Free Shot List Template (CSV + Markdown)
A shot list is a table that describes every shot in a scene: its number, timing, shot size, camera angle and movement, what happens, and the sound. This free template gives you those columns ready to use in Google Sheets, Excel, Notion or any Markdown editor. Download the CSV, fill one row per shot, and you have a working breakdown.
Download CSV → · Markdown template on GitHub (CC BY 4.0)
What columns should a shot list have?
| Column | What to write | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shot # | Sequential number | 3 |
| Start / End | Timecode in the source (for reference footage) | 00:00:12 – 00:00:15 |
| Shot size | ECU, CU, MCU, MS, MWS, WS, EWS | CU |
| Angle | Eye level, high, low, overhead, Dutch | Eye level |
| Movement | Static, pan, tilt, dolly, handheld, zoom | Static |
| Subject / action | Who is in frame and what they do | Driver glances at mirror |
| Dialogue / sound | Lines, SFX, music cues | Engine hum |
| Purpose / note | Why this shot exists in the story | Plants suspicion |
Keep the first five columns factual (what you can see) and use the last column for interpretation. Mixing the two is the most common reason shot lists become hard to reuse.
How to use the template
- Pick one scene, ideally under 3 minutes.
- Watch it once without pausing to get the story.
- Watch again and log a new row at every cut.
- Fill shot size, angle and movement for each row.
- Add the dialogue and sound.
- Finish with the "purpose" column: what each shot contributes.
Example (from live /example sample)
EXAMPLE DATA — rows adapted from the public sample at storyteardown.com/example: Breakfast at the Bodega (Marina Elise, CC BY 3.0). Coverage on that page is 00:00–01:20 of a longer film (AI draft + editorial review). Size labels are editorial shorthand from the sample's angle/composition fields — compare with the footage. Movement marked * where not independently verified.
| # | Time | Size | Angle | Move | Action | Sound | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S0001 | 00:00–00:05 | CU / insert | Overhead bird's-eye | Static | Hands fluff flour and sprinkle it on a wooden tray | Upbeat strings; flour sound | Establish baking craft |
| S0009 | 00:26–00:30 | MS | Eye-level | Static* | Young man comes through green curtains with a tray of puffs | Music; fabric rustle | Move goods kitchen → shop |
| S0011 | 00:39–00:42 | CU | Eye-level | Static* | Hands pipe light-green cream onto a choux puff | Music; calm French VO (verify) | Show careful assembly |
Shot list vs storyboard
A storyboard shows each shot as a drawing; a shot list describes each shot in a table. Shot lists are faster to make and easier to sort, filter and share. See storyboard vs shot list.
Don't want to log every cut by hand?
StoryTeardown can draft a timestamped, editable shot list from short clips you have the rights to (up to 5 clips per batch, 5 minutes each), and export it as CSV, DOCX, Markdown and more. Check every row against the footage — AI can miss or invent details. See a sample breakdown or open the app.
Have footage already? See a real video-to-shot-list output. Planning a new scene? Follow the AI short drama workflow.
FAQ
Is this shot list template free?
Yes. It's on GitHub under CC BY 4.0; you can use and modify it, including commercially, with attribution.
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Import the CSV via File → Import.
How many shots should a scene have?
It depends on the pacing; a fast short-drama scene can cut every 1–2 seconds, a slow drama scene far less often. Log every cut you see.
What's the difference between shot size and angle?
Size is how much of the subject is in frame (close-up, wide); angle is where the camera sits relative to the subject (high, low).