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Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding Techniques for Live Action and Animation 1st Edition
| Francis Glebas (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
| Price | New from | Used from |
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* Uses the classic story of '1001 Arabian Nights' to show how to storyboard stories that will engage an audience's attention and emotions.
* With 1001 drawings in graphic novel format plus teaching concepts and commentary.
* All of the storyboarding examples have a real project context rather to engage a very visual audience on their own terms and teaches through demonstration.
- ISBN-100240810767
- ISBN-13978-0240810768
- Edition1st
- PublisherFocal Press
- Publication dateOctober 23, 2008
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions8.4 x 10.8 x 0.8 inches
- Print length346 pages
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Francis Glebas has put together a really comprehensive and thought-provoking look at the art and craft of film making, specifically directing. His approach, which is to ask a lot of seemingly innocent questions, has much the same effect as the good storytelling he is trying to teach us.it draws us in and makes us think. I can't imagine anyone, in or out of our business, who won't find any number of helpful ideas as they work their way through the filmmaking jungles!!"--Roy Disney, Director Emeritus and consultant for The Walt Disney Company "Francis Glebas was one of our most talented storyboard artists at Disney, and it was our great fortune to have him on the story team. He has a wealth of experience to share."--Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO, Dreamworks Animation
"A veritable bible of visual storytelling techniques and advice. Loaded with pictures, the book is set up like a storyboard for the material she wants to convey. Covering everything from why we watch movies to the most effective ways to build and maintain drama, she teaches how to keep your audience riveted to the screen. And if you're worried that you may not have the drawing chops to create good storyboards, don't worry - she's on it. Even if you can't draw a straight line, she teaches how to use whatever you've got, the barest minimum of drawing skills, to create the most effective boards you can imagine. Ever wondered why you look where you do on the screen? It's not a coincidence, the director is pointing your attention in very specific directions. Glebas doesn't just tell you how to direct the eye, she explains the why of it - how our brain works and how the director plays with those elements to convince us that what is taking place on screen is real; and not just real but urgent and dramatic. The book covers everything a director needs to know in order to prepare the storyboard for an effective and memorable film. All you have to add is your story! Highly recommended for the following areas of study: Animation, Theatre, Film Studies at the high school, college, and university levels. And it's a must buy for libraries that collect texts on these subjects."--Animation World Network.com
About the Author
He currently teaches storyboarding at Gnomon School of Visual Effects. Francis also works as a creative consultant, having worked with the Irish Government, Korean Government, General Motors, Los Alamos Labs, Walt Disney Imagineering and other film studios.
Product details
- Publisher : Focal Press; 1st edition (October 23, 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 346 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0240810767
- ISBN-13 : 978-0240810768
- Item Weight : 2.56 pounds
- Dimensions : 8.4 x 10.8 x 0.8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #163,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #42 in Digital Video Production (Books)
- #143 in Movie Direction & Production
- #241 in Art of Film & Video
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

For a radical new approach to storytelling check out my blog: http://francisglebas.blogspot.com
It's a new story theory explored in detail, as also presented in my book, Iggy's Incredibly Easy Way to Write a Story
VISIT MY AUTHOR PAGE TO SEE A VIDEO BOOK TRAILER FOR THE ANIMATOR'S EYE!
I got into animation to work out traumas from watching Disney's Snow White at 4 years old. I made my first animated films at 13. I've always loved cartoons. And because both of my parents were teachers I also love teaching others all about the things I've learned.
DISNEY DIRECTOR: Piglet's Big Movie, Fantasia 2000, Fox and Hound 2
DISNEY STORYBOARDING and VISUAL DEVELOPMENT: Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Hercules, Dinosaur, Treasure Planet, Fantasia 2000, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tinkerbell 1 & 2
STORYBOARDING: Space Chimps, Tom and Jerry Fast and Furrier, Curious George 2, The Wild Bunch
DREAMWOKS STORYBOARDING: How to train your Dragon
BLUE SKY STUDIOS: Rio, Ice Age 4, Leafmen, Rio 2
TEACHING: UCLA, Gnomon School Visual Effects, NYIT, Walt Disney Feature Animation, Disneytoon Studios
CONSULTING: Walt Disney Imagineering, General Motors Innovation Zone, Los Almos Labs, The Korean government, The Irish government, Animated Athletics, Z.com
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As an amateur animator; I've been searching far and wide for a book that would teach me more about animation, I came upon many books that are now considered the must-haves such as:
The Animator's Survival Kit by Richard Williams
Timing for Animation by Harold Whitaker
The Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas
From Pencils to Pixels by Tony White
etc...
But the patterns were the same for each, I would read them for awhile and never finish them. The books did teach me some techniques here and there, but it felt like they were missing something; which I myself couldn't figure out at the time.Then I stumbled upon this masterpiece, within the first couple of chapters this book did something no other could. It hooked me in, made me part of the experience; and most importantly GAVE ME INSPIRATION and a PURPOSE to animate.
Within the first three chapters, I learned about many concepts but the most memorable was gestalt. These concepts were taught so well, that they felt like second nature. They made me so excited that, I wasn't able to finish the book and jumped straight to making an animated short. I can't explain how much inspiration I felt, but from start to finish I produced a 13 minute animation within 7 days. Like I said before this book provided me with more than just information.
I also want to note that I am self taught and haven't taken any school education in terms of animation. If you remember having an awesome teacher that makes learning fun and not a chore; this is the sensation I felt as I turned each page, wondering what I'll learn next. This book is like a fine dine restaurant, it keeps me coming back for more. At this point, the name Francis Glebas has been forever en-grained into my subconscious.
This book didn't teach me how to become a better animator, which is an area I need improvement in; but rather it makes my drawings have meaning no matter how basic the visuals may look. That is why I enjoy this book and would recommend it to any visual artist.
This book gives you the ingredients needed to physically communicate with your inner thoughts, you can forge your own story or recreate old ones. What if the three little pigs were evil and the big bad wolf was the hero? Hansel and Gratel are zombie slayers? Humpty Dumpty faked his death? etc... There are so many great examples and content that $30 is an underwhelming price.
-------------------------------SIDE NOTE-------------------------------
As an amateur animator, I am in search for musical books that can teach me how to compose music. This book has a teaching style that I enjoy and if anyone can recommend a musical book that has this teaching style please feel free to recommend it. If not, I really hope Francis Glebas can make a "music book" maybe call it "Directing the Music"; I'd buy it at a heartbeat.
This book isn't trying to aim at pretense in the form of authoritarian advice. And it is most useful for those interested in the art of storytelling for animated films, but it's not a shortcoming in any respect. Simply put, Glebas offers his profound and generous advice and "definitions" to story by presenting the inherent problems in visual storytelling, as he goes through countless examples with the reader which in his approach that person becomes more of an observer to the craft of storyboards.
As an animator trying to break in the industry as a story artist, I've read a good amount of the recommended books directly and indirectly on the subject, from the illusion of life and countless "bibles", to books on live action film and Aristotle's Poetics. But in terms of sheer straight forward utility I found this book very helpful. It has the potential to sharpen my focus and skills.
This is one of the few contemporary books out there on animation that is both informative on the subject(industry insider advice)that goes beyond academic education and like many others has aesthetically pleasing drawings to look at. Although there are so many famous figures in the industry today doing their best to inform and inspire the rest of us, they also heavily focus on marketing their own talent and experience as product. This book shares in context with that trend in some ways but more so is a serious read with a conglomeration of visual content created to back its dialogue. I think the price is well worth the scope and depth you'll get out of this one.
I finally decided to give this book a try. I started reading it for about an hour every morning with breakfast before i went to work. It took me about 5 months to read every word at that pace, which turned out to be perfect because I got to treat it more like a class, supplementing my personal story boarding projects along with the reading. That being said it does take some focus to get through because it is a lot of information. Thankfully, he broke up the information with a really interesting narrative storyboard that continues throughout the 300+ pages.
This book has answered so many of my questions about story. He focuses on providing methods on how to create meaning and entertainment in your stories. Which are the 2 most important aspects of storytelling! With plenty of examples of how to do it correctly and incorrectly. I had so many epiphanies each week reading this, it has completely leveled up my story boarding and writing abilities. I can't imagine how much better i would be if i got this book years ago.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in telling better stories in any trade.
Top reviews from other countries
Then I got this book and read it cover to cover. It's not a hardship either, you don't have to labour through it, it's interesting, engaging and at times even really funny. And it was as if a fog in my brain had lifted. He explains so clearly, brings home every single point so well!
Yesterday I presented my first storyboard after finishing the book. My tutors were amazed and told me I'd just earned myself a First. If that's not proof that this book is spectacular, I'm not sure what is :)
Best part is that it's not filling you with unnecessary technical note, it tells the whole storyboarding process and fundamentals with the most fun way; with a story! I learned a lot about structuring your story step by step and create the most accurate way to tell it visually.
On the other hand, the Author Francis Glebas is an acknowledged industry guru and he is sharing his whole years of experience in Disney in a honest way.Now that's a priceless thing for me when i choose book.
Now, Directing the Story is one of my favorite book on my shelf when I'm stuck at writing and storyboarding.














