The storyboard artist - A guide to freelancing in film tv and advertising

240 Pages·2012·10.205 MB·English

by  Giuseppe Cristiano

There aren’t all that many books widely available on the art of storyboarding (when
compared to other creative fields), much less one I’ve read with such a simple
overview on the world of freelancing. Covering (as the title suggests) the worlds of
advertising, film, and TV, this is a comprehensive guide to those starting out in the
field. I’d also consider this worth a read for those looking to hire storyboard artists
—it’s always good to know exactly what is reasonable to request of creative
professionals.
—Erin Corrado. www.onemoviefiveviews.com
Terrific! The under-appreciated dark art of storyboarding is illuminated here.
Everything about the art and business of a storyboard artist is brilliantly framed.
— John Badham, director, creator of ShotMaster jbbadhamcompany.com
A practical guide that is, like its subject, a conceptual and physical tool for saving
time and money. Recommended for film students looking for illumination of all
corners of the filmmaking process (and possibly to discover a niche) and freelance
artists seeking a change.
—Ben Malczewski, Library Journal
With this book, Peppe does for storyboard artists what Scott McCloud’s
Understanding Comics did for comics. Crisp, highly informative, and essential in
understanding the language of the medium. Great stuff!
—Greg Ruth, comic artist, The Matrix, Conan, Creepy, Freaks of the
Heartland
The Storyboard Artist gives a well-designed and comprehensive overview for
anyone setting out on a career in the field. It will benefit professionals as well
because of its fresh perspective on the tools of the trade. Giuseppe’s fine drawings
show a passion for the storytelling medium. This book will have a permanent place
on my shelf.
—Trevor Goring, illustrator/storyboard artist/graphic novelist, Independence
Day, Mission Impossible II, Twilight
It is my pleasure, both to have had Giuseppe Cristiano work for me, creating
terrific storyboards for the Nickelodeon animated series 3 Friends and Jerry, and
now to recommend this new book. Succeeding as a professional storyboard artist is
not easy. It requires not only excellent storytelling and decent drawing skills but
many others as well, all-too-often overlooked in art school: marketing, task
management, and navigating the chaos of the get-it-done-yesterday world of film
and TV production. This book offers the aspiring storyboard artist an education in
all of these. Read and keep The Storyboard Artist next to your desk. You will not
only have the tools to become a better storyboarder: you will have the benefit of a
seasoned professional mentor at your side.
—Ray Kosarin, producer/director, Daria, Beavis and Butt-Head, Da Mob,
The World of Tosh; animation instructor, New York University’s Tisch
School of the Arts
At last! A great book on the most important step in filmmaking—the storyboards.
—Bill Plympton, animator/director/screenwriter/producer, Plymptoons, The
Tune, I Married a Strange Person!, Mutant Aliens, Hair High, and Idiots
and Angels

Published by Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., # 1111
Studio City, CA 91604
tel. [phone]
fax [phone]
[email protected]
www.mwp.com
Cover Art: Giuseppe Cristiano
Book Design: Gina Mansfield Design
Editor: Pamela Grieman
All photos, illustrations, and storyboards
by Giuseppe Cristiano, except:
Ulrika Sjöberg: Photos on page 11 and 15
Marco Letizia: Comics on page 21, 60; and illustrations on pages 29, 138
(illustrations 2, 3), 154
Alessandra Orlacchio: illustration 1 on page 34
Massimigliano Pugliese: Photos on Pages 106, 107, 108, 109
Tomas Skoging: Storyboard Sketches on page 103
Jean “Moebius” Giraud: Illustration on page 178
Special Thanks:
My Family, Per Carlsson, Fredrik Norberg, Frederic Pascual (for the cover
illustration), Cynthia Prescher, and Daniel Arvor.
Printed by McNaughton & Gunn, Inc., Saline, Michigan
Manufactured in the United States of America
Printed on Recycled Stock
© 2011 Giuseppe Cristiano
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
means without permission in writing from the publisher, except for the inclusion of
brief quotations in a review.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Cristiano, Giuseppe.
The storyboard artist : a guide to freelancing in film, TV, and advertising /
Giuseppe Cristiano.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-61593-083-8
1. Storyboards. 2. Commercial art—Technique. 3. Motion pictures—Production
and direction. I. Title.
NC1002.S85C74 2012
741.6023—dc23
2011038438
DEDICATION
To Clara and Lorenzo, my mum and dad.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
For the inspiration and the motivation that led me into
professional storyboarding I’d like to mention Mr. Jean
Giraud, aka Moebius, whom I had the fortune to meet in real
life a few times, and who was kind enough to invite me to his
studio. I received from him cherished advice, as well as some
fabulous books I proudly keep in my collection.
I would also like to thank all of the directors with whom I had
the pleasure to work and from whom I learned a great deal of
information, techniques, and tricks of the trade. Thank you for
the experiences that made me grow. Among the many are
Jonas Åkerlund, Fredrik Bond, Johan Kamitz, Eric Broms,
Sam Brown, Johan Renck, Tomas Skoging, and many more.
A very special thank you goes to Ray Kosarin, director of
Beavis and Butt-head, Daria, 3 Friends & Jerry, and the
Saturday Night Live cartoons, who taught me the patience and
fun of working with animation.
Thanks also go to the advertising agencies all around the
world that I work with regularly: Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB,
McCann Worldgroup, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, BBDO Worldwide,
and many more. And, of course, the film and TV production
companies I worked with throughout the years deserve special
thanks, including Universal, Warner Bros., Fox Family, HBO,
BBC, RAI, Ridley Scott Associates, Aardman Animations,
Nelvana, SF (Svensk Filmindustri), Nordisk Film, Stink,
Rogue, and the list goes on.
Last, but not least, I want to thank all of the people I had the
pleasure to draw on my boards: Paul Newman, Clint
Eastwood, Robert DeNiro, Gene Simmons of Kiss, Lemmy
from Motörhead, Steven Seagal, Madonna, and others.

CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
1. STORYBOARD DETAILS
WHAT IS A STORYBOARD?
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
GOING DIGITAL
3. STORYBOARD ARTISTS AND COMIC STRIP
ARTISTS
THE ARTIST WHO INFLUENCED ME
4. DRAWING SCHOOL
UNDERSTANDING AND DRAWING ANATOMY
UNDERSTANDING PERSPECTIVE
UNDERSTANDING FRAMING
TECHNICAL AND CAMERA MOVEMENTS
DISTANCES
LINE OF ACTION
IMPROVE YOUR STYLE AND TECHNIQUE
5. USE THE STORYBOARD AS A BUDGET
6. THE STORYBOARD AND ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING AGENCIES AND PRODUCTION
COMPANIES
CLIENT BOARDS AND SHOOTING BOARDS