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

1 1 ES S LR Pan N/A Abandoned building location establishing scene.

2 2 LS S N/A Dave Man walks left to right into building.

3 2 CU S N/A Dave Man looks cautiously behind shoulder.

Shot List

Production Title: Date:

Shot # Scene# Type of shot

Angle Movement Actors required

One line description

1 1 ES(Long shot)

H RL Pan RachelHarj

A couple walking together hand on hand to a bridge.

21

LS S N/A RachelHarj

Man on his knees proposing to women.

3 1 MS S N/A RachelHarj

Couple hg s they celebrate their engagement.

41 CU S N/A Rachel

HarjCouple embrace and kiss each other.

52 LS S N/A None Establishing shot of the best

friend’s house and a car pulling up.

62 MS L N/A Rachel

(Face not shown)

A woman is shown getting out of a parked car on the drive.

7 2 OTS MS N/A Rachel Women closes the door of her car

8 3 LS MS N/A RachelRené

Woman has flashback of her and her Bestfriend having a girly night in.

9 2 ECU HA N/A Rachel Woman locks her car door and we can see her engagement ring.

10 3 MS S N/A RachelRené

Woman has another flashback of her and her Bestfriend together.

11 2 MS S T Rachel Woman walks up to the house.

12 4 OTS S N/A Rachel Woman knocks the door.

134 LS

OTSS N/A Rachel

RenéMistress/ best friend opens the door.

144 LS S N/A Rachel

RenéMistress and engaged woman hug on the doorstep.

154 CU S N/A Rachel

René The Mistress is shown to be smiling whilst hugging her friend.

164 CU S N/A Rachel

RenéThe Mistress is still hugging her friend but we see her smile drop to a frown/scrawl.

175 LS S P Rachel

RenéThe two women are shown to be in the kitchen with hot drinks talking, the engaged woman is sitting down.

18 5 LS/ TS S N/A RachelRené

The Mistress/Bestfriend sits down and says, “so how did he propose?”

19 5 MS S N/A Rachel The engaged woman is shown

talking about how she was proposed to.

20 5 CU S F(Flashback)

René The Mistress/ Bestfriend puts on a fake smile but her eyes and facial features look concerned.

Shot # Scene# Type of shot

Angle Movement Actors required

One line description

21 6 LS L N/A RenéHarj

Flashback of engaged man in a park as he pushes the Mistress up a tree.

22 5 MS H N/A Rachel Cut back to engaged women explaining proposal in kitchen.

23 7 LS S N/AF (In editing)

RenéHarj

Flashback of engaged man and mistress sitting down having a picnic in the park.

24 7 TS/MS S N/A RenéHarj

We see the mistress and engaged man feeding each other and being romantic.

25 5 MS S N/A René Cuts back to kitchen scene we see The mistress with a worried face.

26 5 CU S N/A Rachel Shot reverse shot- The engaged woman is shown to be smiling.

27 5 CU S N/A René Shot reverse shot- The mistress is smiling.

28 8 CU S N/A RachelRené

The mistress leaves The kitchen as the home phone rings she says “I ought to get that”

29 8 MS S N/A Rachel Engaged women is drinking her tea.

30 8 MS S N/A Rachel Mobile phone alerts

31 8 CU S N/A Rachel Fiancée looks up from drinking her tea.

32 8 CU S N/A Rachel Mobile phone is shown to be flashing on the home screen.

33 8 WS S N/A Rachel Fiancée leans over to see the messages on the phone

34 8 OTS S N/A Rachel Pone notifications are shown over the fiancée’s shoulder.

35 8 CU S N/A Rachel We see the eyes and eyebrows of the fiancée.

36 8 OTS S N/A Rachel The engaged woman/ fiancée unlocks the phone.

37 8 CU S N/A Rachel The engaged woman looks through the mistresses’ phone.

38 8 CU S N/A Rachel Engaged woman cries a single tear.

39 8 WS S N/A Rachel Fiancée looks socked and upset at her findings.

40 9 WS S N/A RachelRené

As the engaged woman is still crying we see the Mistress approaching her.

41 9 WS S N/A René

RenéMistress grabs a knife from the kitchen bench.

42 9 CU (of knife)

S N/A RachelRené

A quick shot of the knife being used by the mistress to “kill” the Engaged women.

43 9 CU S N/A RachelRené

The phone drops to the floor.

44 9 MS S N/A RachelRené

Fiancée drops to the floor

45 9 WS S N/A RachelRené

Fiancée falls to the floor.

46 9 LS S N/A RachelRené

Mistress walks away.

47 10 CU S N/A Rachel Fiancée lies in a pool of her own blood.

48 10 CU S N/A Rachel Fiancée’s eyes suddenly open.49 10 Black Black N/A N/A The title “The Mistress’ comes

on screen.