How I Shoot Scenes With No Shot List

Shot lists are among the most essential tools for filmmakers, and I’ve certainly used them extensively over the years. On some of my earliest short films, I made the mistake of not creating a shot list and paid the price. Only once I got into the edit did I realize pieces of the puzzle were missing – whether it was an establishing shot, a reaction, or something else entirely. Before long, I did a 180 and embraced shot listing to the extreme. I would plan out my scenes in meticulous detail, consi