The Preproduction Process, Part 2: Director and Cinematographer Duties, Shot List

This video shows the basics of preproduction on behalf of the Director and Director of Photography, shot listing, lining the script, slate marking, and shot logging.

[@nishantuniyal1730]

Brilliant.. Info that a film school will sell in thousands of dollars but nicely and effectively shared.. Made life easier. Can you post a video to demonstrate the techniques for the Passage of time in cinema.. not the obvious time laps and all but techniques like panning on subject before every scene, audio techniques (transition to audio first and then video) etc. I hope you understood what I am trying to say. Thanks.

[@Thefilmpsycho]

Just the tutorial I was looking for. Awesome, thanks.

[@cath0dictube]

this has been immensely helpful and thorough, thank you for your generosity and skill!

[@TheSunshinefee]

Thank you. I am a writer and it's helpful to know how the producton process is going .

[@ThePopovLink]

Very helpful video! I always look forward to your explanations. I have learned a lot from you. Thanks!

[@larryseibert4102]

Thank you. Both parts 1 and 2 were very well delivered and informative.

[@karaeustra1592]

Wow, great indepth tutorial. Inspiring! Thanks!

[@creekersinamurica7468]

Wonderful job explaining. Thank You

[@crescentmoon6029]

Really helpful, practical information. Thank you.

[@CGFDurban]

Fantastic tutorial. Thanks very much.

[@AmberMacPherson]

This is really helpful, thank you.

[@arshadbiju3515]

Thank you for this!!

[@tomasz-tm]

great video!

[@KaceyBakerFilms]

Amazing, thank you.

[@PrettyLady7282]

Ps: Any Drawing tools: click + holding "shift" down + moving a mouse = straight line. click 1st point and then hold shift down click 2nd point = connecting 2 points with a line. have fun. thanks for the shot list tutorial Sir.

[@yanniesky8238]

amazing explanation

[@AlvinPradanaSusanto]

you can hold shift to make a straight line on the PS.

[@chinfat]

+Alvin Pradana Susanto Awesome. Good to know. I am PS ignorant.

[@zumfilmsec]

great tutorial! thanks

[@redinbernado8081]

Thank you for this valuable video. Your very gifted with the talent of teaching . very great full . and nw i feel like im an experienced AD...ahahhha

[@RespecttheScreenplay]

Thank You💗

[@wezeli]

Very good videos

[@ahmadamri4247]

Thanks a lot sir...

[@edbrotherton36]

Question: In the first video you talked about numbering the scenes and when there are revisions it will be designated with a letter. For example scene 2 with a revision would be scene 2A. When the day comes to shoot scene 2 and you get to the second setup, will it be written on the slate as 2AA?

[@James_Bowie]

The way that the action is formatted in that scene makes it very easy to mark the shots (line script). However, most screenplays are not formatted that way by the writer. Are you suggesting that screenwriters break action into shotlist friendly paragraphs?

[@filmmakerslife5381]

We can use something like shot designer that's a really helpful software

[@mjanoop]

great

[@SK-qy2ik]

GOOD SIR

[@GuiCoelho21]

Thanks for this video! I love this pre-production part. One thing I always wondered is how to use the slate during filming. Because I shot a short movie using a DSLR and was hard to focus on the slate close to the camera and then on the subject, since it made we lose time refocusing. Or, sometimes the problem was in framing the slate for close-ups or using telephoto lens. Can you give me a hint on that matter? I know there must be an easy way....

[@chinfat]

With a DSLR that does not use a GEARED Cinema lens, it is tough to focus on the slate and then back to the subject. With a beard cinema lens, you will have you subject marked on the follow focus. When the slate is place in front of the camera, the AC will focus on the slate and quickly return the focus to the marked point on the follow focus. Sometimes with a DSLR, you have to adapt a bit and take the slate a little further away until it's "in focus enough" so you don't have to take the subject out of focus.

[@GuiCoelho21]

Yes.. I didn't have the follow focus.. I'm glad its a matter of gear, and not stupidity.. haha Thanks a lot! May I ask another question? What do you think about using an iPad APP for the Slate? I found it very useful, since you can do other things with it, like logging. I'm a fan of using less paper... Thanks again! Best Regards

[@chinfat]

I've done that a few times and it works great. That's seriously a great way to go. Some of those apps actually make a shot log for you after the shoot is done. Quite handy.

[@allenlivette]

What if a scene is added between SC4 and SC5 (SC 4a)....how would you notate it on the slate with set ups A, B,C?

[@t3chnicolor]

Normally slated A4, in that case. Then A4A, A4B, A4C, etc.

[@vickc4422]

What is the difference between A shot list and storyboarding? Can this replace storyboarding??

[@BadtripMedia]

Hey, whats the use of using Alpha, Beta, etc. instead of saying Scene 4, shot 1, take 2?

[@chinfat]

If you are shooting scene 4, then the very first shot will be named "Shot 4, Take 1", then "Shot 4, Take 2", then "Shot 4, Take 3" and so on until you get it right. The next shots (still taking place within scene 4) need a unique name, therefore numbering each individual shot. So you move on to shoot "Shot 4A, Take 1". The AC says " "Shot 4Alpha, Take 1" to make it clear when listening to the audio later and making no mistake that the shot on audio is called 4A. The next shot within scene 4 will be called "Shot 4B, Take 1" and so on.

[@AdaptedStudios]

With all the different camera angles and POV shots that you cover, do you have to get the actor do perform the entire scene again?

[@chinfat]

Perhaps on a shorter scene, the actor could act the whole scene out in its entirety several times. As you get into a larger scene, anywhere around a page or longer, you'll want to plan for the shots you will need and be as efficient as possible. A master will cover the entire scene, but then you'll get the medium shots, close ups, and inserts only where you'll be cutting to them.

[@AdaptedStudios]

chinfat So for example a scene that lasts for a page: if we were to stop the scene at the middle of the page and resume from a different angle, what would the process be?

[@chinfat]

@@AdaptedStudios Perhaps the scene becomes more intimate or personal in the middle. You would likely do a master shot for the entire scene. Then start back at the beginning with a medium, which would stop in the middle of the scene. Then shoot a close up for the rest of the scene. If you know that you are going to cut to a close-up in the middle of the scene, no use shooting the entire scene as a medium shot as well.

[@AdaptedStudios]

chinfat that makes perfect sense thanks you!

[@AdaptedStudios]

chinfat generally how long does it take to film a single page of dialogue (if it all happens in the same room)? I’m doing my first shoot this week and would like a general idea before heading in!