How to Create an Indie Film Shot List (Without Losing Your Mind)
- Indie Film Podcast
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Planning your indie film shoot? One of the most overlooked tools in pre-production is the humble shot list. But if you're working with a small crew, no assistant director, and a micro-budget, how detailed does your indie film shot list really need to be?
In this episode of Indie Film Podcast, Victoria and Chuck walk through exactly what makes a shot list useful, and how to create one that saves time, reduces confusion, and keeps your camera team sane.
What Is a Shot List—and Why Does It Matter?
A shot list is the logistical backbone of your film shoot. Unlike a storyboard, which visually sketches each scene, your shot list is a written breakdown that includes the shot type, angle, camera movement, lens info, audio cues, and more.
Why it matters:
Helps plan efficient setups
Avoids missing critical coverage
Aligns your cinematographer, director, and sound team
Saves precious time on shoot day (and in post!)
What Should Be on an Indie Film Shot List?
Your shot list doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the best indie film shot lists strike a balance between minimalist and ambitious.
Here's what Victoria includes in hers:
Scene number and shot name
Shot type (wide, medium, close-up, etc.)
Camera movement
Lens choice
Whether it’s interior/exterior
Number of people in frame
Audio needs (who’s speaking, how many lavs)
Notes for editing (start/end lines, emotional tone)
Bonus: She also creates a coverage map to track which shots capture which lines, so if a shot gets cut, she knows what else covers it.
Shot Listing Tips for Micro-Budget Sets
Most indie filmmakers juggle multiple roles, so your shot list needs to support your entire team. Chuck and Victoria recommend:
Creating it collaboratively with your cinematographer
Organizing it by location and lighting setup (to minimize gear resets)
Knowing your crew’s pace so you don’t over-plan
Using tools like Google Sheets, Celtx, or StudioBinder to stay organized
If you’re flying solo, even index cards or cell phone photos can work as a functional shot list and storyboard hybrid.
DIY Storyboarding Hacks (Optional, But Helpful)
Not everyone has time to create a full storyboard, and that’s okay. But if you want one:
Take photos of your location with stand-ins
Use stock photos or AI-generated mockups
Draw stick figures (seriously)
Match visuals to your shot list for clarity
Remember: your indie film shot list is about clarity, not perfection. It’s your plan, not your prison.
Recommended Tools
Google Sheets – Flexible, collaborative, free
Celtx – Scriptwriting + shot planning in one
StudioBinder – Professional, clean, great for teams
Notion – Great for note-taking, linking reference images, and building a mobile-friendly shot list
Final Takeaway
A strong indie film shot list doesn’t just help your DP—it’s the roadmap your entire shoot runs on. And when things inevitably go wrong (because indie film is chaos), a good shot list lets you adapt on the fly without sacrificing your story.
If you don’t have time to listen to the full episode, here’s the bottom line: Plan ahead. Write it down. Keep it flexible. And share it with your crew.
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