Storyboard Artist

Working Schedule

• A Storyboard Artist’s schedule depends on whether they are working freelance or as a full-time studio artist. They are typically given an assignment and deadline, so the complexity of the job and the length of time allotted to finish it will also impact the schedule. Sometimes these artists have to work weekends or nights to complete a project on time. There may also be periods with little work coming in. 

Typical Duties

• Review scripts and visualize action and sets
• Work with the production’s head of story, director, writer, art designer, or other storyboard staff
• Determine proper composition, space, and perspectives based on the director’s style
• Draw rough sketches of action, including character behavior and perspective 
• Present ideas to teams for discussion 
• Add, remove, and make revisions to panels as requested
• Illustrate panels with finer details as ideas become more defined 
• Create a finished product used to determine camera angles, actor movements, and other scene elements

Additional Responsibilities

• Add illustrated special effects
• Note direction of action and special lighting requirements
• Meet animators to review key sequences
• Adapt to the requirements of different directors and frequent requests for changes

Soft Skills

• Ability to follow directions closely
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration 
• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Organization skills
• Perceptiveness 
• Presenting 
• Problem-solving 
• Time management 

Technical Skills

• Document management 
• Knowledge of filmmaking and photography principles 
• Illustration
• Graphic design 
• Familiarity with illustration software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Artemis Pro, Astropad Standard, Boards Storyboard Creator, and FrameForge Storyboard Studio
  • Other Storyboard programs include: StudioBinder, Moviestorm, ShotPro, Storyboard Quick, Toon Boom, Storyboard Fountain, Storyboard Composer, and Storyboard That
• Applied skills with various artist tools, including pencils, pens, paints, and digital tablets like the Wacom Cintiq

• Film and TV studios
• Video game companies (job title could be concept artist)
• Advertising Agencies
• Freelance / Self-employed

Without Storyboard Artists, it would be almost impossible to successfully shoot a film, TV show, music video, or even a short commercial. Every shot has to be methodically planned out in advance, and there’s simply too much for everyone to keep in their heads. Storyboard panels give clear, easy-to-understand visual guidance that ensures everyone is on the same page. However, Storyboard Artists aren’t mind readers. They must be able to collaborate creatively and efficiently with all applicable parties, to ensure that what they draw represents how everyone wants the shot to look. Sometimes there’s pressure to make last-minute changes, which can be stressful when an expensive production is on hold.

The basics of storyboarding haven’t changed much in the past few decades, other than the increased use of digital tools. Digital illustration tools have greatly expanded artists’ abilities to make changes quickly, avoid accidental damage to their paperwork, and share ideas easily. 

Another thing that’s changed is the explosion of independent productions. Thanks to relatively inexpensive digital cameras and recording equipment — alongside the advent of the Internet, YouTube, and affordable digital editing and special effects tools — nearly anyone can whip up a movie or show these days. Indie creators may not have the budget for a high-end Storyboard Artist, but that opens the doors for freelancers and up-and-comers to get some practice working on a smaller production. 

Storyboard Artists typically grew up loving to draw. They may have been huge comic or manga fans as well as movie buffs who enjoyed learning about the behind-the-scenes of film production. Some may have dabbled in making their own videos for YouTube or other online platforms. 

They may also have created their own short comic strips or panels for local papers, Instagram, or just for themselves. It isn’t enough to simply be a talented creative artist, though. Storyboard Artists need to have strong communication and collaboration skills, which could have been developed through school activities in their youth, such as working on a student council.