Guillermo del Toro Visual Notebook Prep

Plan film scenes using the Guillermo del Toro visual notebook routine, combining sketches, spatial layouts, and detailed handwritten notes.

5 time blocks, 45 minutes in total.

Time blocks

Grid Notebook Setup: 5 min
Open a grid notebook and write the core scene objective at the top
Character and Prop Sketching: 15 min
Draw rough outlines of characters, key props, and focal points
Spatial Blocking and Camera Framing: 10 min
Map character positions and camera angles using overhead diagrams
Color Palette and Sensory Notes: 10 min
Note lighting mood, dominant colors, texture details, and audio cues
Dialogue and Indexing: 5 min
Write key dialogue lines around the page margin and tag the entry

About this routine

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro relies on custom leather journals filled with grid paper to map out his movies long before production begins. The Guillermo del Toro visual notebook routine combines quick drawings, color swatches, spatial diagrams, and handwritten dialogue on two-page spreads. This method lets directors and storytellers see how narrative action, visual texture, and camera movement interact in a single scene.

Del Toro keeps his notebooks with him everywhere, scribbling ideas in ink and watercolor whenever inspiration strikes. He famously lost one of his notebooks for Pan's Labyrinth in a London taxi, only for a driver to return it days later. For del Toro, these physical pages are not just sketchbooks. They are the initial blueprints where tone, monster design, and set geometry are forged together.

You do not need to be an illustrator to use this method. Working on paper slows down your planning process, forcing you to solve directorial problems before arriving on set or writing a script draft. By spending 45 minutes mapping out scene elements by hand, you turn vague visual ideas into concrete plans for your cast and crew.

Why this routine works

Clarifies camera blocking and character positioning before filming
Integrates visual mood, color tones, and audio cues into scene outlines
Prevents expensive storytelling mistakes during production
Builds a permanent archive of visual ideas and character designs

FAQ

What kind of notebook does Guillermo del Toro use?

Del Toro famously uses grid-lined or graph-paper notebooks, often custom leather-bound journals. The grid lines help him maintain proportions for sketches, hand lettering, and floor plan diagrams.

How long does Guillermo del Toro spend on his visual notebooks?

Del Toro spends months or even years filling notebooks before shooting a film. A single focused 45 minute planning session allows you to apply his method to one specific scene.

Do you need strong drawing skills to use Guillermo del Toro's notebook prep method?

No. Del Toro emphasizes clear concepts over finished artwork. Simple stick figures, floor plan arrows, and basic geometric shapes are enough to map out spatial blocking and camera angles.

Sources

Guillermo del Toro: Cabinet of Curiosities: My Notebooks, Collections, and Other Obsessions, Harper Design
How Guillermo del Toro Uses Notebooks to Build Film Worlds, Criterion Collection

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