Media Homework Storyboarding

Why is storyboarding an essential part of the film making process?

Storyboarding is very important as it is a visual representation of the camera shots in a film sequence. The film sequence itself is broken up into sketches which and, in a similar way to a comic strip, these sketches depict the location, characters, props and settings of each shot.
A storyboard can help a director visualise the flow of camera shots. It is easier to see how the director's ideas will work on screen when the script is broken down into a storyboard. The storyboard also shows how the narrative flows between each shot in the film.
Although it is not necessary to storyboard an entire film, storyboarding some sequences of the film cna help the director and director of photography work out how the shots will be lit, shot and acted.

'P is for Psycho' Storyboard Analysis
What is happening in the opening sequence of the film?

In the opening sequence of the film, we are introduced to the 'psycho' character. The opening establishing shot shows a boys toilet in a school, and the school setting and 'teen slasher' genre is backed up by the title. It then mixes to a low angle, which gradually tilts up to a low angle mid shot of the psychotiv character bandaging his hand at a sink. After a pan shot of some objects on the side, we get a Close Up of the sink. The sink is filled with blood which is being washed away as the psycho character bandages his hand. After bandaging his hand and clenching his fist in an ominous way, the camera tilts up to a Close Up of the character. In the background you hear a door opening and the character turns. A schoolboy enters the toilets, and we cut to a Mid Shot of the psycho tucking a gun into his belt. We then cut to an ECU of the man's eyes. There is one line of dialogue ("Bad move, Kid") from the man before it fades to black and two gunshots are fired. 

How is the narrative flow established?

The narrative flow of the opening sequence is established through the detailed annotations of the individual shots on the storyboard and the arrows linking the shots. The frame connectors show the flow as they show how the shots will flow together and the editing notes show mixes and cuts between shots. The flow is also established by the detailed drawings and camera movements.

If you were directing this sequence, what aspects of the storyboard would you like to change?

If I were directing this sequence I would use more cuts between shots rather than fades and mixes, as cuts make the action more fast paced and jumpy. I would also add in more special effects so that the Thriller genre was more obvious, rather than Horror genre. I would also make the last shot a cut to balck rather than a fade so that the gunshots are more shocking and the cut off is sudden, reflecting the sudden death of the boy who entered the toilets.