The first step to making a great video is having a great shot list. It's a vital ingredient, no matter how small or large your crew or cast is. A shot list is a kind of to-do list that helps everyone stay on the same page.
Script Breakdown Template Excel. April 28, 2021 0. Action Item.list. March 21, 2021 0. December 2015 Calendar Template Excel. March 10, 2021 0. Financial Planner Example. How you can maintain script breakdown sheet in excel and word or keep record? Download Preproduction Forms/Charts and script template for you. Contents. Production Plan Format (Script Breakdown) Now you can easily breakdown script into realistic and work upon script through using this amazing template.
We’ve created a free shot list template that you can use with Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. This free download is perfect for any kind of film production – from short films to music videos, and everything in between.
Break Down a Script for Pre-Production (Free Template) Follow these easy steps to effectively break down a script from your shooting schedule. We've also included a free script breakdown sheet template. 33 Free Film Budget Templates (Excel, Word). Also, before you create your template, make sure that the script of your film is already finished. This will help you determine other expenses. You may need to give the breakdown of the budget to the departments or the crew. When you do, you don’t have to disclose the actual numbers.
Why are shot lists important?
It’s easy to get lost during a shoot, even with a small team. If you’ve got lots of settings, multiple actors, and a large crew, then things only get more complicated.
A shot list keeps a project on track. Before filming, it helps directors to collect their thoughts and build a shooting schedule. During filming, a solid camera shot list means different departments can work independently from each other. It also makes it easy to keep going if a crew member’s sick one day, or has to leave the shoot.
When to make a shot list
You should make your shot list after finishing your script, at the same time as creating your storyboard. Your shot list will help you visualise what you want. It'll make it easier to organise the cast, crew, equipment, and locations that bring your vision to life. (Side note: you'll need a few extra documents, like call sheets, tech specs, and license agreements – they all stem from the shot list.)
Toggling between storyboard and shot list in Boords
During production, you’ll add notes to the shot list to help your editor – like which takes to use, detailed comments, and shot / card numbers. Remember to add the clip number or timecode to the shot list during production. It'll help your editor know which shot is which, and dramatically speed up the editing time.
Remember to organise your shots by location. Putting similar shots together makes shooting easier because you can shoot them all at the same time. (Note: this might not be in order of shot number. And that's okay!) This makes filming way more convenient – even if you're not shooting in the order of your storyboard.
Looking to make a short film? Check out our handy guide: How to make your first short film
What's in a shot list?
A typical shot list includes:
Script Breakdown Template Excel
- Scene: This is the scene number, which you'll find on your script. You might not need it for smaller productions where everything happens in one scene.
- Setup: Add a new setup every time you reposition the camera or change the lighting. You can use these setups later to group similar setups together, making it simpler to shoot.
- Shot: Increase the shot number by one every time you start a new shot. (Depending on your personal preference, you might want to reset the shot number for every new setup.)
- Description: Use this column to quickly explain where you’re at in the script. You should say what the subject is – whether it's an actor, group of actors, prop, or a setting. Then describe any action that's happening, any props involved, and what exactly the camera should capture. This description tells your director everything that's happening in the shot, so that everyone's on the same page.
- Equipment: Use this column to list the equipment that's supporting the camera. For example,
Tripod,Steadicam,Drone,Dolly, etc. - Movement: Use this column to explain what your camera's doing when it's not static, i.e. it's moving. For example:
Static,Pan,Tilt,Dolly,Zoom, etc. - Angle: Use this column to describe the angle of the camera in relation to the subject. If your camera's lower than your subject, it’s a low angle. If it’s higher than the subject, it’s a high angle. You can also include other terms that help to explain the angle, for example:
Eye-level,High angle,Low angle, etc.
Check out our guide to camera moves and angles to learn more about camera fundamentals.
- Shot size: Describe the size of your subject in the frame. Varying shot sizes and having them appear in different orders creates dramatically different effects. A scene might start with a wide shot to establish where it's happening, before moving to a mid-shot of your subject, then a close-up of the action. Shot sizes are often abbreviated, e.g.
wide shot (WS),very wide shot (VWS),mid-shot (MS),medium close-up (MCU),close-up (CU),extreme close-up (ECU). - Audio: Use this column to explain how you're picking up the audio. For example:
Boom,Lav(s),Voiceover (VO). - Lens: Use this column to record which size lens you're using. For example
24mm,50mm,200mm. - Time estimate: Use this column to estimate how long it will take to set up (not shoot) each shot, which helps you build your schedule and timings for each day. It'll also highlight any time-consuming shots, in case you need to cut or change them on the day – like changing a lengthy jib shot for one on a raised tripod.
- Camera: Use this column to remember which camera you're using (if you're using more than one).
- Cast: Use this column to note down which characters are in the shot.
- Best take + timecode: If you want to make your editor's life a lot easier, you can use these columns to note down a great take and when it happened. If you don't have a timecode, just change that column to 'clip'.
Fail to plan, plan to fail
Script Breakdown Template Excel File
Shot lists are critical to the pre-production process. Like storyboards, they save time by creating consensus and keeping your team on the same page during production.