Shooting Board

A shooting board is the technical version of the storyboard: exact framings in the final aspect ratio, one panel per planned shot.

What this is about

Presentation boards sell an idea; shooting boards build a day. In commercials the distinction is formal: the agency board convinced the client, then director and DoP redraw the film as it will actually be shot — real aspect ratio, real framings, lens sizes, camera moves, effects notes. The AD numbers the panels and hangs them at the monitor; ticking them off is the day's progress bar. When a client asks for a frame that is not on the shooting board, that is a change request, not a favor.

A term only helps when everyone on set means the same thing by it — so what follows is how it is used, not a dictionary definition.

What runs differently here

Where this differs from the general case:

  • Drawn in the delivery aspect ratio; a 16:9 board for a 9:16 spot plans the wrong film.
  • Carries the technical notes a presentation board hides: lenses, moves, VFX splits.
  • Numbering matches the shot list, so board, list and schedule speak one language.

With TillyGen

TillyGen's storyboard frames carry their shot data with them, which is exactly the shooting-board role: picture plus technical truth.

Change one constraint and the consequences travel through the whole plan: affected shots are flagged, the call sheet is regenerated, and nobody keeps working from yesterday's version.

Frequently asked

Shooting board or storyboard — which one do I need?

For pitching, a storyboard. For shooting, the board must match reality: right aspect ratio, right framings, notes on lens and movement. Small projects merge both into one document.

How long does it take to get started with TillyGen?

A first project takes under an hour to set up. There is no configuration phase in which templates and fields have to be defined before the tool produces anything.

Can the results be exported?

Yes — as PDF for the crew, CSV for downstream systems and through the API for anything automated. The plan stays the source; the exports are views of it.