I had a go at writing up a shot list for the second and third scenes of the script that Robin had written in Part 17 of the online resources. I’d love to be able to create these scenes because I really loved this script. I would also be so interested to see what happens next in the script!

As I was writing this shot list I realised that I’m not entirely sure what the industry standard is for a shot list. How much detail am I allowed to put in? Are there any rules? Do I write in what lines are being said? If not, how will everyone on set know when the shot ends? So I wrote the shot list then decided to research afterwards, which was definitely not the smartest of ideas. But I am glad I had a go at writing it. So here is my take on a shot list for scene two and three.

Scene 2           Bookshop          DAY/INT

SHOT LIST

1. Full Shot of Juliette from behind, Ella runs into the shot
2. Medium close of from face on, Ella says ‘Excuse me!’, Juliette stops and turns
3. Medium close up, dirty shot, Ella’s face – Ella says lines up to ‘so arrogant?’
4. Closeup of handing Ella book
5. Pan up to Juliette’s face, says next line
6. Medium close up, dirty shot of Ellas face confused
7. Medium shot from just behind Ella, watching Juliette wander off, Ella pauses then looks at the book and slowly walks to the counter.
8. Medium shot of Ella and the shop assistant, ‘just this please’, assistant says their line. Ella keeps looking at Juliette
9. Long shot from Ella’s perspective of Juliette
10. Medium shot of assistant looking confused
11. Medium shot of Ella, ‘sorry? Ah, no’
12. Medium shot of both the assistant and Ella, stay in this shot up to when the assistant says ‘PIN or you can just tap on the side there.’
13. Medium closeup of Ella hurried and saying her line
14. Closeup of eftpos machine, then says thanks
15. Medium shot of Juliette flipping through a magazine
16. Medium closeup of the assistant saying declined
17. Medium close up of Ella impatient saying ‘What’ – pause on this for a few seconds
18. Medium close up of the assistant looking over to Juliette then back and saying their line, Ella says ‘sure. Sorry.’
19. Medium shot of Ella entering PIN, the machine blinks green and makes a sound that indicates it was successful, Ella takes out her card and looks at the door. Assistant says next line. Ella says ‘no thanks’.
20. Medium full shot of Ella and the assistant. She grabs her book and turns quickly and starts walking. The shop assistant says ‘your receipt’. Ella walks past the camera while saying her next line then runs out of shot. The assistant is left in the shot a bit confused.

 

Scene 3               Street               DAY/EXT

1. Full shot of front door of Ella running out of the door and looking both ways
2. Medium shot of Juliette face on with Ella in the background. ‘Hey! Wait!’. Juliette turns and stops
3. Medium shot of both characters. Up to Ellas line ‘But you didn’t really want the book’. Pause for a few seconds of silence.
4. Medium closeup of Juliette saying No. Then Juliette regards Ella for a few moments. Then says ‘I saw you put it aside.’
5. Medium shot of both. The next two lines are said quite slowly. Then Juliette turns to keep walking. The camera follows her and Ella is cut out of the shot, then Ella runs back into the shot overtaking Juliette and she stops and the camera stops. Juliette says “Oh my god.” Ella says “why?”
6. Medium close up of Juliette saying her next line and assessing Ella.
7. Medium close up of Ella insulted and saying her next line.
8. Medium close up of Juliette saying next line.
9. Medium shot of both girls, Ella slaps Juliette. They stand shocked for a few seconds as onlookers stop and look. “Don’t apologise”. A middle aged woman comes forward and says “are you alright”. The rest of the lines and actions are played out in this shot.

 

After writing this list I remembered of a set that I worked on recently, I worked on continuity then with editing afterwards so it was in my best interest to keep track. I remembered back to when I worked on this and we needed to write a lot more onto the script and shot list while we were on set to get a grasp on what was happening, so I decided to write it with a bit more detail so it was easier to follow.

After researching, I’ve decided I didn’t choose the best layout for my shot list. I also should have written a storyboard before. After finishing my research I think I’ve decided that I have created a shot list that may be slightly too detailed…although I still think it is better as it is, if I ever create a shot list for a film I will have to condense it slightly more!