STORYBOARDS
Somoroff + IF
It was decided from the beginning that nothing at Somoroff+IF would be ordinary. Neither were the storyboards. I started in the CG department, having not the slightest clue about storyboarding. At some point a drawing was needed and I knew how to draw, and it all grew from there. Starting with a blank slate allowed me to reinvent the wheel, redefine what a storyboard was according to the needs of the situation. Within a few short months my storyboards were within the top 90% in the industry.
Food and drink videography involves extreme close-ups and a focus on texture with little spatial frame of reference. It was impossible to discern what was in the shot, without adding details like light and color. As projects evolved, the panels became more elaborate; working with the director on concept allowed me to add some look development as well. I developed techniques that allowed me to describe the subject quickly, inserting found photographs to maintain a feasible production speed.
Consequently the panels took on new and unforeseen functions; we were able to seamlessly use the boards side-by-side with live footage in pre-viz videos. It gave the director a better idea of whether the shot would work in a given context. Experience in multiple fields and a creative approach allowed me to give new life to a traditional tool.
Animatic + Storyboard
Pom Arils
The director wanted a lengthy shot that would take the viewer on a moving journey into the flavor of this product. In the end he was very satisfied with the pacing and angles of both the storyboard and the animatic.
Gallo Wines
Shooting boards done for Somoroff+IF, intended as an advert for Gallo Wines. Worked directly with the creative director to develop and revise as the project evolved.
Details
These images were cut together with existing live footage to create smooth pre-viz material. The developed look allowed for seamless transitions between the live action and the boards.
Execution
Created in Infinite Painter using a Cintiq Companion.
Red Lobster
These boards were intended to test the viability of a proposed shot when cut together with existing live footage to create smooth pre-viz material. The level of detail allowed for seamless transitions between the live action and the boards.
Olive Garden
What does boiling pasta look like underwater? And how best to light the closeup of a lemon? Finding visual solutions to these challenges added the creative spice to the process of making the boards. As there was no reference to use, everything had to be imagined.
The goal here was to create shots that had never been attempted before (or for that matter since). With extreme close-ups, the color and lighting was necessary to prevent the whole thing from looking like abstract geometrics.
Zacapa Rum
A fast-paced project where the priority of detail over time had to be weighed accurately and on-the-fly. The boards would be used both for the shoot and to pitch the idea to the client, so representing the look was essential.
