So I wish I learned this a lot earlier in the semester. What is storyboarding? Storyboarding is a visual outline that helps put together a journalistic piece. There are two types: front-end storyboards and back-end storyboards. Some of the best journalistic pieces use both.

First, let me explain back-end storyboards. These are typically used in documentaries and in reporting.  They act as a foundation of what you find and have logged while out in the field. They can be general or detail-oriented. So basically, you build the story after gathering what you need. This will take place on paper, or in the resources mentioned later in this post, before beginning the editing process.

A front-end storyboard, on the other hand, is used typically in commercial environments. They are designed to test out ideas on paper beforehand, because it’s cheaper than having a trial and error with a film crew. Front-end storyboards help dictate the production, such as the height of the camera, specified shots, etc.

The front-end storyboard approach helps create tighter stories, allows for new findings, and creates a checklist of things that need to be gathered out in the field. Trust me, it sure will beat getting back from covering a story and realizing you missed a vital shot that is necessary to make your piece cohesive.

Storyboarding involves planning everything from envisioning to writing out what you want for an open shot, broll, interviews, etc. The more specific you can get the better!

Some resources suggested in class were:

StoryboardThat!

StoryboardPro

Scapple

Scrivener

Keynote (in app store)

Microsoft Power Point

I am excited to try out this thought process on my next assignment (especially since I am a person who has everything planned out well in advance).