Why use a shot list during filming?

Using a shot list during filming is essential for organizing and prioritizing necessary shots. A shot list acts as a roadmap for the filming process, detailing each shot the production team needs to capture. This helps the director and cinematographer keep track of what has already been filmed and what still needs to be done, ensuring that no important footage is overlooked.

A clear shot list can facilitate efficient shooting, particularly when time and resources are limited. By prioritizing the most critical shots, a production can adapt to changing circumstances on set, such as time constraints or unexpected issues, ensuring a smoother and more organized filming experience.

In contrast, while deciding on camera angles is an important pre-production task, organizing and prioritizing shots goes beyond just angles. Storyboarding is a different process that visually represents the sequence of scenes but may not include the specific details needed for each shot. Informing actors of their lines is more related to script organization rather than shot organization, which is the primary function of a shot list.