Re-storyboarding 'Gladiator' (Film Clip Storyboard Sequence)

Here I've re-storyboarded a small clip from the film Gladiator to better appreciate the sequence and choice in shot compositions and storyboarding. This captures roughly a minute of footage before Maximus reveals his identity to Commodus after a victorious battle in the arena.





The sequence of shots is quite complex with a series of cuts from within the same environment, yet serves wonderfully in establishing the tension and drama with the confrontation between Maximus and Commodus, including all integral characters naturally into the scene without confusion. While working with this, one can definitely appreciate the amount of time, planning and work required to bring a film sequence to this level. Its an integral process that is often taken for granted.

Made with pen, pencil and alcohol based markers, using a quick storyboard template I made in Photoshop.

Essay Idea: Gladiator

Looking at a number of films to serve as the basis for my essay, I've more or less begun to settle on the film Gladiator. Directed by Ridley Scott in 2000, Gladiator is a universally acclaimed film winning a number of awards including the BAFTA award for Best Editing, headed by Pietro Scalia. The composition of shots from the opening scene of the hand over wheat fields immediately gives us an understanding to Russell Crowe's character, to placing us right in the centre of a gladiatorial arena for some gripping and tension filled action.





I also intend to re-storyboard a small clip from the same film to further examine the choice in cinematography, as well as fulfil the 'film clip' storyboard sequence of the brief.