Yves Capelle
Designing stories since 1999.
Updated · 1 min read

Aljubarrota Royal Battle

4th August 2010

Storyboard and production drawings for a film projection on large screen (ratio 3/1) for Fundação Batalha de Aljubarrota (FBA), the Aljubarrota Battle Interpretation Centre (CIBA) in Portugal.

The result of extended teamwork with producer & content designer Johan Schelfhout, Maverick ICS, this storyboard was initially used as a visual screenplay to pitch the show to Fundação Batalha de Aljubarrota but also proved a very good tool to help write the adaptation itself in sequences.

Production Companies:

Maverick ICS Grid VFX Filmes do Tejo 

The script is an adaptation of Fernão Lopes chronicles, depicting the 1383-1385 Portuguese crisis known as Interregno. A story for the modern viewer, seen through the lenses of an almost contemporary witness,  revisited by todays scholars to be as historically accurate as possible.  The fierce political fights for power over the kingdom followed the death of the King Fernando I, and a civil war ensued culminating with the Aljubarrota battle in 1385, which involved Portuguese troops and English longbowmen allies fighting against Castilian and French knights. In this early version, the audience follows Fernão Lopes as the narrator on the battlefield in the the battle aftermath and is told how it came to be, from court intrigues, murders and alliances to medieval warfare and military tactics.

Watch the film trailer

If you are interested in medieval history in general and would like to know more about the Aljubarrota battle in particular, you should visit the museum, where you will be able to see the resulting show on wide screens.

Storyboard Aljubarrota-battle D-Juan

As for the storyboards, we did many more for this adaptation, since there were adjustments made to the film, including re-shooting of a few scenes with additional budget.

Interior scenes were filmed with more people or in different locations than initially.

Storyboard Aljubarrota Royal battle - Abrantes 01

Storyboard Aljubarrota Royal battle - Abrantes 02

Storyboard Aljubarrota Royal battle - Abrantes 03

Even though we had a few film references, a big part of these scene actually work more like theatre.

Storyboard Aljubarrota Royal battle - Andeiro Murder 01

Storyboard Aljubarrota Royal battle - Andeiro Murder scene - frame 2

Storyboard Aljubarrota Royal battle - Andeiro Murder scene - Leonor Telles

In the end the show focus shifted towards a little bit more of spectacle and the battle itself. Another series of storyboards reflect that.

Portuguese second position at Aljubarrota battles

If you liked this post, check more Aljubarrota battle reconstitution projects.

Storyboard for a film projection on large screen (non standard ratio 3:1) for Fundação Batalha de Aljubarrota (FBA) Aljubarrota Battle Interpretation Center - CIBA, in Portugal.

chevronLeft icon Previous post

New storyboard site

Next post chevronRight icon

Storyboards Samples