Transition, Camera and Continuity Indications for Storyboards

Fade In & Out: Shows and films almost always open by fading in from black and end by fading to black. Fade In and Out usually happen over 48 frames and are indicated like this:

Continuity

Match Cuts: A Match Cut is necessary when a character is present in consecutive scenes. As well as including a Start Pose of the character or prop in the same position or pose for continuity in your storyboard (and later for the Animatic), it is important to indicate Match Cuts in written form on your storyboard to ensure the Layout Department maintains continuity.

In the industry, a Match Cut is also sometimes referred to as a Hook Up or Match Action. Different studios have different preferences. For this course we will be using the term Match Cut. Match Cuts, Hook Ups and Match Action are indicated as follows:

Transitions

Cross Dissolve: A Cross Dissolve is when one scene fades away or dissolves to reveal a new scene. Cross Dissolves are usually used to show a passage of time or to transition between sequences. They can also be used to come in and out of flash backs or fantasy sequences. It is always good to ask the director of your production if they should be used and how often. Some shows use them all the time, others not so much.

Cross Dissolves are indicated as follows:

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Match Dissolve: A Match Dissolve is when some part of the scene stays constant and in the same position from one scene to the next. For example, a character is sitting on a bench. Day turns to night and the character is still sitting in the same position on the same bench. This effect would be treated as two separate scenes because the background is changing.

A Match Dissolve is indicated as follows but also be sure to add written description on the storyboard template so it is clear what is happening:

Ripple Dissolve: A Ripple Dissolve is usually used when transitioning to or from a flashback or fantasy sequence.

Ripple Dissolves are indicated as follows:

Wipe: A Wipe is a type of transition when one scene pushes in over another. A wipe can happen in any direction. Non animated wipes are not used very often but are indicated as follows:

Wipe Using a Prop: A more interesting and creative way to do a wipe is to use a prop that has a story point. When creating a wipe like this, be sure that your prop fills the screen or exceeds the frame edge so that one scene is replaced by another without “touching”. Prop wipes need to be treated as poses.

Burger Wipe example below:

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Animated Wipe: An animated wipe is one that animates. Just like using a non animated prop for a Wipe, when creating an Animated Wipe, be sure that your prop or character fills the screen or exceeds the frame edge so that one scene is replaced by another without “touching”. Animated wipes need to be treated as poses too.

Camera

Always remember to use camera moves when it is necessary or makes sense. Try to avoid unnecessary camera moves. Moving the camera too much can be disorienting to the viewer and costly for a production. Save your camera moves for parts of the story that will really benefit from them.

Camera Shake: A Camera Shake is a cinematography effect that adds weight or intensity to a scene. Camera Shakes are used when heavy objects hit the ground, when something large or fast zooms by the “camera” or to accentuate a bumpy ride or earthquake, for example. It is important to indicate Camera Shakes for the Layout Department because more of the background will need to be drawn to accommodate the camera moving or “shaking” around on it.

A camera shake is indicated as follows:

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Pan: A pan is when the camera moves across a background. Always indicate with arrows the direction the camera is moving. It is also a good idea to describe how fast the camera is moving in written form if it is necessary for the scene.

BG Pan: A BG Pan is one where the camera is fixed on a character or prop, for example, and the background is panning in behind whatever action is happening in the scene. It is always a good idea to draw the direction arrow of the pan in correct perspective for clarity.

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Follow Pan: A Follow Pan is just that. It is when the camera follows a moving character or prop across a background.

Zip Pan: A Zip Pan is used when the camera is moving so fast that the background becomes a blur and therefore does not need to be drawn. This effect can also be used when trucking in or out very quickly. The length of the Zip part of the pan will be determined by Layout. This is how it is indicated in Storyboard:

5 Camera Tilt or Turn: Tilting or turning the camera can be used to amplify a reaction, disorient the viewer or simply create a more interesting camera movement.

Trucking In and Out: Trucking in or out is when the camera pushes in to or pulls away from a scene. Be careful when trucking in or out too far. Most productions can only truck in or out to certain distances before the details or resolution of the picture gets lost or muddy. Extreme truck ins or outs can use multiple backgrounds to keep resolutions high or by integrating a Zip effect.

Reasonable Truck Out

Extreme Truck Out

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