Free template
Free Shot List Template
A shot list is every camera setup you plan to shoot, scene by scene, with its size, angle, movement and lens. Fill in this free shot list template on the page, start it from your own script, then download it as a spreadsheet or print it landscape in US Letter or A4.
Written and reviewed by ScriptLix Editorial
3 shots
How to use it
- 1
Start blank, or tap Start from my script to get one row per scene with the heading and cast.
- 2
Add a row per shot: size, angle, movement, lens, a line of description and a time estimate.
- 3
Download the CSV for Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers, or print it as a PDF for the set.
What do the shot size abbreviations mean?
| Abbreviation | Shot | What it frames |
|---|---|---|
| EWS | Extreme wide shot | The whole place; people are small or absent |
| WS | Wide shot | Full bodies with plenty of space around them |
| FS | Full shot | One person head to toe, filling the frame |
| MS | Medium shot | Roughly waist up |
| MCU | Medium close up | Chest or shoulders up |
| CU | Close up | The face |
| ECU | Extreme close up | A detail: eyes, a hand, a key in a lock |
| OTS | Over the shoulder | One person seen past another’s shoulder, common in dialogue |
| Insert | Insert | A cutaway to an object or detail the audience must read |
What is the difference between a shot list and a storyboard?
A storyboard shows each shot as a drawing, so everyone can see the frame. A shot list describes the same shots in words, in a table, so the crew can plan the day. Many productions only make a shot list; storyboards are usually saved for action, effects or anything hard to explain.
If you want both, plan the shots here first, then sketch the ones that need it with the free storyboard template.
Who makes the shot list, and when?
The director, usually with the cinematographer, after the script is locked and the locations are known. The 1st AD then uses it to build the shooting schedule, which is why each row has a time estimate: it shows when a day is overloaded before you are standing in it.
Order the rows by scene while you plan, then reorder them by setup for the shoot. Grouping shots that share a camera position and lighting saves more time on set than anything else on this page.
How does Start from my script work?
Drop a PDF, Final Draft, Fountain, Word or text file and the page reads its scene headings and who speaks in each scene. You get one row per scene with the heading in Location and the speaking cast filled in, ready for you to split into shots. The script is read to build the rows and is not stored.
Questions writers ask
What is a shot list?
A table of every planned shot in a film, with its scene, shot number, size, angle, movement, lens and a short description, used to plan and run the shoot.
What is the standard shot list format?
The usual shot list format is a table with one row per shot and columns for scene, shot number, shot size, angle, movement, lens and description. Shots are numbered within each scene, like 4A, 4B and 4C, so the list lines up with the script.
What does a sample shot list look like?
A sample shot list for a two person scene at a kitchen table: 4A, wide, eye level, static, both at the table. 4B, medium close up on Ana, over the shoulder of Ben. 4C, the reverse on Ben. 4D, insert of the letter on the table. Shoot the wide first, then the singles, then the insert.
Is there a free shot list template for Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Fill it in here and download the CSV, which opens in Excel, Google Sheets and Numbers with every column in place.
Is it shot list or shotlist?
Both spellings are used on set. Shot list, two words, is the more common written form.
What should a shot list include?
At least scene, shot number, shot size, angle, camera movement and a description. Lens, cast, location, notes and a time estimate help the schedule.
Can I make a shot list from my screenplay?
Yes. Tap Start from my script and drop your file to get one row per scene with the scene heading and speaking cast.