Student work by Jack Sergeant
A storyboard artist is a visual storyteller who converts scripts from written storyline to their visual expression.
Storyboards are used in film, television, advertising, video gaming and all forms of moving media as a guide for production. A storyboard artist will map out a sequence of events in a series of images in frames of action.
Their work is used as reference points by key departments on a production. They specialize in clear visual interpretation as the storyboard is when the story first begins to come to life.
This is a vital role as it must convey the spirit of the story through gesture, emotion, movement, and logical progression of action.
Storyboard artists sketch out storyboards by hand or computer to map out the action and key scenes in a script. The storyboard sets out the look, timings, camera angles and points of view of the sequences. It acts as a visual guide as to how live-action is shot and how the animation will play out.
The storyboard artist must be able to interpret the vision of the director, as the rest of the crew and production will use the storyboard as a guide for the production process. This is a crucial part of the pre-production process as it is the first time that the script is visualized.
Responsibilities of a storyboard artist may include:
Storyboard artists may work with a combination of pen and paper and computer software such as:
Storyboard artists work closely with the director to give graphic representation to their vision of the script. They need strong visual storytelling skills to bring a script to life for the first time.
Employers may look for the following skills in a storyboard artist:
Storyboard artists fall under the category of animator pay scales, earning an average salary ranging from USD $31,00 for entry-level jobs to USD $98,000 for senior animation positions. (Source: Payscale)