Shot Lists & the Storyboard
The storyboard shows what each shot looks like. The shot list is its practical twin — a checklist you actually run the day from. Together they're the two documents that get your board onto the set.
People often ask which they need — a storyboard or a shot list. The answer is usually both, because they do different jobs. A storyboard shows you the shots (visual); a shot list lists them (text). The board answers "what does this look like?"; the list answers "what do we need to get, and have we got it?" On set, the storyboard is your creative reference and the shot list is your operational checklist — the thing the AD ticks off as the day goes. Understanding shot list vs storyboard, and how they pair, is what turns your board into a shootable plan.
What a shot list is
A shot list is a table — one row per shot — capturing the practical facts of each shot you plan to get. It's built from the same coverage decisions as your board (remember, in Chapter III you made the shot list first, then drew panels for it). A typical shot list looks like this:
| Shot | Size | Angle / Move | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42A | WS | Static | Maya enters, shakes off rain |
| 42B | POV | Static | The letter on the table |
| 42C | MS | Dolly in | Maya crosses to the table |
| 42D | CU | Static (insert) | Her hand picks up the letter |
| 42E | CU | Slow push | Her reaction — face falls |
Each row can carry more columns as needed — lens, equipment, cast in the shot, location, estimated time, notes. The list becomes the master inventory of coverage: every shot you intend to capture, in one scannable place.
Why you want both
- The board is for vision; the list is for execution. You look at the board to remember how you wanted the shot; you work off the list to make sure you got it.
- The list is faster to run a day from. Ticking off "42A ✓, 42B ✓" keeps the shoot moving and ensures nothing's forgotten before you leave a setup.
- The list drives scheduling and gear. The AD and cinematographer use it to plan the order of the day, the lenses, and the equipment — it feeds straight into the shot-by-shot plan.
- They cross-reference. A shot list often notes the storyboard panel number, and a board panel carries its shot number — so you can jump between "what it looks like" and "what we need" instantly.
How they work together on the day
In practice, the two live side by side. The director keeps the storyboard as a creative touchstone — glancing at a panel to recall the exact framing and feel of a shot before setting it up. The 1st AD and script supervisor run the shot list, checking off each shot as it's captured and flagging anything skipped. When time gets tight (and it always does), the list is what lets you make smart triage decisions: you can see at a glance which shots are essential and which are "nice to have," and cut coverage intelligently instead of in a panic. Together, board and list make sure you shoot efficiently and get everything you planned.
The shot list is what saves you when the day falls apart — and days always fall apart. When I'm suddenly two hours behind, I don't stare at my beautiful storyboard; I look at my shot list and decide, coldly, which three shots I can drop and still cut the scene together. The board tells me what I dreamed of; the list lets me make the ruthless real-world call. Board for the vision, list for the survival. Bring both to set, every time — and check the list before you ever say "moving on" from a setup.
You've got the tools to plan any ordinary scene. But some scenes are extraordinary — action, stunts, and effects — and they change how you board. And genre itself shapes the visual approach. Storyboarding action and genre is next.
Can't draw a stick figure? The Storyboard Generator turns your scene descriptions into frames — shot by shot — so you get a real, shareable board without ever picking up a pencil.