Reverse storyboarding is a technique for studying
how a film, animation, or video was constructed by the film-makers. You start with the completed
film/animation/video. Then, shot by
shot, you sketch storyboard panels to illustrate and analyze what is happening in each
shot.
Do not make screen-snaps of the video frames as a way of making your storyboard panels. Draw the panels by hand. If you do screen-snaps, you do not have to think about what you are seeing. (It is like the difference between taking a photograph of someone's face, and drawing their face. The photograph does not force you to look carefully; the drawing does.)
As you sketch your panels, do not attempt to make detailed
drawings. The idea is that you are
studying, making notes to yourself, rather than trying to make detailed
pictures. Make use of icons and verbal
explanations to the extent these may be useful.
As you reverse-storyboard, pay attention to
exactly what the camera sees – camera angle, events, color if significant,
cropping, etc. Also, make note of
transitions – cross-dissolve, cut, fade-to-black, etc. Also, make verbal notations of significant
sound – sound effects, dialogue, music, etc.
This technique is most useful if you are very,
very specific and really do a shot-by-shot analysis. The idea is not to simply convey the story,
but to convey exactly what the viewer sees and hears, for it is these details
that convey the story. Consequently, it
is wise to select a short clip to reverse-storyboard. Typically, a clip of about 30 seconds can be
very useful.