How To Make A Shot List For Film

Knowing how to create a shot list for film is an important step to the pre-production process. So I'll show you the ropes using my google sheets shot list template, which you can get access to by supporting me on Patreon.
➜ Get my Shot List Template on Patreon: / fiy
➜ Get Free Filmmaking Checklists through my newsletter: mailchi.mp/e071707aca31/fiy
➜ Get my Filmmaking Templates on Patreon: / fiy
➜ All of my Filmmaking equipment: www.amazon.com/shop/laughstashtv
➜ Learn how to shoot video: linkedin-learning.pxf.io/OX9Jr
➜ Learn how to be a successful KZbinr: linkedin-learning.pxf.io/BbBN4
➜ Rent gear like a pro on BorrowLenses: shrsl.com/29h7t
➜ Get $10 off of Subtitles and Captions for your videos: www.rev.com/blog/coupon/?ref=...
➜ Follow me on Twitter: / _filmityourself
➜ Follow me on Instagram: / film_it_yourself
➜ My Website: www.gofilmityourself.com
A shot list is a list of all the shots that makeup your film, and can be a super helpful tool when it comes time to storyboard and schedule your shoot. It’s basically your first shot, no pun intended, at making creative decisions about your film. So let’s go over how you choose and arrange your shots, in order to build a shot list.
The first step in building a film shot list, is to organize your shots by scene, in chronological order. So all the shots for scene 1, then all the shots for scene 2 and so on.
The next step in how to build a shot list, is you want to put the shot name. This is usually made up of a combination of the scene number and a chronological letter from the alphabet.
Pro tip, when naming a shot always make sure you skip letters like i, o, and z, because they tend to look like numbers when written on a slate. And if you run out of letters, just start doubling them up so for example 1AA, 1AB, and so on.
Then you want to make sure you arrange your shots into shooting order, and this is usually done by grouping shots by camera setups. A camera setup is any time the lights and or camera are moved to accommodate a shot.
So for example, if you need to shoot a medium shot and a close up shot of a character… it makes sense to shoot these shots back to back since the camera angle and lighting most likely won’t change. This helps you be more time efficient on set and spend less time moving cameras and lights.
Shooting orders can vary depending on what’s being shot, but typically most filmmakers start with the wider shots and work their way into the tighter shots, leaving closeups and insert shots last.
Pro tip, I also recommend knocking out more difficult shots earlier in the day, as sometimes these can take more time to shoot. Plus, by getting the harder shots out of the way first, it’s more likely to boost your cast and crew’s moral as the shoot day will just get easier and easier.
Also if you happen to be shooting with more than one camera, make sure you list which camera will be shooting the shot. Cameras are usually labeled using the alphabet in chronological order, so you’d have an A cam, B cam, C cam and so on.
Next make sure you note if each shot requires a particular camera move, such a dolly, tilt, or pan.
You’ll also want to note if each shot is an exterior or interior shot, as well as if the shot requires audio and what type of audio you plan to capture. Shots that don’t require audio are labeled as MOS.
And I like to also not any specific props that are required for the shot, just to make sure I don’t forget them. Finally, is a notes field where you can place any notes that might be handy during the time of shooting.
Now that you know how to shot list, you’ll be sure to cover your scene like a pro. Also, don't forget you can get my shot list template for film by supporting me on Patreon with the link above.
*This video contains affiliate links which give me a small commission once clicked on.
#FilmItYourself #Shotlist #Filmmaking

[@brycepoole7697]

Love the tip about knocking out the harder shots first. It's always a great feeling to know that the hardest part of the day is already behind you.

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Totally! I always dread the end of a shoot if it's something hard!

[@derrickduplessy215]

This deserve 1M views! Just what I was looking for. Thank you. Definitely supporting you on Patreon. :)

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Aww shucks! Thank you so much!

[@otmanalami6621]

Just nicely explained, I'm working on creating my own shot list software and this helps me a lot thank youu^^

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No prob! Glad it helped!

[@williamdegeest]

Well done, as always!

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Thank you! :)

[@AudreyEmber]

Wow this was really helpful 😁 made a shot list today but it’s a mess, so this is literally perfect timing haha

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Oh wow! Awesome! Happy to help. :)

[@rustysquid]

Excellent timing. I got the yellow light for my project last week and truly started earlier this week. This and your other videos are a tremendous help. Thank you Ash.

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Oh awesome! Congrats on your project and so happy to help. 😊

[@thepplproductions2670]

Thank you for this! 🙏🏾

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No prob! Thanks for watching!

[@benjaminfraser5952]

Thank you so much this helped sooo much

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@patbollin]

Another great video. I'm super surprised to see a watch count of nearly 4K on this video yet only 1K of subscribers. Your videos are worth a subscribe click, so I hope that grows for you.

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Thank you so much! It’s been growing faster and faster so hopefully soon it will be more. 😊

[@kurtdyer]

Loved it! Immediate subscribin!

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Awesome! Thanks for subscribing and watching. 😊

[@visheshjoshiplace499]

Thank u so much mam, it was really helpful. Lots of Love 💖 thank u . 👍🎂

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No prob and thank you for watching!

[@akasshupadhyay3429]

Thankyou for the info. 🙏❤️ Love from india

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No problem! Happy to help!

[@cinegasm8687]

this helped, thanks a lot

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@FLAMENCO961]

Very good vídeo, thanks a lot

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No prob! Thanks for watching!

[@chibichocolate]

thank you !

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No prob! Thanks for watching!

[@pragmaticapproachenglish6875]

amazing! it helped me get better plz make full series of prep step by step like how to format the script then shot list then schedule to breakdown to master break down n all plz also teach software to format the script ..that will be great help.

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Hey there! Great idea! I do have some videos covering some of this, such as this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5nGeaudp9Wng7s and this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIbIi3V6p5l4iLM I also have this video about script formatting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rna0Yaqoo6eGna8 hope that helps!

[@sidneybrown8945]

Great video! Engaging, funny and witty. =]

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Thank you! 😊

[@TrendyHarsh]

thanks

[@Film_It_Yourself]

No prob!

[@artfilmsooahn]

Love this. helpful. concise. desciprtive. Useful af. thank you and MOS "mit-out sound". german mit is With .... out ... mitout / without

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Oh wow! How interesting! Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@rcpfilmstudios9510]

Nice job

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Thank you!

[@j.oakley9588]

Under camera angle you list shot sizes. Angles are low, high, neutral, Dutch, etc.

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Hey there! True but on my shot list template it’s also where you’d put that info so that’s why I labeled it as such.

[@dallasdandigitalproduction393]

Um, substenance *air sip* :D

[@disisfunny88]

How can i combine several CU & WS shots in the same time in one scene with continuity and syncing

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Hi there! Do you mean while editing or while shooting?

[@disisfunny88]

@@Film_It_Yourself ... while shooting on set

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Hey there! Thanks for the clarification. Check out my video on multicam shooting to see how to do this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amaxp2VtgqaSbKs

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Also I think when it comes to synching what you’re looking for is a slate so I recommend watching this video too: How To Properly Slate For Film kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3rEi2ZjedN-itU

[@manikishorepadmanabhuni6735]

Hi Yash. I am looking for story borading software & tips to make your story boarding easy. If there are any standard templates, I need your help & am ok to support for a coffee 😀

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Hi there! Sorry for the delay in responding. I’d recommend using the Shot Lister app or software and importing your storyboards into it. I have a storyboard template available for $5 a month Patreon supporters here: www.patreon.com/FIY. However, this would all require you to still hand draw your storyboards. But I have a helpful video here on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWerXoKMpKupY5I

[@zensational9111]

Was there really coffee ☕️ in that cup 🤔

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Haha shhhh 🤫 ☕️

[@zensational9111]

It’s ok it’s our secret lol. Your videos are so so helpful keep doing what you do! 😊

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Aww why thank you and thank you for watching! 😊

[@DrRCB]

Great. I am a software developer working on a AI based storyboard creator. Learning ABC of film making

[@Film_It_Yourself]

Oh that sounds awesome!