A storyboard is a sequence of drawings that plans the shots of a film. It is a visual script. Each panel shows a shot, with the framing, the action, and the camera movement. The storyboard is created by a storyboard artist, working with the director and the cinematographer. It is used to plan the shoot, communicate the vision, and solve problems before they happen. The storyboard is the bridge between the script and the screen.

Storyboards come in several styles. A rough storyboard uses simple sketches to plan the shots. A polished storyboard uses detailed drawings to sell the vision to investors or clients. An animatic is a storyboard edited into a video with sound, used to preview the timing and the rhythm. A digital storyboard uses software to create and share the panels. The style depends on the needs of the production. Some directors storyboard every shot. Others storyboard only the complex sequences. Some do not storyboard at all. But most use them for action, effects, and commercials.

The storyboard is not the film. It is a plan. The film may change during the shoot. The actors may improvise. The light may change. The director may find a better shot on the day. The storyboard is a starting point. It helps the crew prepare. It helps the editor understand the coverage. It helps the director stay organized. The storyboard is a tool. It is not a rule.