How to Make a Shot List for a Film: The Complete Guide

A shot list is the most important pre-production document you will bring to set. Building one manually for a feature film takes a few days to a week. This guide covers what a shot list needs to contain, how to build one from scratch, the most common mistakes directors make, and how ShotKraft's AI analyses your screenplay and generates a shot-list draft that is 80-90% ready, leaving you with plenty of pre-production time to spend on the finer details.

What is a Shot List?

A shot list is a list of shots (or set-ups) that you need to capture on set. Each shot row represents one camera setup, which is one position of the camera capturing one piece of the scene. If you change the lens for a titer shot, that is a new shot line on your list. For example, a three-page dialogue scene between two characters may be covered in eight or ten shots: an establishing wide, two singles, an over-the-shoulder shot-reverse-shot pattern for the main exchange, a close-up on a key prop, and a cutaway for pacing. The shot list captures every one of those setups in an organized document that your entire crew can reference.

Shot lists are different from storyboards. A storyboard shows what the camera will see through drawn panels. A shot list describes each setup in structured text fields. Most productions use both. The shot list comes first. Shot lists are also different from call sheets. A call sheet tells your crew when and where to arrive. A shot list tells them what the camera will do when they get there.

Streamline your shotlist: ShotKraft builds your shot list from your screenplay in minutes

What Every Shot List Needs to Include?

A complete shot list contains the following fields for every setup. These are the fields your crew will use throughout the shoot day.

Shot number. Every setup gets a unique sequential number. This is the reference point for your first AD, your DP, and your camera team all day.

Scene number. Maps the shot back to the corresponding scene in your screenplay. One scene typically contains multiple shots with different shot numbers but the same scene number.

Scene description. A summary of the scene and what happens in it. Gives crew the context for each shot's place in the story.

Shot type. The type of shot: wide shot, close-up, medium shot, over-the-shoulder, point of view, two-shot, and so on.

Subject. Who or what the shot is focused on.

Camera angle. Eye level, high angle, low angle, Dutch angle, bird's eye, and other variations. This is a creative decision the director and DP make together.

Camera movement. Static, pan, tilt, dolly, handheld, steadicam, and other movement types. This is a creative decision the director and DP make together.

Notes. Anything unusual about the setup, specific instructions for your crew, or reminders about blocking, timing, or equipment.

How to Make a Shot List Step by Step

The manual process has five stages. Working through them in order produces a more organized document than jumping between scenes.

The first stage is reading your screenplay with production in mind. You are not reading for a story this time. You are looking for every action that needs to be captured, every piece of information the audience needs to see, and every emotional beat that requires a specific camera decision to land. Many directors do this with a printed script and a highlighter, marking the key moments before writing any shot descriptions.

The second stage is breaking each scene into setups. For each scene, decide how many shots you need. A two-person conversation will be well covered by an establishing wide, two singles, and two over the shoulders, giving enough coverage options for the editor. A more complex scene with multiple characters or physical action may need significantly more.

The third stage is writing down the details for each shot. Enter the scene number, scene description, shot type, and subject. Then add your camera angle and movement choices.

The fourth stage is reviewing with your DP. Your DP will flag logistically difficult setups, suggest lens choices, and identify coverage gaps. The shot list that goes to set should reflect both perspectives.

The fifth stage is sharing. Your first AD needs it to build the schedule. Your production designer needs it to understand what the camera will see. Distribute your shotlist as early as you can, so those other departments can start planning before the first shooting day.

For a feature film, this full manual process takes a few days to a week. For a short film, a day or more, depending on the complexity of the coverage.

Shotlisting streamlined: How ShotKraft Builds Your Shot List from the Screenplay

ShotKraft is browser-based AI shot list software developed by a team of cinematographers, directors, and data scientists. Upload your screenplay, and the AI will break it down into scenes and will generate three fields for every shot: shot type, subject, and scene description. The shots appear pre-populated in your ShotKraft editor when the AI finishes processing your screenplay.

You then open the editor and work through the list scene by scene. You add the camera angle and movement choices that are your directorial decisions. You write notes for complex setups. You adjust anything the AI generated that does not match your creative vision. When the list reflects your intentions, you share it with your crew directly through a sharable link or export it as a PDF or CSV. Your screenplay is never used to train the AI model.

Try ShotKraft free: No download required. Start your shot list from your screenplay now.

Common Mistakes When Making a Shot List

Planning ambitious camera moves before covering the basics. First-time directors often fill their list with elaborate setups and forget the simple close-ups on actors' faces during emotional exchanges. Plan essential coverage first.

Not reviewing with your DP before the shoot. A shot list built in vaccume may contain lens and camera choices that do not serve the scene and coverage gaps that create problems in the edit. The director-DP conversation is where these get resolved.

Not updating the list when the script changes. Shot lists built from an old draft become a liability on set. Treat your list as a living document and update it whenever the production changes.

Starting to work on the shotlist the day before your shoot. Shot lists take time and are best created in collaboration. Not giving yourself enough time to make intentional choices and to get on the same page with your crew is perhaps the biggest mistake. Don't procrastinate, start that conversation as early as you can

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a shot list?

Manually, a shot list for a feature film takes a few days to a week. For a short film, it typically takes a day or more, depending on the length and coverage complexity. With ShotKraft, the AI generates the scene analysis foundation in minutes. You add camera direction and the document is ready to share.

What does ShotKraft generate automatically?

ShotKraft breaks down the script into scenes, and generates three basic fields: shot type, subject, and scene description. You can edit them manually after. Camera angle, camera movement, and lens are fields you can fill in during personalization, giving you complere creative controll as the director and DP.

Is ShotKraft free?

ShotKraft has a free plan covering up to 10 scenes across 2 projects. No credit card required. The Pro plan covers up to 3 scripts per month with unlimited scenes for active productions.

Who creates the shot list?

The director creates the initial list, usually in collaboration with the DP. ShotKraft supports both workflows and allows real-time collaboration between the director and DP on the same document.