Storyboard: draw the frame first
The English Wikipedia article "Storyboard" explains that a storyboard is a sequence of simple illustrations arranged in order, used to previsualise a piece of film before shooting. The article says the storyboard in its modern form was developed at Walt Disney Productions in the early 1930s; according to Diane Disney Miller's biography of Walt Disney, the first complete storyboards were drawn for the 1933 short "Three Little Pigs".
A storyboard gets the director, DP and art department agreed on the same frame before the shoot: the angle, where people are in frame, what is in the foreground. Rough drawings are fine; stick figures and arrows are enough to show composition and the direction of camera movement.
Shot list: turn the shots into a running order
A StudioBinder article sums up the difference: a shot list is a document listing every shot to be filmed, while a storyboard shows each shot as a series of drawings. The two are often used together.
The same site explains that the columns on a shot list depend on the type of production. Its examples include a shot description, shot number, shot type, camera angle, movement and equipment, and you can add framing or aspect ratio.
A shot list for a short film needs at least:
- Scene and shot number: the same numbering as the script log.
- Shot size: extreme wide, full, medium, close-up, extreme close-up.
- Movement: static, pan, dolly, handheld, gimbal.
- Description: one line on what happens in frame.
- Cast: which actors are needed for the shot.
- Lens or equipment: for example 50mm, or track needed.
- Estimated minutes: including lighting and rehearsal.
How they differ
| Storyboard | Shot list | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Drawings | Written list |
| Order | Story (script) order | Shooting order |
| Main readers | Director, DP, art department | AD, camera, lighting, the whole crew |
| Question it answers | What the frame looks like | What we shoot first today, and how long it takes |
The storyboard runs in story order and the shot list runs in shooting order; that is the most practical difference. The same scene can be shots 1, 2, 3, 4 on the storyboard and 1, 3, 2, 4 on the shot list.
How to order a shot list
The English Wikipedia article "Production board" notes that most films are shot out of sequence. When ordering a shot list, consider these in turn:
- Group shots from the same setup. Light and set the camera once, shoot everything in that direction, then turn around.
- Group shots with the same lighting direction. In a two-person scene the two close-ups face opposite backgrounds and need relighting, so finish one side first.
- Shoot the shots that need the most people and preparation first. Crowd scenes, stunts and shots that need the area cleared go early, while everyone is there and fresh.
- Pin down time-limited shots first. If you are chasing sunset or only have the location for a certain window, fix those shots on the schedule first and fill in the rest around them.
- Cast availability. Group the shots for an actor who is only there for half a day.
Once the order is set, add up the estimated minutes and compare them with the hours you have to shoot that day. If the total runs over, decide which shots to drop before you start, not in a rush before wrap.
On our shot list, top to bottom is the shooting order. Fill in scene, shot number, size, movement, description, cast and estimated minutes row by row; the bottom of the page totals the times entered. When it is done, print it or copy it as WhatsApp text for camera, lighting and the AD.
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to draw a storyboard?
No. For dialogue-driven scenes, a shot list with a few reference photos is usually enough. For action, stunts or complex compositions, drawing it out saves a lot of explaining on set.
How does the shot list relate to the scene list on the call sheet?
The call sheet lists which scenes are shot that day; the shot list breaks each scene down into its shots.
Who gets the shot list?
At least camera, lighting, the AD and the script supervisor. With everyone holding the same order, setup changes on set need no one-by-one explaining.
References
- Wikipedia, Storyboard: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyboard
- StudioBinder, Shot List vs Storyboard: www.studiobinder.com/blog/shot-list-vs-storyboard/
- StudioBinder, What is a Shot List: www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-shot-list
- Wikipedia, Production board: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_board
The pages above were accessed on 1 November 2026.
Published 1 November 2026.
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