Talking Head Video Shot List Template
A talking head video is one person speaking to a camera, which means every single cut is visible unless you have planned for it. The shots on this list are almost entirely about giving yourself somewhere to cut.
It takes about ten extra minutes to film all of this and it saves the edit every time.
The shot list
Primary framing
- 01Medium — chest up, eyes on the upper third. Your default
- 02Wide — full setup, used for openings and section breaks
- 03Close — head and shoulders, for emphasis
Second angle
The single highest-value addition to any talking head setup. Even a phone on a shelf works.
- 04Second camera 30–45° off axis, matched exposure
- 05Profile or three-quarter angle
- 06Over-the-shoulder including whatever you are referencing
Cutaways
- 07Hands gesturing, close
- 08You looking away, thinking
- 09Notes, screen, or object you refer to
- 10Room detail — plant, shelf, window
- 11Slow push on an object in the background
Pickups and safety
- 12Every key line delivered twice, framed identically
- 13Clean 30 seconds of room tone with nobody speaking
- 14Ten seconds of you sitting silently for cutaway padding
- 15Intro and outro delivered at least three times
Tips for this kind of shoot
- Record 30 seconds of room tone every session. It is the fix for almost every audio join.
- A second angle from a phone is better than no second angle. Match the white balance and nobody will notice.
- Deliver every important line twice, back to back. Free insurance.
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
How do I hide jump cuts in a talking head video?
Three options, in order of effectiveness: cut to a second camera angle, cut away to B-roll, or push in slightly on the same shot so the framing changes. The first two need to be filmed at the time — the third can be done in the edit.