Comments on: Getting the J-O-B Part 2: Building a Storyboard Portfolio http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/ Visual Storytelling Insights, Tips and Advice for Anyone Who's Interested Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:14:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mark Couple http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-105149 Mark Couple Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:02:24 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-105149 ?As a working storyboard artist who was a once a beginner myself, I have a few suggestions that I think will prove useful to anyone else that is just starting out. Most importantly, make sure that your illustration skills are up to speed. If they aren't, get them there by practice, practice and more practice. If you plan on making storyboarding a career, being a competent illustrator is definitely a requirement. Also, you will need to read Film Directing Shot by Shot by Steven Katz. It is widely known as the "storyboarders bible." It will give you plenty of understanding of the directing process with is required of any storyboard artist that works in the business. Once you have honed your illustration skills and you are familiar with the directing process, put together some samples from concepts that you came up with to build a portfolio. Once you have that together, start looking for projects on various filmmaker websites as well craigslist.org. Most of the projects will be for little or no pay but that's the price you pay for building a portfolio as well as gaining valuable experience. Once you have plenty of samples in your book backed up by plenty of experience, start shopping your book around to storyboard agents. It is possible to find work on your own, but I have found that paying a small percentage to agents that spend 8 hours a day trying to find you work is a good investment. Once you have all your ducks in a row, I might suggest submitting to a company like Frameworks Storyboards at www.frameworks-la.com?I know they are always accepting submissions from up and coming talent. Remember that storyboarding is very competitive and there are a lot of people out there trying to break into the business. Hard work and perseverance will be required if you want to be successful in this line of work... just like any other.? ?As a working storyboard artist who was a once a beginner myself, I have a few suggestions that I think will prove useful to anyone else that is just starting out. Most importantly, make sure that your illustration skills are up to speed. If they aren’t, get them there by practice, practice and more practice. If you plan on making storyboarding a career, being a competent illustrator is definitely a requirement. Also, you will need to read Film Directing Shot by Shot by Steven Katz. It is widely known as the “storyboarders bible.” It will give you plenty of understanding of the directing process with is required of any storyboard artist that works in the business. Once you have honed your illustration skills and you are familiar with the directing process, put together some samples from concepts that you came up with to build a portfolio. Once you have that together, start looking for projects on various filmmaker websites as well craigslist.org. Most of the projects will be for little or no pay but that’s the price you pay for building a portfolio as well as gaining valuable experience. Once you have plenty of samples in your book backed up by plenty of experience, start shopping your book around to storyboard agents. It is possible to find work on your own, but I have found that paying a small percentage to agents that spend 8 hours a day trying to find you work is a good investment. Once you have all your ducks in a row, I might suggest submitting to a company like Frameworks Storyboards at http://www.frameworks-la.com?I know they are always accepting submissions from up and coming talent. Remember that storyboarding is very competitive and there are a lot of people out there trying to break into the business. Hard work and perseverance will be required if you want to be successful in this line of work… just like any other.?

]]> By: Francesca http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-90288 Francesca Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:24:15 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-90288 Hello Karen, thanks for this great article and blog. I was one of your students at VFS in ca77 and I gotta say that you really made me love the subject. Right now I've discovered during the final project that, despite loving animation, storyboard is definitely for me the funniest and most creative part of the whole process. Thanks again for all the tips! Kind regards Hello Karen,
thanks for this great article and blog.
I was one of your students at VFS in ca77 and I gotta say that you really made me love the subject.
Right now I’ve discovered during the final project that, despite loving animation, storyboard is definitely for me the funniest and most creative part of the whole process.
Thanks again for all the tips!
Kind regards

]]> By: Karl James http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-90125 Karl James Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:29:43 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-90125 Karen, Thank you for an excellent write-up on storyboarding! Next month I will be meeting with a contact for a job opportunity at well-known animation studio in LA. I'm not a gifted drawer. My passion lies in directing and writing. However, I really need to work on my storyboarding skills. Do you know of any storyboarding courses offered for beginners in Burbank or the LA area? I'd like to have some experience before I go to this interview. Thanks for your time! Karen,

Thank you for an excellent write-up on storyboarding! Next month I will be meeting with a contact for a job opportunity at well-known animation studio in LA. I’m not a gifted drawer. My passion lies in directing and writing. However, I really need to work on my storyboarding skills. Do you know of any storyboarding courses offered for beginners in Burbank or the LA area? I’d like to have some experience before I go to this interview. Thanks for your time!

]]> By: Karen J Lloyd http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-82188 Karen J Lloyd Mon, 24 Jan 2011 06:02:51 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-82188 Hey Mack. All I can say is...you sound like one cool dude. :) Kudos to you too. ~K Hey Mack.

All I can say is…you sound like one cool dude. \':)\'

Kudos to you too.

~K

]]> By: Mack McHale http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-81975 Mack McHale Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:38:53 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-81975 Greetings Ms Karen, First of all I congratulate you on your clear, and perky discourse on one one the "Black Arts of Hollywood" in a manner that we mere mortals can grasp. My nane is Mack and I am not pursuing any kind of career or job market intrest. I am over 50 years old adiabled Vet and old film school student. I went to Brooks Insitute in the mid 70's where everyone was trying to make the next "Jaws". ( afew years later no one would give a shark a second thought...something about spaceships and wookies) Anyway I have a few problems that I have overcome. First I'm stuck in a wheelchair so location shoots are a thing of the past. second my powers of speech and hand motion have declined so I can't draw as pretty as I used to. BUT, I can get my ideas out on paper so I can then translate them to 3D animation. I use Celtix screenwriting software that take imports from your storyboards to script to project without having to be a rocket scientist. My last statement is to all young folks who say "I have no talent...I can't do this". You're right if only you believe it. Hey I can do it with half my brain tied behind my back. Kudos Ms Karen Mack Greetings Ms Karen, First of all I congratulate you on your clear, and perky discourse on one one the “Black Arts of Hollywood” in a manner that we mere mortals can grasp. My nane is Mack and I am not pursuing any kind of career or job market intrest. I am over 50 years old adiabled Vet and old film school student. I went to Brooks Insitute in the mid 70′s where everyone was trying to make the next “Jaws”. ( afew years later no one would give a shark a second thought…something about spaceships and wookies) Anyway I have a few problems that I have overcome. First I’m stuck in a wheelchair so location shoots are a thing of the past. second my powers of speech and hand motion have declined so I can’t draw as pretty as I used to. BUT, I can get my ideas out on paper so I can then translate them to 3D animation. I use Celtix screenwriting software that take imports from your storyboards to script to project without having to be a rocket scientist. My last statement is to all young folks who say “I have no talent…I can’t do this”. You’re right if only you believe it. Hey I can do it with half my brain tied behind my back.

Kudos Ms Karen

Mack

]]> By: Karen J Lloyd http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-80355 Karen J Lloyd Tue, 11 Jan 2011 01:47:54 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-80355 Hey Reese, Well, if it's for animation work, search the studios you want to apply to and find out their submission requirements. Not every studio is the same. If they don't farm out freelance work, then you should be willing to move there. You can always send a quick email to find out if they use freelancers as to not waste your time. "...wondered if there was a respectful/not annoying/random way to get critiques from professionals in the field that I’ve never met..." PAY THEM. ;) ~K Hey Reese,

Well, if it’s for animation work, search the studios you want to apply to and find out their submission requirements. Not every studio is the same.

If they don’t farm out freelance work, then you should be willing to move there. You can always send a quick email to find out if they use freelancers as to not waste your time.

“…wondered if there was a respectful/not annoying/random way to get critiques from professionals in the field that I’ve never met…”
PAY THEM. \';)\'

~K

]]> By: Reese http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-80095 Reese Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:07:32 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-80095 Hi! This blog is too good! I went to art school and stuff, but my question is how to go about sending a portfolio to states I don't live in. Do I have less of a chance for a position based on my location? Also, I'm in weird position because I was mainly a Fine Arts(PTDW) student, so my contacts are slim and wondered if there was a respectful/not annoying/random way to get critiques from professionals in the field that I've never met ha. Thanks! -Reese Hi! This blog is too good!

I went to art school and stuff, but my question is how to go about sending a portfolio to states I don’t live in. Do I have less of a chance for a position based on my location? Also, I’m in weird position because I was mainly a Fine Arts(PTDW) student, so my contacts are slim and wondered if there was a respectful/not annoying/random way to get critiques from professionals in the field that I’ve never met ha.
Thanks!
-Reese

]]> By: Ben Laskey http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-70574 Ben Laskey Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:38:30 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-70574 Thankyou very much! This is helpful for several of my modules. One being create a Portfolio. And another being do research into the requirements for your industry and sector. Ben Thankyou very much!

This is helpful for several of my modules.
One being create a Portfolio.
And another being do research into the requirements for your industry and sector.

Ben

]]> By: KassiP http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-59877 KassiP Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:21:39 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-59877 you are very talented, not only in storyboarding but as an educator. took a lot from your post . thanks you :) you are very talented, not only in storyboarding but as an educator. took a lot from your post . thanks you \':)\'

]]> By: Karen J Lloyd http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/2008/02/20/building-a-storyboard-portfolio/comment-page-1/#comment-59296 Karen J Lloyd Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:10:20 +0000 http://karenjlloyd.com/blog/?p=28#comment-59296 Thanks so much Rochelle and Diptarka! :) I really appreciate the kind words and to hear the blog is really useful to you. It means a lot. I hope to get some new posts up soon. Thanks for your patience! ~K Thanks so much Rochelle and Diptarka! :)

I really appreciate the kind words and to hear the blog is really useful to you. It means a lot. I hope to get some new posts up soon. Thanks for your patience!

~K

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