Directing the Story: Professional Storytelling and Storyboarding for Animation, Comics and Live Action

by Francis Glebas

Overview

This book grew out of desperate need. I was a storyboard artist at Disney and had no idea what I was doing. At Disney I was surrounded by amazing talents. I went into work early and typed up notes on what I was learning. This experience became Directing the Story. I went on to storyboard over a dozen features, several TV animated shows and directed Donald Duck in Fantasia 2000, Piglet's Big Movie and 2 seasons of Mira Royal Detective.

This new addition includes storyboarding for 3D animation illustrated with storyboard examples. During my teaching storyboarding, I noticed many beginners struggle with drawing the figure. I've introduced drawing star figures. They're the equivalent to the flour sack animators use to learn to animate flow, force, timing and shape distortion. And once the student masters that, I show how the anatomy drops right into place.

Out of my frustration of trying to write my own stories and watching the waste at the studio's race to get things into production I've struggled for years to discover the secrets of story. I'm currently working on a new theory of story which shows how all the parts of story, character, plot and story work together. I'm including the beginning basics of this theory which allows my students to come up with a story in 7 minutes. Plot takes longer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032773735
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	11/28/2025
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	8.62(w) x 10.88(h) x (d)

About the Author

Francis Glebas, recently retired, has been making stories and movies for 60 years, professionally for 51 years. He's worked his way up from painting animation cels on a night crew to directing a feature film. He's worked at most of the major studios. Currently, he teaches filmmaking skills and is writing a infographic novel about a new theory of story, from an alien perspective. Be sure to check out his other Focal Press book, The Animator's Eye which takes you through the complete process of making an animated film.

Table of Contents

Part One, 1               The Goal: Why Do We Watch?, 2               Common Beginner Problems, 3               The Beginning Basics, 4               How to Draw for Storyboarding: Motion and Emotion, Part One, 5               Structural Approach: Tactics to Reach the Goal, 6               What Do Directors Direct?, 7               How to Direct the Eyes, 8               Directing the Eyes Deeper in Space and Time, 9               How to Make Images Speak: The Hidden Power of Images, 10            How to Convey and Suggest Meaning, 11            Dramatic Irony, 12            Which Doctor?, 13            Volcano Chase, 14            The BIG Picture: Story Structures, 15            Aiming for the Heart, 16            Summary: Recapitulation of All Concepts, 17            Analysis and Evolution of the Scheherazade Project, 18            Conclusion: Now We Must Say Good-bye

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the First Edition:

“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

From the Publisher