GG ACADEMY

Course Overview

• Week 01: introduction to course overview and program

  • We will go over what you will learn in 12 weeks, what storyboarding is and how to use storyboard pro. 

    • HW: setting up your file structure and program.

• Week 02: Storyboard pro best practices

  • This week is focused on learning how to set up the program for speed and efficiency. 

    • HW: exporting your file settings, starting a film study to practice using the program [ La Luna short ] 

• Week 03: What is story?

  • As storyboard artist we must understand what makes story. Why are stories important and how stories are told. 

    • HW: story graph a short or a film of your choice. 

• Week 04: understanding film studies

  • We’ll go over what a film study is and best practices in doing them. This will train your eyes to understanding show style and understand how to switch gears. 

    • HW: 30s film study. [ TBD]

• Week 05: Understanding shots, film language perspective and how-to’s 

  • This week is focused on film terminology and shot choices. Understanding why shots are selected and how it best serves the story. Perspective changes give not only depth to a scene but changes narrative perception. Understanding why and how these changes are made is imperative for a board artist to know. We will also go through how boards are done in phases: thumbs, roughs and cleans.

    • HW: 30s film study. 

• Week 06: Character acting and shorthand

  • TV Animation requires board artists to be both a cinematographer and actor. This week we’ll workshop character acting and understanding how to shorthand. 

    • HW: create shorthand for multiple different characters. 

• Week 07: technical skills and pacing

  • A skilled artist must develop a strong eye for technical issues such as hook up’s, continuity checks, etc. This all comes together to help watch the pace of an episode. 

• Week 08: Professional Pipeline and pitching

  • Working professionally means there’s a pipeline for TV animation to follow. Storyboard artists are expected to follow this pipeline and be familiar with the expectations. We will also look into the differences of hard skills and soft skills and why they’re important for longevity. When it comes to pitching, that is still a practice used today in TV animation. Together I’ll show you a sample pitch done.

• Week 09: Storyboarding

  • You will be given a script and together we will break it down and work through shot choices, acting, and continuity. We will go from thumbs, roughs, to cleans from Week 9 - Week 12. You may use your own script and designs if you wish. 

    • HW: storyboarding starts. Due Week 12. 

• Week 10: Understanding how to give and take critiques.  

  • Oftentimes being a professional means understanding how to give constructive criticism. This is a soft skill that many don’t grasp right away.

• Week 11: Working freelance vs in-studio, and portfolio requirements

  • Artist will inevitably work either as freelance or in-studio at least once in their lives. Together we will go over an introduction of what freelance vs. in-studio means financially and contractually. When looking for work there’s a package of material to have ready to be professionally competitive. We’ll go over what’s needed for your arsenal so you make your own luck. 

• Week 12: Pitch your stories!

  • The class will be split with a sign-up sheet to pitch your boards! Make it exciting and engaging. 

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Note: This course is designed to provide a thorough overview of the subject matter. The exact content and structure of the course may be adjusted by the instructor to best suit the needs and interests of the class or the students.

Instructor: Leslie Park

Leslie Park is a Los Angeles based storyboard artist and director. She has worked in prime time animation (Housebroken, Farzar, Paradise PD) and children’s animation (Hailey’s on it!, Toca-boca). She also works in live action commercials and short films as well as professionally teaching at Woodbury university.

https://ressuri.com/housebroken