This week we started by looking at storyboarding and how scenes can be translated visually through camera choices, framing and shot composition. For the first task, we had to recreate the storyboard of a film scene during the break. I chose Incredibles 2, because I thought it would be interesting to analyse how an animated film uses clear camera angles, action poses and composition to communicate the story. Recreating the storyboard helped me understand how each shot is planned before animation, and how important it is to think about what the audience needs to see in each moment.
We also had the second part of the Cinematography session, which focused on layout, composition and camera language. The session explained that the main question is not just “where do you put the camera?”, but also “what is this scene about?” and “what do you want to say?” We looked at elements such as focus, focal length, geometry in the frame and camera movement. I found this useful because it connected directly to storyboarding: every camera choice should support the emotion or meaning of the shot, instead of just looking visually nice.
In class, we then did the Storyboard – Creative Adaptation activity/quiz. For this, we had to take part of the storyboard and adapt or rethink it creatively.
Another task was the 5 + 5 Emotions through Camera storyboard. We had to create two storyboards using exactly five shots, with each shot lasting five seconds. The challenge was to communicate a clear emotion or story without dialogue, facial acting or heavy performance, only using camera language such as framing, composition and movement. This made the task more difficult, but also more useful, because it forced me to think about how the camera itself can create emotion.
I revised my storyboards based on the feedback received during class. The main focus was improving the camera language, shot variety, and visual storytelling to make the emotions and narrative clearer.
For the loneliness sequence, I reworked the camera progression to create a stronger sense of isolation. The scene now begins with a slow zoom-out, gradually revealing how small and disconnected the character is within the environment. Following the feedback, I added a close-up and extreme close-up shot to draw attention to the character’s emotional state before transitioning back to wider compositions. I also adjusted the framing and camera angles to create a stronger contrast between the character and the surrounding space, reinforcing the feeling of loneliness.
For the suspense sequence, I refined the shot order to build tension more effectively. The sequence now starts with a slow push-in towards the character, creating anticipation and drawing the audience’s attention towards the action. I then introduced a close-up of the character reacting to a sound, followed by a close-up of the phone vibrating on the table. Based on the feedback, I explored different camera angles and framing options to make the source of the sound feel more mysterious. The final wide shot reveals the character’s reaction while maintaining the suspense built throughout the sequence.
Then we brought the storyboards to life in Maya by exchanging them with each other and animating someone else’s idea.
On Friday, we continued the 5 + 5 Emotions through Camera task in Maya. This was the practical version of the storyboard exercise, where we had to use Maya cameras to create the same kind of emotional storytelling. It helped me understand how a storyboard can move from a flat planning stage into a 3D space. I had to think more carefully about camera position, shot size and composition, because in Maya the camera actually becomes part of how the emotion is shown.
We also had to upload an animation short film and explain why we chose it. I chose “Turbo – You Can Do It, Turbo!” because it resonated with me. The scene shows how stress can make you try to act like someone else. The line “Are you a car? … Then stop driving like one!” followed by “Snail up, baby!” is funny, but it also has a real message. It reminds me that confidence comes from leaning into your own way of doing things, instead of copying someone else.