What is a storyboard?
A storyboard is your film drawn out shot by shot, like a comic strip. Each panel shows the framing of one shot, with a caption for the action and any dialogue or sound underneath. It's how a director shows the crew, the actors and the editor what the film will look like before anyone picks up a camera, and it's the fastest way to find out that a sequence doesn't make sense.
You don't need to draw well. Stick figures, arrows for movement and a box for the frame are enough. What matters is the composition: how big things are in frame, where they sit, and what the camera does.
How to use this storyboard template
- Choose the aspect ratio you'll deliver in, so every frame has the real shape of the screen.
- Choose panels per page: 6 is the usual layout; 2–3 leave room for notes; 8–9 suit quick thumbnails.
- Number each shot and write the action under it. Add dialogue or sound cues on the second line.
- Add a sketch or reference photo to a panel if you have one. It prints inside the frame.
- "Print / PDF" opens your browser's print dialog; choose "Save as PDF" for a file. "Print blank" prints empty frames with ruled lines to draw on.
Choosing an aspect ratio
16:9 is the shape of almost every TV, laptop and YouTube video. 2.39:1 ("scope") is the very wide frame of many feature films; it rewards strong horizontal compositions. 1.85:1 is the standard theatrical flat ratio. 9:16 is vertical video for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, where faces and single subjects work best. 4:3 and 1:1 suit period looks and square social posts.
Storyboarding tips
- Board from your shot list, one panel per shot. The free shot list template uses the same numbering.
- Draw camera moves as arrows inside the frame, and subject movement as arrows on the subject.
- Vary shot sizes on purpose: a run of close-ups feels claustrophobic, a run of wides feels distant.
- Keep screen direction consistent. If a character exits frame right, they should enter the next shot from frame left.
- Board the hard parts first: action, stunts, effects and anything with many setups.
From storyboard to shots
The course lesson Storyboards and shot lists covers how the two documents work together on a production. If you'd rather not draw at all, MoviePro's Storyboard page generates the frames from your shot list with AI and keeps characters consistent across them; the Academy lesson Storyboard it shows how.