From Word to Image review

In my search to find any useful material for an aspiring Storyboard artist, I had assumed they would be- as with most other practices- a 'holy grail' book that every practitioner would swear by. Initially disappointed that Storyboarding didn't appear to have one, I nonetheless picked up some fantastic insightful publications: 'Framed Ink' (author: Marcos Mateu-mestre); 'Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative' (author: Will Eisner); and 'Directing the Story' (author: Francis Glebas) to name a few.

However, late on in my studies, I'd discovered this below video.





And then I bought the book. 'From Word to Image' was the holy grail I've been hunting for! Author Marcie Begleiter has been a practising Storyboard artist for many years, and now lectures on the means with which we can structure story and visually problem-solve.

The book has everything you could want: frame ratio breakdowns and explanations; methodologies for executing different forms of Storyboarding; project tasks with which the reader can apply these; film and storyboard analysis and a wealth of images that visually describe even the most complex aspects, and make them seem easily applicable.

There's two things I love about this book. One, for aspiring amateurs such as myself, the book really explains the timeline and process of Storyboarding in a coherent way, and offers ways in which I can visualize and plan a storyboard before I even commit pencil to paper. These insightful ways really illuminate many aspects of this process that I still felt uncomfortably ignorant of.

The other are the consistent industry tips that Marcie offers, punctuated throughout, which suggests that even professional practitioners can take something of value from this.

Her book touches upon various subjects that offer a break down of methodologies and how you can apply them. The use of the aspect ratio can dictate how large your 'safe zone' is within the frame to illustrate; compositional techniques that can be achieved through negative space blocking; colour strategies to help signify certain thematic elements to a narrative; and various anecdotes that become helpful in knowing your place within the industry, and what your responsibilities are.

The additional tasks that she proposes are helpful in articulating the chapter content into creatable, and evaluative, work. In many ways this becomes more than just a book, and rather an interactive Storyboarding course within nearly 270 pages. Highly recommended! 10/10.

To purchase in digital or physical publication, go to Amazon via: http://www.amazon.com/From-Word-Image-2nd-Storyboarding-Filmmaking/dp/193290767X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335621921&sr=1-1