Creating a shot list

A shot list is a list of all the shots in your film. As you are filming, you can mark each
shot off so you don't miss anything.
By creating a shot list, your entire production runs more efficiently because
everything gets shot based on the location and setup, as opposed to the order
scenes appear in the script. A shot list is similar to a storyboard because it identifies
what's being shot. A shot list can be easily distributed to cast and crew and gets the
director, cinematographer and the rest of the crew on the same page, especially
when shooting the scenes that haven't been storyboarded.
1) Read the script and take notes on how you envision shots. Write down the shot
number next to each separate shot you envision. You'll have more shots than scenes
when you're finished.
2) Create a spreadsheet/table on your computer. Create separate columns for the
shot number, scene number, shot type, angle, movement actors and shot
description. Use abbreviations and include a key.
6) Envision the scene being performed and write a description based on this. Be
accurate and precise in describing how you visualize the action. For example, man
walks into scene left to right.
Example
Shot
#

Scene#

Type of
shot

Angle

Movement

Actors
required

One line description

ES

LR Pan

N/A

Abandoned building location

LS

N/A

Dave

Man walks left to right into

CU

N/A

Dave

Man looks cautiously behind

Shot List
Production Title:

Date:

Shot
#

Scene#

Type of
shot

Angle

Movem
ent

Actors
required

One line description

Long
shot

Straight
on

none

Band
member
s

Band setting up their

Long
shot

Straight
on

none

Boy

Boy sitting on a bench

close up

High
angle

none

Lead
singer

Lead singer singing the

Long
shot

Low
angle

pan

Guitarist

Guitarist playing

POV

Straight
on

Hand
held

Girl

Boy is looking at the girl walk

Close up

High
angle

none

Drumme
r

Hitting the drums

Close up

Straight
on

none

Lead
singer

Lead singer singing the

Close up

Straight
on

none

Boy

Head in hands

Close up

Low
angle

none

Guitarist

Guitarist playing guitar

10

Long
shot

Straight
on

none

Band
member
s

Band doing a shot

11

Mid shot

High
angle

none

girl

Girl listening to music

12

Close up

Straight
on

none

girl

Watching tv

13

Close

Low

pan

Drumm

Playing the drums

up

angle

er

14

Close up

Straight
on

none

Lead
singer

Singing

15

Close up

Straight
on

none

guitarist

Foot tapping

16

Close
up

Straight
on

none

Lead
singer

Holding microphone

17

Close
up

High
angle

none

guitarist

Playing guitar

18

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

guitarist

Playing guitar

19

Mid
shot

Straight
on

handh
eld

Lead
singer

Drinking alcohol

20

Long
shot

Low
angle

pan

band

Shot of band playing

21

Over the
shoulder

Low
angle

none

band

Band playing

22

Mid shot

High
angle

none

Girl

Making a cup of tea

23

Close up

Straight
on

none

girl

Tea is brewing

24

Mid shot

High
angle

none

girl

Phone is ringing

25

Close up

Straight
on

none

Girl

Phone is ringing with his

26

Mid shot

Straight
on

none

Lead
singer

Bedroom on the phone

27

Mid shot

Straight
on

none

band

Band singing in the car

28

Long
shot

Straight
on

none

band

Driving away

29

Close up

High
angle

pan

girl

Phone saying take me out

30

Close up

Straight

none

girl

Showing her facial

on

expression

31

Mid shot

Straight
on

none

boy

Boy on his own waiting for

32

Close up

High
angle

none

boy

Showing the watch going

33

10

Close up

Straight
on

none

guitarist

Foot tapping to the beat

34

10

Long
shot

Straight
on

pan

band

Band playing

35

10

Close up

Low
angle

none

Drumme
r

Breathing smoke

36

10

Mid shot

High
angle

none

guitarist

Playing guitar

37

10

Mid shot

Straight
on

handhe
ld

drummer

Playing drums

38

10

Close up

Straight
on

none

Lead
singer

Singing to mic

39

Mid shot

Straight
on

none

girl

Walking in park

40

Close up

Straight
on

None

girl

Turning round

41

Close up

High
angle

none

boy

Singing with headphones on

42

Close up

Straight
on

Track

girl

Running to park

43

Long
shot

Straight
on

handhe
ld

girl

Watching her running into

44

Long
shot

Straight
on

Track

girl

Running to park

45

Mid shot

Straight
on

none

Girl

Singing to lyrics

46

10

Close up

Straight
on

none

band

Band playing instruments

47

10

Close
up

Straight
on

none

band

Band playing instruments

48

10

Close

Straight

none

band

Band playing instruments

up

on

49

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

Girl

Sitting on bench

50

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

boy

Boy sits alongside her

51

Close
up

Straight
on

none

Boy and
girl

Boy looking at girl singing

52

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

Boy and
girl

Boy looking at girl singing

53

10

Close
up

Straight
on

none

Band
member
s

Playing instruments and

54

10

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

55

10

Close
up

Straight
on

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

56

10

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

57

11

Close
up

Straight
on

None

girl

Unlocking house

58

10

Mid
shot

High
angle

tilt

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

59

10

Close
up

Straight
on

Pan

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

60

10

Close
up

Low
angle

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

61

10

Mid
shot

High
angle

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

62

10

Close
up

Straight
on

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

63

11

Close
up

Straight
on

none

boy

Looking at watch

64

10

POV
shot

Straight
on

none

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

65

10

Close
up

Straight
on

tilt

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

66

10

Mid
shot

High
angle

pan

Band
membe
rs

Playing instruments and

67

11

Long
shot

Straight
on

none

girl

Phone call

68

11

Mid
shot

High
angle

none

girl

Phone calling

69

11

Close
up

High
angle

none

girl

Phone call hang up

70

11

Long
shot

Low
angle

none

girl

Phone call blocking

71

11

Mid
shot

High
angle

none

girl

Phone call

72

12

Close
up

Straight
on

none

boy

Packing suitcase

73

12

Long
shot

High
angle

tilt

boy

Packing suitcase walking

74

12

Mid
shot

Straight
on

pan

boy

Packing suitcase looking

75

12

Mid
shot

High
angle

none

boy

Packing suitcase

76

12

Close
up

High
angle

none

boy

Packing suitcase in the

77

11

Close up

Straight
on

none

girl

Facial expression

78

12

Close
up

Low
angle

none

boy

London signpost driving

79

11

Mid shot

Straight
on

none

girl

Her eating

80

11

Mid
shot

Straight
on

none

81

12

Close up

Straight
on

none

girl

Her eating
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