Shot List Program

A shot list template is simply a blank shot list. Typically, this is a spreadsheet-style document with rows and columns that you would then fill in with your shots and specs.

Your shot list should be structured in the most cost-efficient way. Accounting for variables like location/cast availability, equipment setup, weather, etc., the shot list should minimize time unnecessary time wastes wherever possible.

There are two main reasons why you should make a shot list, one creative and one practical. The shot list gives creators the opportunity to brainstorm their shots before getting to set. It also gives the production team a firm idea of what each shot requires on set so that an accurate shooting schedule can be made. 

You can certainly make a shot list by hand but with today's technology, an online shot list software like StudioBinder makes the process a whole lot easier. Import your script and each scene gets its own shot list automatically. Add shot specs, drag-and-drop your arrangement, export custom PDFs, and doing everything you need to more professionally and in a fraction of the time.

The most basic, textbook shot sequence for a scene is as follows:

1. A master shot
2. Medium shots of each character
3. Close-ups of each character

No, almost every shot list and shooting schedule does not follow chronological order. This is because scenes are shot based on the most cost-efficient schedule, which bundles shots and scenes together regardless of when they occur in the script.