A shot list gives every shot a job. It prevents the common failure of returning with attractive footage but no usable proof, transition, or alternate framing.
Turn the story into coverage
For each approved story beat, specify purpose, location, subject, action, framing, movement, spoken line or on-screen text, evidence needed, and alternate take. Note continuity requirements such as wardrobe, screen state, product orientation, and light. Assign an owner for permissions, props, and data privacy.
Film hard-to-recreate material first: a real workflow, permissioned environment, product result, or location-dependent scene. Capture close-ups, clean backgrounds, room tone, and a clear voice take where useful. Leave safe space for platform overlays and captions.
Example: reporting workflow
Capture a sanitized starting screen, the user action, any real processing step, the resulting state, and the report’s date range. A second take can show the result at readable mobile scale. Do not expose customer records just because they look credible.
Before wrap, match footage to the outline and verify releases and music rights. Record missing coverage while reshooting is still possible. In edit, check that cuts preserve causal order and do not hide manual work or alter the apparent result.
Deliver files with names, version, rights status, and gap notes. A complete list improves readiness; it does not guarantee performance.
Optional AI-assisted work brief — Message-safe shot list
For each shot, state its narrative purpose, required prop or evidence, framing, duration, overlay, continuity, and backup capture. Mark which shots can be reused and which imply a claim. Include portrait safe areas, caption room, and a sound-off read. Avoid collecting identifiable customer data or showing interfaces with private details.
Worked example — Protect the evidence in production
A screen-recording shot may contain customer names, email addresses, or a live account ID. Prepare a synthetic or properly sanitized view, verify it before recording, and check reflections and notifications. If a number is shown, retain its source and date. Production planning includes privacy and substantiation—not just camera angles and props.
AI disclosure: AI tools assisted with drafting. This guide presents a general method and does not claim a verified client result.