The hunter now appears closer to the female, creating apprehension. We see a shot of the female struggling, perhaps she's lost her weapon buried within the leaves? This challenges audiences expectation of who will win, further extending the tension. 

The shots increase in pace, signifying that the climax is soon to arise. The female then pounces on the male, via jumping on his back. The pair struggle for a moment, as she thrusts him to the floor. She then uses her weapon to kill him, whilst he is defenceless. She then collects the dog tags that symbolise identities, as she resonates with them and audiences witness her emotional attachment to them. 

The female then takes the hunters gun, and proceeds to walk away from the body, in shock of the events that have occurred, however clearly craving for revenge which makes audiences assume she is now searching for the other hunter. The soundtrack plays as she walks towards the camera, as it zooms out revealing the rest of the desolate woods.