The Wine Movie – Blog A Three Crows film

Storyboards

Santiago Uceda is our production designer and storyboard artist, and he is helping us visualize the film in a mixed media format. For the first time we can actually physically see the story coming together. This is crucial. Up to this point it’s all been in our heads even though we have written down notes on each of the 200+ shots in the film. Suddenly it’s very different. We’re now having to think even harder about the physical space we’ll be working with.

Notice how Santiago is working with sketches, location photos with notes, and photos with characters sketched right into position.

Our process has been to break the script down into scenes, and then break each scene down into shots. We worked through each shot logically, sketching birds-eye views of camera placement and stick figure drawings. Then Santiago began the sketches and photos of key shots throughout the film that set the tone. He’s going to focus on these key setups. He uploads individual images to our Celtx Studio project so the whole team can review. Next weekend we’ll be meeting with the cast on location, and we’ll try some test shots with live talent.

From the opening scene: visibly pregnant Mary Beth walks from house to car carrying casserole

Since Santiago is our production designer, not just the storyboard artist, he's makign notes on set dressing and what else is needed to flesh out a frame

We've looked at this kitchen a lot, but this is the first time we're getting a sense of what it would be like with three people in it. Suddenly it's much smaller than I'd envisioned.