How to Do an Appropriate Shot List for Film Class

 This is one of the requirements expected in most film classes to be completed, yet, is often neglected. In my film class, we are expected to do a shot list, so check out my Instructable on how to do a Shot List properly. It's easy marks and it's easily done.

 To start with, here is what the typical sheet looks like. It is pretty basic, I mean if you can read -which since you are looking at this Instructable you obviously can-  then you can do this sheet. So taking a look at the sheet, you will see on the top left corner the word "STUDIO", put the name of your Studio here. If your name is so-called Banana Productions for example, then put Banana Productions there.

Next, you put the scene number underneath the "SCENE # " column. This is easier done if you already have a storyboard created but regardless, you should still be able to do this. A scene is an event or action taken place at a certain place or time, if this changes, the scene number should also.

Next, under the "SHOT # " you put the number the shot is. So what is a Shot? A Shot is basically the angle or position of your camera, when this changes, so does the shot. For example, shot 1.1, 1.2...2.3, 2.4 etc.

"SHOT SIZE" is asking you to describe the shot. This varies but all you are doing is declaring what the distance will be and what will be within the camera frame. This may not make complete sense yet, so I have included some examples. These shots will vary according to your film and scene on whether it will be a long shot, medium, close-up etc.

 The Duration is how long your shot will be. This is mostly a good estimate and does NOT have to be exact. It is meant just to show in general how long the shot may be. Is Shot 1.1 going to be about fifteen seconds? Shot 1.5 maybe only seven?

Here, state where you are shooting the shot or scene. Try to be as specific as possible. It may even help to state whether or not it is indoors by putting int. or ext. which means interior or exterior in short form. An example, int. corner of the classroom.

 Describe the shot with a minimum of a couple words what is happening or going to happen in the shot. For example, "Alex is bored and throws the book away".

This is done over time and only when you actually do the shots. It's to keep track of which shots have been done and those you still have to do. For here, you can do whatever you want to signify completion, such as your initials or a check mark. And that's it, that is how you do a shot list for film class. So take advantage of this and get those easy marks that most people don't bother to take the time to get.