Storyboards Video Storyboard Terms 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'scene transition' card in a storyboard?
- A blank panel separating two scenes to indicate a change in location or time (Correct answer)
- A business card given to the production designer
- A panel showing the director's transition note from script to screen
- A digital layer in storyboard software
Correct answer: A blank panel separating two scenes to indicate a change in location or time
A transition card or panel marks the boundary between scenes in a storyboard, often labeled with the transition type (cut, dissolve, fade) and the next scene heading.
Question 2: What is the 'golden ratio' sometimes applied to storyboard panel composition?
- The ideal ratio of storyboard panels to script pages
- A mathematical proportion (~1:1.618) used to create aesthetically pleasing framing (Correct answer)
- The percentage of panels that must be approved before shooting
- The ratio of dialogue scenes to action scenes
Correct answer: A mathematical proportion (~1:1.618) used to create aesthetically pleasing framing
The golden ratio is a classical design principle (~1.618:1) used to position key subjects within a frame in a way that feels naturally balanced and pleasing to the eye.
Question 3: What does 'intercutting' mean in a storyboard sequence?
- Cutting storyboard panels to a smaller physical size
- Alternating between two or more separate scenes to suggest they are happening simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Inserting a new panel between two existing panels
- A transition effect where frames are cut diagonally
Correct answer: Alternating between two or more separate scenes to suggest they are happening simultaneously
Intercutting (parallel editing) alternates between two scenes occurring at the same time, creating tension or contrast — commonly used in chase or phone-call sequences.
Question 4: In storyboarding, what is a 'plant and payoff' structure?
- Planting cameras early and paying off rental fees later
- Introducing a visual element early in the story that becomes significant later (Correct answer)
- Drawing rough thumbnails first and refining them in a later pass
- A budget allocation method for physical props
Correct answer: Introducing a visual element early in the story that becomes significant later
A plant is a detail introduced early in the story that pays off later by becoming important to the plot, and storyboard artists often highlight both moments visually.
Question 5: What is 'color script' as used in animated video storyboarding?
- A script written in colored ink for different departments
- A sequence of small color sketches showing how the color palette and lighting will evolve throughout the story (Correct answer)
- The color-coded revision system for storyboard drafts
- A list of approved hex color codes for digital storyboards
Correct answer: A sequence of small color sketches showing how the color palette and lighting will evolve throughout the story
A color script is a visual overview — typically a row of small thumbnails — that maps out the intended color and lighting mood across an entire film or video to ensure emotional consistency.
Question 6: What is a 'smash cut' in storyboard and video editing?
- A cut that destroys a previous take and starts fresh
- An abrupt, jarring cut between two very different scenes or sounds for dramatic effect (Correct answer)
- A slow-motion impact shot followed by a hard cut to black
- A transition where the screen physically appears to shatter
Correct answer: An abrupt, jarring cut between two very different scenes or sounds for dramatic effect
A smash cut is a sudden, unexpected transition between two scenes with no gradual transition — often used for shock, humor, or to punctuate a moment.
Question 7: What does 'screen direction' mean in storyboard continuity?
- The physical direction the monitor faces on set
- The direction subjects move or look relative to the sides of the frame, maintained consistently across cuts (Correct answer)
- Instructions written on-screen during the final video
- The director's written notes on each storyboard panel
Correct answer: The direction subjects move or look relative to the sides of the frame, maintained consistently across cuts
Screen direction ensures that subjects moving or looking left or right in one shot continue in the same direction in the next shot, preserving spatial logic for the viewer.
Storyboards Video Storyboard Terms 5
What is a 'scene transition' card in a storyboard?