Scripting and Storyboarding

"If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage." That's a common axiom in theater production, used to point out just how important the script is to the overall success of a production. Scripts can be elaborate and detailed, or simply sketchy ideas about how a production should proceed. As a general guideline, it's a good idea to have a thoroughly thought-out script before beginning work on a stop-motion production. The longer or more elaborate the production, the greater the need for a script.

A storyboard is a shot-by-shot—or at least scene-by-scene—depiction of the script, typically employing quick sketches. Storyboards are rather like comic books, and can be a very important part of planning a production. A storyboard is a complement to a script, and vice versa.

A Quick Guide for Beginners: Scripting and Storyboarding

Script Formats

Script Conventions and Standards

Storyboard Types

Animatics