A Kind of Language in Milan

From January 30 to September 8, 2025, the Osservatorio Fondazione Prada in Milan hosts “A Kind of Language: Storyboards and Other Renderings for Cinema,” an exhibition curated by Melissa Harris. This showcase delves into the intricate pre-production processes of filmmaking, highlighting the pivotal role of visual planning tools such as storyboards, mood boards, sketches, annotated scripts, and photographs. Spanning nearly a century of cinematic history, the exhibition features over 800 items from more than 50 creatives, including renowned figures like Georges Méliès, artists at Walt Disney Studios and Hayao Miyazaki‘s Studio Ghibli, Sofia Coppola, and Federico Fellini.​

In theory, the exhibition traces the evolution of storyboarding from its early use by pioneers like Méliès to its integral role in contemporary filmmaking. What really happens, is that you can explore original materials from classic animations like Disney’s Fantasia to modern masterpieces such as Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron, but nothing is ever explained to you. While there clearly are differences on how directors visualize scenes, develop narratives, and plan technical aspects like camera angles and lighting, it’s all up to you to spot them. The exhibition just throws the materials out there, ans the rest is up to you.

Designed by Andrea Faraguna of the Berlin-based architecture firm Sub, the exhibition features two thematic corners. The rest is drafting tables displaying sequences of visual materials, each dedicated to a specific film.​ I’m not saying it isn’t worth the visit. I’m just saying you should arrive prepared.

“For many, creating storyboards is an integral part of the process. Visually setting up a scene and then defining its flow can help the team involved in making the film to reflect on the relationships between characters, imagine how to develop the narrative, or understand the best way to convey the essence of a particular sequence. It can also help to fix issues—such as when something doesn’t quite feel convincing in a character or a physical interaction—and offer a visual reference for the actors. On a technical level, storyboards can assist the director in determining the most effective angles for lighting and shooting, or the best way to use fades and any special effects.”