Short Film Shot List Template
A short film shot list is built scene by scene, and each scene needs a coverage pattern rather than a list of nice frames. The classic pattern — master, singles, inserts — exists because it always cuts, and departing from it should be a deliberate decision rather than an oversight.
This is that pattern, plus the safety shots that repeatedly save short films in the edit.
The shot list
Per scene: coverage
Run this pattern for every scene. Shoot the master first — it is your safety net for the whole scene.
- 01Master — the entire scene, wide, unbroken
- 02Medium two-shot
- 03Single on character A, over the shoulder of B
- 04Single on character B, over the shoulder of A
- 05Clean single on A
- 06Clean single on B
- 07Close-up on A at the key emotional beat
- 08Close-up on B at the key emotional beat
Per scene: detail
- 09Insert of any object referenced in dialogue
- 10Hands doing anything significant
- 11Point-of-view shot from each character
- 12Reaction shot of anyone not speaking
- 13Entrances and exits from the space
Establishing and geography
- 14Exterior establishing of each location
- 15Interior establishing wide
- 16Anything that establishes time of day
- 17Transition shot into and out of the scene
Safety
The shots that rescue edits. They cost minutes and save days.
- 18Clean plate of each setup with nobody in frame
- 19Room tone, 30 seconds, every location
- 20Extra reaction shots with no dialogue
- 21An extra wide at the end of every scene
- 22Any stunt, effect, or one-take moment covered from two angles
Tips for this kind of shoot
- Shoot the master first, every time. If the schedule collapses you still have a cuttable scene.
- Cross the line deliberately or not at all. Accidental eyeline reversals are the most common problem in student films.
- Clean plates and room tone in every location. Both are free on the day and expensive to fake later.
Use this list on your next shoot
Storeyz keeps your shots in story order for planning and regroups them by location for the day — then you tick them off on your phone as you get them.
Questions
What is standard coverage for a scene?
Master, medium two-shot, over-the-shoulder singles both ways, clean singles both ways, and close-ups at the emotional beats — typically 8–12 setups per scene. Inserts and reactions are on top of that.