Section 3

Unit Title Storyboarding and Layout

Unit Code CVA103
Programme Foundation Degree (Arts) Computer Visualisation and Animation
Credits 20 Level 1 Unit Status Mandatory

Contact Time 60 Access to Resources 70 Independent Study 70

The aim of this unit is to introduce the theory and practice of

storyboarding and its role in translating a story into a film.

Students will learn how to recognise the essential core of a story and
to define this visually. Students will be introduced to how best
narrative can be structured to produce entertaining and engaging
stories.

They will gain an appreciation of the importance of quick, clear, bold

and confident drawing to storyboarding and how to communicate an
illusion of movement, emotions and personality on a storyboard.

Students will be introduced to the principles of layout design. This is

the developmental stage between a storyboard and the creation of
Introduction the background or environment in which the animated story is set. It
also involves the population of this world with contextually relevant
assets (i.e. buildings, furniture and fashion) which inform the mood
and atmosphere of the finished piece. They will gain an appreciation
of the laws of composition, balance and design and how these play
an important role in the successful production of a layout.

The project associated with the unit will involve students working in
groups, simulating industry practice, on the visual interpretation of a
story synopsis. Through group work they will develop the negotiating
and teamwork skills necessary to interact in a creative team. It is
envisaged that the brief for this unit will be set in conjunction with
industry. Students will then take a storyboard panel and produce a
key layout ready for background development, using the principles
of composition, balance and perspective.

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Topics covered in this unit are likely to include:

• Narrative storytelling;
• Idea development;
Indicative • Filmic language;
Curriculum • Genre;
Outline
• Layout;
• Composition, perspective and balance;
• Drawing style;
• Oral presentation of story pitch.

In order to pass this Level 1 unit, students must show that the
following learning outcomes have been achieved:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. Understand the basic principles of storytelling, filmic language

and composition; (LO1)
2. Understand the basic principles of layout design and how
Unit Learning layouts and backgrounds are developed from storyboards.
Outcomes (LO2)

Skills

3. Develop a structured, coherent storyboard from a given

synopsis; (LO3)
4. Work collaboratively as part of a creative team to deliver and
present a storyboard; (LO4)
5. Create a layout from a storyboard panel. (LO5)

This unit will make use of the following:

• Project introduction;
Teaching and • Lectures;
Learning • Workshops;
Strategies
• Group work;
• Self directed learning through research and practice;
• Assessment and critique.

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Students will work in groups to complete a storyboard and work

individually to develop a layout.

Formative Assessment
Students will receive written feedback on work in progress at the mid
point of the unit, giving them an indication of their performance in
relation to the learning outcomes before final unit submission.

Summative Assessment
Students in groups will submit a storyboard, which meets the
requirements of the project brief. Each student will be required to
Assessable
contribute to the development of the storyboard and to take part in
Elements
an oral presentation of the narrative. The second part of the project
will require students to individually develop a layout from their
storyboard panels.

Each assessed element will contribute to the final grade, in the

proportions shown in the following table:

Assessable Elements Percentage of Final Grade

Group Storyboard and 60%
Presentation
Individual Layouts 40%

Students will be assessed on the following:

Group Storyboard and Presentation

• The effective use of filmic language and conventions
demonstrated in the storyboard; (LO1)
• The effective use of composition and perspective
Assessment demonstrated through the layout; (LO2)
Criteria • The clarity and coherence of the storyboard narrative; (LO3)
• Effective group work as demonstrated in the final storyboard
and presentation. (LO4)

Individual Layouts
• Competency in the drawing and compositional skills
demonstrated in the development of a layout. (LO2, LO5)

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 Section 3

Canemaker, John. (1999) Paper Dreams: the Art and Artists of

Disney Story Boards, Hyperion New York.

Fraioli, James O. (2000) Storyboarding 101: a crash course in

professional storyboarding, Michael Wiese Productions.
Indicative
Reading List Katz, Steven D (1991) Film Directing Shot by Shot, Focal Press.

Berger, John. (1972) Ways of Seeing, Penguin Books.

Propp, Louis. and Wagner, A. (ed.) (1969) The morphology of the

folk tale, University of Texas Press.

Faculty of Communication Media Definitive Document: 21 July 2006