A shot list is a list of all the shots in a film that is created during pre-production to help plan filming in an efficient manner. It includes details for each shot such as the scene, shot type, camera angle, actor movements, and a brief description. Creating a shot list involves envisioning shots from the script, organizing details in a spreadsheet, and precisely describing each shot to ensure all necessary shots are captured during filming.

1. 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.

2. 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 Rachel
Harj
A couple walking together hand
on hand to a bridge.
2
1
LS S N/A Rachel
Harj
Man on his knees proposing to
women.
3 1 MS S N/A Rachel
Harj
Couple hg s they celebrate their
engagement.
4
1 CU S N/A Rachel
Harj
Couple embrace and kiss each
other.
5
2 LS S N/A None Establishing shot of the best
friend’s house and a car pulling
up.
6
2 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 Rachel
René
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 Rachel
René
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.
13
4 LS
OTS
S N/A Rachel
René
Mistress/ best friend opens the
door.
14
4 LS S N/A Rachel
René
Mistress and engaged woman
hug on the doorstep.
15
4 CU S N/A Rachel
René The Mistress is shown to be
smiling whilst hugging her friend.
16
4 CU S N/A Rachel
René
The Mistress is still hugging her
friend but we see her smile drop
to a frown/scrawl.
17
5 LS S P Rachel
René
The 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 Rachel
René
The Mistress/Bestfriend sits
down and says, “so how did he
propose?”
19 5 MS S N/A Rachel The engaged woman is shown

3. 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 René
Harj
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/A
F
(In editing)
René
Harj
Flashback of engaged man and
mistress sitting down having a
picnic in the park.
24 7 TS/MS S N/A René
Harj
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 Rachel
René
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 Rachel
René
As the engaged woman is still
crying we see the Mistress
approaching her.
41 9 WS S N/A René

4. René
Mistress grabs a knife from the
kitchen bench.
42 9 CU (of
knife)
S N/A Rachel
René
A quick shot of the knife being
used by the mistress to “kill” the
Engaged women.
43 9 CU S N/A Rachel
René
The phone drops to the floor.
44 9 MS S N/A Rachel
René
Fiancée drops to the floor
45 9 WS S N/A Rachel
René
Fiancée falls to the floor.
46 9 LS S N/A Rachel
René
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.