Why a shot list matters
Without one, you find out in the edit that a key shot is missing and have to set everything up again. A shot list saves time, prevents gaps and lets you film in the most practical order, not necessarily the edit order.
How to build a shot list for short-form video
- Start from the script, sequence by sequence.
- For each shot: framing (wide, close, hands), action, line or on-screen text.
- Group shots by location or lighting to film faster.
- Example: for a recipe, shot 1 “finished dish, top-down”, shot 2 “ingredients lined up”, shot 3 “hands chopping, close-up”, shot 4 “cooking, ambient sound”.
Common shot list mistakes
- Writing a list that’s too vague (“film the kitchen”).
- Forgetting the hook shot, when it’s the most important one.
- Not checking off shots as you go.
In Flowers
Flowers generates a shot list from your script, sequence by sequence, then supports the shoot with the teleprompter. If you edit your script, you start again from an up-to-date version.