Storyboarding (4 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

Remote learning

Please note that our courses will be starting in February with options for both remote and face-to-face learning in order to accommodate for everyone's specific needs, and everyone's safety, as we apply social distancing measures in line with government guidance. For more information, please visit our remote courses page or contact our Admissions team.

Storyboarding (4 weeks)

Our popular evening course is now available to study as a daytime course (full-time). So if you’re looking to boost your skills, want to learn more about conceptual process or discover what it takes to be a storyboard artist - this is the course for you.

Over 4 week, we’ll show you the art and craft of storyboarding, the initial conceptual process required before any feature can be created. It’s relevant for anyone who wants to learn storyboarding, whether for live action, animation, commercials, or your own private projects.

The course has been designed by industry professionals, including the very talented Francesca Adams, Storyboard Artist at Blue Zoo (one of London's leading animation houses). Industry engagement is the heart of all of our courses and students will work on a live industry brief as part of this course.

To provide additional support and practice there will also be an 8 week period of online mentoring, in which students can polish their skills in a virtual classroom and receive ongoing feedback and support.

Part One - Introduction to Storyboarding

General Introduction to Storyboarding: Introductory Exercises. Creativity, ideas and inspiration for stories. Gesture drawing, fast sketches, and research.
Creating images which tell a story: Single images that tell a story. Gag drawings. Situations and character-driven ideas.
Standard industry storyboarding process: Script, beat boards, story reel and animatic. Movie structure analysis. Camera and Layout. Reverse-storyboarding a pantomime sequence.
Character Design and Art Direction: Introduction to principles of design and visual development.

Part Two - Storyboarding Technique

Structuring a Scene: How to break down script pages. Progression and punctuation in a sequence. Staging.
The Performance: Story beats, narrative structure, pacing, cinematography.
The Animatic: How to edit, cut and time storyboards in Premiere, to create a storyboard animatic. Music, sound effects, voice over and dialogue.
The Pitch: How to pitch your storyboards. Acting, performance and delivery.

Part Three - Online Mentoring

Online mentoring will continue for a further 4 weeks. Students will be set a series of projects for delivery, using a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as an online virtual classroom. Tutors will provide online mentoring and individual bespoke video feedback.

Software

How to apply

We welcome and encourage applications from students with a variety of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

To study an Escape Studios short course you must be:

Over 18
Have a good understanding of written and spoken english
Feel comfortable using a computer. A working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop would be an advantage.

If you meet the above entry requirements you can:

Make an enquiry: Complete our enquiry form and our admissions team will get in touch to check your eligibility for the course, send the registration form and advise you on payment options.
Contact us: Alternatively you can call our admissions team on 020 7348 1920 or email admissions@escapestudios.com
Visit us: If you’d prefer to speak to someone face-to-face, you can book a 1-2-1 or attend an Open Evening

Following your application you will need to agree to our terms and conditions. Your place on the course will then be secured.

Where will this get me?

On completion of the course you will achieve an Escape Studios Certificate of Achievement, a well-respected qualification within the industry.

Our students go on to work in many areas of the industry as highly creative professionals. You'll find our alumni, dubbed Escapees, in many of the world’s top VFX studios, behind many Oscar and BAFTA-nominated films, 100s of award-winning films and television shows and 1,000s of award-winning commercials. See some of our Escape Studios success stories.

This course will give you a distinct advantage in the field of storyboarding, you’ll get an introduction to storyboarding and gain experience working in a professional studio environment.

Fees and funding

Fees

£2,000

Funding for UK students

You may be able to get funding to help cover the cost of the course. For independent advice, and to find out more about your options, visit gov.uk or call the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.

Funding for international students

We recommend you visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website. The Council doesn’t provide funding directly, but it will give you all the information you need about studying and living in the UK, including visas and funding.

We do our best to find funding solutions for overseas students. For example:

If you’re from Sweden, you may be able to get help from the Swedish loan and grant course. Find out more at csn.se
Spanish students should visit the spanish government website for useful information on studying, employment and emigration, plus details of grants available to Spanish students.
If you’re from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Burma, you may be able to get funding from the Charles Wallace Trust, to help towards your living costs and educational development in the UK. Find out more at wallace-trusts.org.uk.

Get in touch

We can help with any problems or questions you have with course fees and funding. Speak to one of our Applicant Advisors via phone or email today! Call us on 0207 348 1920 or email admissions@escapestudios.com.

Storyboarding (4 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

Next steps

Open events

Meet our tutors for an informal chat and speak to other students.

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Taster courses

Try before you buy and get a hands-on feel for what it's like to study with us.

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Our campus

Study in our state-of-the-art studios and get a taste of what it's like to work in industry.

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Meet our tutors

Francesca has over 6 years’ experience in working as a professional animator and is currently a storyboarding artist at BlueZoo Animation. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Animation from the University for the Creative Arts and completed an MA in Directing Animation at NFTS.

Her projects include, Digby Dragon, Miffy adventures big and small and Go Jetters. Her specialities include 2D Digital, traditional drawn character animation, character design, and storyboarding.

Storyboarding (4 weeks) | Short courses | Escape Studios

Industry partners

Industry partners and advisors influence everything we do, from the curriculum we teach and how it's delivered to our webinars and special events.

We work alongside an impressive list of VFX, Games and Animation studios including Framestore, Blue Zoo, MPC, Jellyfish Pictures, Creative Assembly and many more across all our courses at Escape Studios.

With exclusive professional feedback, intensive software training and much more, our industry-led courses give you up-to-the-minute, inspirational knowledge and experience, tailored to the work you’re passionate about. Our Escape Studios Alumni (Escapees) can be found in many of the studios including Pixar, MPC, Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG, Rockstar Games and Electric Theatre Collective.

Find out more about our industry partners

Why Escape Studios?

Our tutors have worked in the industry and have been hand-picked from successful studios; they teach real-world tips and tricks learnt from on-the-job experience
You'll work in an industry-style studio from day one, so you'll get a taste of what it's like to work in industry
Our industry partners include Framestore, The Mill, MPC, Double Negative, Cinesite, Electric Theatre and JellyFish Pictures (to name just a few!)
Our industry partners help to design, develop and deliver our courses and they influence everything we do, so you'll benefit from up-to-the-minute knowledge and experience
You'll study at the heart of London's creative scene, so our state of the art facilities are the perfect place to kick-start your career