Storyboarding Mentorship [CGMA, James Fujii – 2023]

8-Week Mentorship: Creating Professional-Level Storyboard Sequences​

Create and Fine-Tune a Sequence from Scratchф

This mentorship is designed for artists eager to develop their skills in creating professional-level storyboard sequences. To ensure a consistent skill level in the classroom, applicants must have a solid foundation in drawing. If you’re unsure about your skills or haven’t taken courses in perspective, figure/character drawing, or sketching, please consider enhancing your basics before enrolling.
Throughout the course, students will work on their own projects and stories, submitting weekly progress for instructor feedback. Live group sessions will focus on visual storytelling and insider industry insights to help you become a better board artist. By the end of the mentorship, students will have two completed storyboard sequences to enhance their portfolios.

Weekly Breakdown​

Week 1: Introduction / Idea Development

• Overview of class structure and storyboard passes
• Understanding the length and anatomy of sequences
• Developing ideas and forming sequences
• Introduction to film studies

Week 2: Shots & Composition

• Transitioning from stage to camera
• Techniques for cutting and jump cuts
• Understanding geography and the 180-degree rule
• Shot progression and composition rules
• Composing graphically and exploring shot variety

Week 3: Animation Principles

• Overview of basic animation principles
• Acting and rough pass techniques
• Gesture drawing and using perspective grids
• Introduction to Storyboard Pro workflow

Week 4: Drawing for Storyboards

• Storyboard shorthand techniques
• Environment drawing and perspective for storyboarding

Week 5: Character Writing

• Understanding your character’s identity
• Differentiating between wants and needs
• Exploring traits that make a character admirable
• Filling out your character and the Elevator Test

Week 6: Camera & Perspective

• Applying perspective in storyboarding
• Exploring camera movements and perspective changes
• Animating a box to understand perspective

Week 7: Acting and Posing

• Distinguishing between realistic and broad acting
• Key poses for storyboarding
• Emphasizing gesture in acting
• Exploring contrast in poses

Week 8: Solid Drawing & Storyboarding Techniques

• Focusing on solid drawing and form
• Exploring expressions, effects, and tone
• Techniques for tracking and refining your storyboards

You can find more details by following this link.

Join this mentorship to elevate your storytelling skills and create compelling storyboard sequences that stand out in your portfolio!