Filmmaking is a series of choices. For the screenwriter, it’s deciding what moments and scenes to include to tell the story. For directors, it’s choosing how to capture those moments with the type of framing, movement and composition that make up the individual shots. This takes planning and collaboration in the form of an advanced shot list.
Is it possible to wing it when you're on set? Certainly, but as anyone who has worked in a kitchen knows, baking without a recipe (without planning and measuring ingredients) will lead to inconsistent results, high food costs and a loss of profit. Don’t give your producer indigestion. Using our free shot list template, we've made it easy to prepare and distribute a customizable shot list to crew members through Assemble.
Start now by clicking on Use Template or follow along with this article as we walk you through all the relevant information found on the shot list template.
The idea behind a shot list is clarity. A simple shot list template is a checklist created by the director and the cinematographer during the pre-production process. It gives the specific details for the shoot day including every shot, including camera movement, shot size, and type of shot.
Some benefits to utilizing Assemble’s shot list template and software include:
Since schedules and budgets are highly dependent on what is happening in the shot lists, it's vital to share them as soon as possible with the crew, especially those making the schedules.
Assemble’s shot list template allows the assistant director to take the director’s shot list and digitally distribute it quickly and accurately to the production team or crew.
No matter where you are or what device you have at your disposal, Assemble has you covered. In the middle of a company move, in a distant location, or far from the production office? No problem. The shot list information can be accessed without requiring registration or logging in, saving time and stress.
Changes are inevitable. And while you may be able to find a free download of a template online, it will need to be updated and re-uploaded every time changes happen. Our shot list template adapts in real-time, allowing the cast and crew to know what shots have been completed, staying up-to-date on the day’s work. Shots can also be re-organized quickly throughout the day to update plans based on schedule changes. Make sure to check out our call sheet template as well to keep your film crew connected.
Films are rarely shot sequentially, as it would be unproductive. For example, when there are several scenes in a kitchen in a script, it makes sense to shoot all of them at once from a budgetary and logistical perspective. In addition, a shot list helps determine the most effective shooting schedule. It can keep track of important details, like if special equipment is required for cinematography, such as a crane or a Steadicam.
The most important part of creating a shot list is for the director to be able to visually and effectively communicate to the crew the details of the work day. Being able to translate the director’s vision for the scene into an easily adaptable shot sheet template should happen in pre-production so that the schedule can be made and the daily call sheets created.
If you're looking for a way to track your crew on set, check out our film crew list template as well.
Every director may have a slightly different format, which is why our shot list creator is fully customizable. However, we give you a professional baseline to start from.
Here is what is included in our shot list template:
In addition, Assemble provides you with advanced tools to help you create, collaborate and share your shot list.
Assemble’s shot list template will work for a range of project types. Although most projects will have similar needs, we’ve compiled a variety of shot list examples and tips on how you may want to customize our template to suit its unique needs.
Our example shot list creator above covers what you would find in a standard shot list for film, however depending on the genre, your film shot list template might include additional information such as slots for VFX or CGI. You might include a column for specialized props in your film shot list, for example, if it is a period piece or sci-fi.
As with film shot lists, video shot list templates can be simplified by removing unneeded columns or adding columns depending on the complexity of the project. If you use two cameras, you can add shot lists for each camera, highlighting multiple angles for each camera.
There will probably be more spontaneity with a music video shot list template, especially if you are recording a live performance. However, you should have a game plan in place beforehand so that the crew knows what equipment is needed and what shots are essential.
Typically, the director will create a high level shot list for performance close-ups and master shots. The camera shot list template directs a cinematographer to focus on important shots to capture while giving the director the freedom to go off-script. A music video shot list template could also include b-roll shots that will be necessary for the visual concept.
You may or may not be working from a script, but every photoshoot tells a story, whether it's about people, places, or products. Your photoshoot shot list template should be a simple checklist of every photo the client wants to capture on the day of a shoot. The photo shot list template usually contains a list of specific shots and important details such as camera angles and lighting set-ups.
A documentary shot list depends on the type of documentary you are shooting. Usually, documentary filmmakers create shot lists from a general outline. They are more like blueprints with specific details laid out depending on the subject. For example, if you are shooting a sit-down interview, the director may be very detailed with the shots, angles, movement, and lighting. However, with a crowd scene, they may leave room for more spontaneity. Often, shot lists are used to grab b-roll for a documentary, such as location shots or anything that will be needed to tell the story.
A storyboard shot list template shows your shot list in visual form, with each frame of the storyboard next to the corresponding shot. A shot list storyboard is a visual guide that helps everyone plan in a more general way what they need to accomplish. For example, storyboards are very useful for designing action sequences and VFX.
In addition to helping the director prepare the shot list, a storyboard shot list template can also guide the producer and production team during the pre-production budgeting and scheduling process.
While sometimes confused, a shot list and a shot log are different documents. Our shot list template is a checklist for the director and cinematographer to plan the shots. Shot logs (or camera reports) are detailed notes that include metadata to help the editor assemble the shots in post-production. To create a shot log, check out our camera report template.
Get started today with our fully customizable shot list template. Follow these steps to open, customize and distribute the shot list to your production crew.
Open this template by clicking Use Template. The template will be created within a new blank project in Assemble.
Click anywhere within the text to begin adding to or editing the template.
Click Share and select Share Document to easily distribute the document to your entire team with one click. You can even track who has viewed the document.
Once you've updated it based on your needs, click the menu in the top right and select Save as Template to save it into your your personal template library.
Assemble enables producers to create a centralized hub to manage their entire project from start to finish - including documents, calendars, task management and asset management.
By using this shot list template, you'll get access to all of Assemble's powerful features so that you can not only utilize this document, but keep production moving quickly and efficiently with our advanced collaboration tools built for producers.
Get started today for free by clicking Use Template to begin exploring all of Assemble's powerful features.